Fieldwork ~ Salmon Watching

 
Monday we embarked on our first Salmon Watching expedition with my dad (aka Grandpa). He has been an avid fisherman and nature lover since the beginning of time ;-) thus he proves to be an excellent guide and partner in our newest endeavors with Biology for this year.

 
We have three sites to check periodically throughout the week, for fifteen minutes each site. Our goal of course is to spot different species of salmon that are coming into the creeks to spawn and thus end their life cycle, or move back out into the lake and on out to the sound. (Last year at this site there was a "redd" located just underneath that orange marker in the picture above, a good sign). Note: a "redd" is a cleared area in the stream where the female salmon lays here eggs to be fertilized.

 
At each location we basically watch and wait....

We were happy this first watch day that the weather was sunny and warm and not too much of a glare. Although, we are all given these fancy polarized salmon watching glasses to help cut the glare and see any little movements under the surface.

 
Violet took charge of "recording" our findings and sightings (although there was only a few little fish) which we are to list as "juveniles" as there is really no way to tell what type of salmon (or trout) they are as of yet.

 
I call this one "ninja measurer". Matthias here wielding the pvc measuring pipe for locations that do not have a water level meter on site. Grandpa was the only one that did this job, however, as it involved a very steep bank not good for tennis shoes with no tread, lol! Water levels are still pretty low in all our sites as we've (thankfully) had only a little bit of rain this past weekend, but the water was mostly clear which made it easy to see anything swimming. (Lots of water skeeters and dragonflies!)

 
I couldn't help snapping some shots of the local fauna, here some lovely little orangish wildflowers (or weeds). I'm still looking for an I.D. on these, anyone's guess???? (Violet was guessing Toadflax...)

 
These beautiful pink ones were everywhere, quite abundant, and no I.D. on these either. Note to self - purchase a Washington flower book.

A few more beauties and marvels ~

 
Elderberries???

 
Grandpa (Dad) was guessing wild parsley?

And this cute little guy slithered past us twice...

 

 It was a delightful hour or so perusing nature just a little ways from our home. We hope to see some bigger fish next time :) A few parting shots...

 
Giant rosehips!!

 
Cool and shady, but no fish :)

Have a great rest of the week friends!

Comments

[Angela]

Your orange flower looks like jewelweed to me, also called touch-me-not because when you touch the seed pods they spring open and seeds explode out everywhere. We had it all over our field in NY. :-)

Your berries aren't elderberries, but I don't know what they are either. Elderberries are small and very dark purple.

[Gill]

I wondered if the berries are ivy berries, that should go black later? But no, definitely not elderberries. What a great nature outing:)

[meredith]

Ooh, thank you Angela. Ill look those up! And yeah, I was just shooting in the dark for the berries. Still looking for those too :)

Thanks, Meredith

[meredith]

I wonder too Gill, Ill check those out as well. So glad you stopped by!

Thanks,

Meredith

[Jennifer Mackintosh]

What wonderful opportunities, Meredith!

The white flower, 4th from the bottom, looks like Queen Anne's Lace (wild carrot), but it is often mistaken for hemlock. Your dad is right, hemlock is in the parsley family. Yours looks more like Queen Anne's Lace because of the spacing of the flower clusters, but it definitely bears a good lesson in DON'T TOUCH AT ALL for the kids, since hemlock is poisonous even to the touch.

[meredith]

Ooh, thanks Jen, and yes, I thought it was Queen Annes Lace too, they will definately stay away from it, yikes! Thanks for stopping by :)

Love Meredith

[Betty]

Awesome nature outing with dear Grandpa! How VERY special!!!