Story Time: Spiders

Today, while working, I was weeding a part that is heavily flooded. I know, why weed in flooded areas? Well these obnoxious bird vetch plants can survive the waist deep water, and still produce seeds, which, because of the flooding can be transported even farther than normal. So I put on chest waders, and flippers and a little fishing inter-tube we use to float out to islands (usually we can make it there in the waders with the water being chest high. But due to the high flooding here, this island was under waist deep water, in which vetch grows plentifully. As I'm maneuvering around the willows pulling the nasty weeds, I see something on my forehead. And so I flick it off, of course. And I look where I flicked (the lake) and saw a couple leaves floating in the general area, so I assumed it was just a leaf that had gotten stuck on my forehead - or so I was hoping. Until, a moment later I saw a spider bobbing to the surface and quickly making its way to a willow shoot. I just about died knowing I had that HUGE guy on my face. He is the size of a dollar coin, and hairy and UGLY! Now I should mention that I am usually not afraid of spiders. I like them, and usually don't mind them. In this situation I will admit I stared in shock. Realized no one would believe this - so I took a picture. And trying to maintain steady breathing backed away and paddled back to the coast where I then zipped away as quickly as possible. I then texted Gordon that I couldn't go back there, and so here I am now, hours later, sitting in my office instead of enjoying the day because of one very large spider. I am planning on returning to the area.

I think the spider might be a thin legged wolf spider pardosa xerampelina.

Summer! (from work camera)

I know I haven't posted recently. Summer has been exciting and beautiful! At my work, I've had the oportunity to take lots of pictures and identify the organisms there. I've found quite a few interesting things that no body knew about. The most terrifying was a 5 inch leech!

I had the opportunity to watch Boreal Chickadee and Tree Swallow chicks from egg to fledgling in our nest boxes. Here are my favorite pictures of newly hatched chickadees. I love their Mohawks!

I have taken pictures of what butterflies I could (they don't like holding still).

common alpine

Canada tiger swallowtail

arctic skipper

common sulphur

Green Comma

Western tailed blue

Unknown Moth

I've found other insects, namely cool looking spiders, and such.

I have a story behind these next few photos. I started taking pictures of this flowering plant (Chamaedaphne calyculata), then saw a moth (Coranarta macrostigma), I started taking pictures of the moth, and It wasn't until I was looking at the pictures on the computer later that day, that I noticed something strange. Crab spider legs. In fact an entire crab spider (Misumena vatia) had used its coloring to look like a flower, attracting the moth, and now it has caught it. I took a couple more pics of the spider too. So COOL!!!!

Speaking of moths and butterflies; I have taken pictures, and taken some caterpillars home to raise and identify (it's easier to identify adults). All the caterpillars have either hatched parasitic wasps (next blog), or died. But here are pics of them!

These little dark guys grew into this guy below

This guy grew into a wasp. See the little egg behind his head?

Arctia species

I've seen LOTS of spiders! Many aren't easy to take pictures of, even if I wanted to. Here are more cool insects.

Hudsonian Whiteface

Garden orb spider

And of course pictures of bees for Dad :)

There are many types of bumblebees in Alaska. I have not yet learned to identify them. I've seen at least two distinctly different varieties, but I haven't been able to photograph the other type.

This guy was very friendly. He really liked my blue shirt. He wouldn't leave!

I have heard to identify birds by call and by sight. There are over 50 bird species I have learned this summer. Here are a few I've managed to take photos of:

Belted Kingfisher female. I love the spiky hairdo! I'm tempted to do the same with my hair. Mine is getting boring and long.

Mew Gull. These guys dive bomb me when ever I get within 200 feet of a nest. They've hit me with their wings, feet, and poop!

Sharp-shinned Hawk. For work, for bird experience, I spend some time helping at the Bird banding Station. I got to hold and release and see many song birds up close. This guy was an unexpected find.

Spotted Sandpiper. With heavy rains in June, the lake flooded. This guy was enjoying the flooded trails.

more spotted sandpiper enjoying our flooded trails

The old point and shoot camera I use at work, has poor zoom for photographing birds, but I've gotten some good pictures using the old fashioned, take-a-picture-through-my-binoculars!

Through Binos

With cropping! Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated plover. Isn't he cute! They walk up and down the coast at the lake.

There are many plant species, and many flowering ones. I only have pictures I've taken with the work camera on this post, and only the pictures I took. So here is a limited amount of pictures.

Alpine Milk Vetch

Bane Berry (VERY toxic)

Chiming bells or Blue bells

Non-native choke cherry with bee

Cinquefoil

Dwarf Dogwood

Frigid or Arctic Arnica

Grove Sand-wort

High-bush Cranberry

Tamarack or Larch Tree. This tree is in the pine family, with needles, yet it looses its leaves each fall and grows them again in winter. The needles are soft and flexible and are rather fun to 'pet.'

I know it's not a plant, but these mushrooms are cute!

An invasive plant.

Columbine (planted in a garden)

I have no idea what this plant is. I've been trying to identify it, but so far no results.

Paintbrush. These plants are EVERYWHERE in all of the colors. It makes the place so lovely!

Labrador Tea (yes you can make tea from this plant. It smells really nice)

Lingonberry. Very small plant and flower. These carpet the forest floor in areas.

Prickily Rose. They grow wild everywhere as well. 

more rose

Pyrola variety

And more rose.

This red part of the spruce tree is a gall. Inside that red swelling is some wasp larva or eggs.

more spruce galls

Wild Strawberry. These are a delicious snack as I work :)

Wild for-get-me-not

Wild Iris. Dazzling and majestic.

I have the most amazing work job. I love it. And I've gotten a great Alaskan tan. While I've been trying to be very non-specific about where I work, I want to add these photos of work to prove I have the most awesome summer job.

Whats not to love? Does this not look like paradise?