Catching up

Last thursday we spent the afternoon in the pouring rain, checking out our vernal pool, doing daily measurements and observations and walking the perimater of the pool area. I was amazed at how huge the area is that is covered by water at some time of year. We paced it off and took compass bearings. .
Both pool areas were almost dried up and I was sad to see them shriveling up.
We returned soaked but satisfied. At leastI did.

Today we spent the misty morning at the vernal pool site,taking our daily measurements and making our observations first. Lo and behold, after the heavy rains last week the pools were both refilled to almost the area they had when we began our observations a week ago. Eleanor wins the bet!! we owe her a peach- or some green beans. Apparently even the 2 suuny days that followed the rain were not enough to dry up the pools again. However, the season grows late for the pools and we saw much less productivity and fewer animals in general tahn we have before. As the rain began again, we set out to map our best guess at the perimeter of the whole vernal pool area. Once this was done, we headed back before the really heavy downpour started.

I remain convinced that this is a really special and interesting place. having known little about vernal pools before this project, so much of what we are finding is new to me. although I am not so fond of them, Toebiters are some of the most incredible critters of the vernal pool. I especially like the frogs and their adorable little tadpoles. Insects are plentiful still as well. Today i also discovered many cool plants and lichen, including a lichen with bright red flowers or flower like things.