In Golden Pond: Pond Studies 301

In the pond things are starting to move about. Spring peeper tadpoles, fairy shrimp, mosquito larva!

I love these little creatures: amphipod,
AKA: freshwater fairy shrimp.

Damselfly adult

The damselfly larvae nailed a fairy shrimp

Frog pond studies 201

I've been thrilled to bits with my recycled dock. Lots of visitors. The macro photos have been fun.

fairy shrimp

The wood frog eggs have hatched, the tadpoles grown and transformed into frogs.

The bullfrogs were off in the shade, the sun just too hot for them. One was under the dock, in the shade. The cats were happy with it, though.

I took a chair down, and while the morning's peace and beauty is tainted by a kazillion mosquitoes, in the heat of the afternoon sitting under an overhanging branch in the shade, there are no bugs. I couldn't believe it! I haven't grabbed a photo of the chair, but it is there!

salamander larvae

There are a few bullfrog tadpoles in the pond.

What I thought was a pond puppy or water dog, was a salamander larvae. I learned this from Ontario reptiles and amphibians. (I was sort of disappointed!) Both have external gills.
 I'll have to do some more searching. I have neglected my macro lens for awhile.

The pond critters are amazing and varied.

water slaters or water-lice

cyclops, subclass copepoda

There are many blue-striped salamanders in our forest.

Pond Studies 201 on Earth Day

Daisy showing off climbing a tree.
Buster was surveying his pond.

I think it fitting to examine the water on Earth Day!

Yes, Pond Study '201', because I studied the pond last year. I was given a macro lens from the best husband ever, last year. I managed to capture water beetles, water striders, up close. Right now tree frogs and wood frogs are singing (wood frogs in the water and tree frogs up high, and pretty shy right now), and I've photographed all the typical creatures one expects in a pond. This year I found more little creatures to photograph.

And I improved my technique.

I scooped critters into a goldfish bowl.
Daisy thought it a drinking bowl.

Anyone can photograph an elephant, but these little suckers are tricky!

The other issue, I had 'helpers' who wanted to drink the water from my goldfish bowl where I placed my critters. Daisy, little twerper!

My frog pond- newly melted

There are water beetles, water striders, many spiders, and tree frogs and wood frogs, so far.
 It teems with life, our ponds.
 I am privileged to be living in Ontario.

weird little egg sacs, tree frog eggs!

everything is brown

spider in the pond

Daisy couldn't figure out why
I was out in the pond!
I was wearing boots.

My precious frog pond

The logs, where I sit and contemplate life!
Buster in the shade of the tree.
Daisy at the base of the tree.

tree frog eggs

I scooped some water and leaves into a goldfish bowl

fairy shrimp

Bad news: mosquito larvae!

They glue them to flora

tree frog eggs

cyclops, subclass copepoda

cyclops, copepoda

I scooped them into a tablespoon!

I love these little creatures: amphipod,
AKA: freshwater fairy shrimp.

water slaters or water-lice

water slaters or water-lice