June 12

The mid-day sky is sunny with temperatures in the low 70’s and a northeast breeze as I watch the clear water of Salt Creek flow slowly north under the Walton Rd. bridge while listening to a chirping male Redwing Blackbird perched overhead. On the roadside, I notice a patch of native Switch grass with its reddish seedheads. Driving a short distance around the corner, I see the creek pass quietly under the Chippewa Rd. bridge. Moving down to the water’s edge, I spot a small school of darting, ½-inch minnows. In all, there are more than 50 species of minnows found across our Great Lakes waterways. A variety of shiners, daces and chubs offer examples of sub-families of small silvery fish that we commonly think of as ‘minnow.’ Nearby, I catch a quick glimpse of a couple of ½-inch Water Scavenger Beetles. These aquatic insects are predators and eat mosquito larvae, reducing the size of summertime populations. They breathe air and trap it under their wings before diving below the water's surface, using it to respire while underwater (stock photo). On the muddy shore, I spot a swarm of recently hatched flying ants. These winged ants are called swarmers or reproductives. They are both males and females that leave the colony to mate and find a location to begin a new colony. Usually, the males die after mating and the females disperse, shed their wings and start a new nest. In the shallow water, I spot several invasive, golf ball-size Chinese mystery snails. They’re called “mystery” snails because females give birth to young, fully developed snails that suddenly and “mysteriously” appear. Native to Asia, these snails were commonly imported and sold by the aquarium trade, leading to their accidental release into the wild. Like most snails, Chinese mystery snails are hosts to many parasites. In Asia, one such parasite is an intestinal flatworm that infects humans. Back to the car, I drive east on Millbrook Rd. and park near the creek bank where I spot a few spiny seedheads of Star Sedge and a lovely white blossom of Canada anemone or Meadow anemone. “Anemone” means “windflower” and refers to the fluffy seeds of some species that are dispersed by wind. After walking along the bank, I spot one of many perching Ebony Jewelwing damselflies. A good feeding perch will be used by one of them for hours or days and a territory of six to ten feet along the creek will be defended from other damselflies. The Jewelwing nymph (stock photo) is predacious. Usually it lies in wait for other aquatic bugs to get within range and then grabs them with its modified lower jaw. On my way back to the car, I pause to hear a hungry, fledged European Starling calling for its mother.

 

From a grassy meadow

To the forest ground

Around the verdant pond

Nature’s gifts are found

Some are bright yellow

Others white and blue

Some slightly pink

Others, a purple hue

Their beauty revealed

To earth they cling

Flowers of color

Blossoms of spring

 

D. DeGraaf