Guard-Daddy

     Below are a few weak illustrations of what we are seeing a couple places along the creek.  The bluegill will spawn from now until way through the summer. Before and after eggs have been placed in the creek bottom, the male will guard the nest diligently.  The nest featured here takes up about a square foot of cleaned gravel where the fish has removed all algae and the diatoms which make up most of the creamy white "scum" across the floor of the creek and the pool into which it flows.  These fish have chosen a spot right at the confluence of creek and pool, on the downstream side of a boulder.  The only other bluegill nest in the area likewise is situated on the downstream side of a boulder.
     The individual bluegill here is small, about five to six inches long, with aqua-blue lighting up where the sun shines on its fins and tail.  A faint reddish ring circles its eye.
     Most of the time, the male here is chasing away any other fish that swims close to the nest.  When it is not feeling threatened, it sometimes appears to stand up on its tail and flap it back and forth as if sweeping the nursery floor of silt.

The obscure view of a bluegill's nest, center of the photo.

Male Bluegill Guarding Its Nest

A short movie, featuring a nervous father protecting his childless nursery in the middle of a stream.

Up the hill from the Creek, we have had test holes dug where we hope to intall a septic tank and field.  This photo is meant to show the soft sandy loam down for about five feet where rounded river stones take over.

Still don't know what this fossil of leafy swirls might be. 

Within the Stonefiled near the Creek, hundreds of these sorts of rocks can be found.

More of the same riffle bugs.

The rear-end view of a honey bee feeding on water willow blossom.

Venus' Looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata) 

The cricket frogs have taken on a greener color than when we saw them earlier in the season.

Dewberries almost ripe.

This is a difficult one, based solely on the photo.  It could be a Clippedwing Grasshopper (Metaleptea brevicornis) or a Cattail Toothpick Grasshopper (Leptysma marginicollis) or some other.  (Anybody have a suggestion?)  It was found in the short bushes near the west side of the Creek.