Album of Ashford Field Trip

Selected photos by Rod Crawford from my 29 October 2020 spider collecting trip (featuring Jerry Austin) to the vicinity of Ashford, SE Pierce County, Washington. We collected mostly at a beautiful, secluded site in public forest land southwest of the town. Immersed in peaceful nature, it was hard to imagine we were only a half-mile's walk from the highway. At the end of the day, I walked to Ashford County Park to sample some other habitats. Our catch, a fine 43 species.
READ TRIP NARRATIVE PHOTO ALBUM INDEX MAIN JOURNAL INDEX
2017 aerial photo showing spider sites near Ashford, Pierce County, Washington Welcome to Ashford sign, Ashford, south central Pierce County, Washington
Our sites marked in red (note meadow near forest site) (USDA, 2017) Welcome to Ashford                   © Rod Crawford
fern-dominated understory, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington gated access road to forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington
Fern-dominated understory          © Rod Crawford Gated access to ultra-pleasant old road/trail                       © Rod Crawford
Scots broom Cytisus scoparius, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington Jerry Austin on access road to forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington
Just a few invasive broom plants         © Rod Crawford Jerry contemplates the Wild                    © Rod Crawford
blue sky in forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington sun on road, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington
Sky turned blue almost immediately       © Rod Crawford The sun warmed our habitats delightfully             © Rod Crawford
cottonwood-alder leaf litter, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington linyphiid spider Drapetisca alteranda from leaf litter, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington
Cottonwood-alder litter            © Rod Crawford Best litter spider, Drapetisca alteranda                  © Rod Crawford
cobweb spider Theridion californicum from forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington edge of meadow, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington
Colorful Theridion californicum             © Rod Crawford Edge of meadow                            © Rod Crawford
Douglas-fir in meadow, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington Douglas-fir in forest, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington
Douglas-fir in meadow             © Rod Crawford Douglas-fir in forest                         © Rod Crawford
invasive blackberry in meadow, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington main part of meadow, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington
Invasive blackberry in meadow            © Rod Crawford Closer to main part of meadow                          © Rod Crawford
western hemlock foliage, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington line of fall-colored cottonwood trees, forest SW of Ashford, Pierce County, Washington
Western hemlock foliage              © Rod Crawford Line of fall-colored cottonwoods along road                 © Rod Crawford

As the daylight dwindled, I added species from some different habitats in Ashford County Park.

Park sign, Ashford County Park, Ashford, Pierce County, Washington fall color in hills from Ashford County Park, Ashford, Pierce County, Washington
County park sign             © Rod Crawford Dazzling fall color in hills                        © Rod Crawford
stormwater pond with marsh vegetation fringe, Ashford County Park, Ashford, Pierce County, Washington fall color reflection in pond, Ashford County Park, Ashford, Pierce County, Washington
Marshy fringe of pond, park's best habitat    © Rod Crawford Fall color of hills appears upside-down in pond               © Rod Crawford
picnic table headquarters, Ashford County Park, Ashford, Pierce County, Washington dusk glow behind hill across valley from Ashford County Park, Ashford, Pierce County, Washington
Picnic table headquarters             © Rod Crawford Glowing dusk behind a hill to the south                     © Rod Crawford
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This page last updated 31 October, 2020