Album of Skykomish Ballpark Field Trip

Selected photos by Rod Crawford and Laurel Ramseyer from our 11 October 2018 spider collecting trip to Skykomish, King County, Washington. We collected in the riparian forest fringe of the deserted Skykomish Ballpark, then in a grassy, and very productive, upland powerline clearing, finally by the tracks in downtown Skykomish. Even though the fall microspider fauna was still just getting under way, we managed a splendid 46-47 species, and managed to dine at Zeke's.
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2015 aerial photo of Skykomish area, King County, Washington fall color along US Highway 2 between Index and Skykomish, Washington on 11 October 2018
Our collecting sites in red        (King County, 2015) Fall color developing; hooray for fall spiders!            © Rod Crawford
dirt road to Skykomish Ballfield, Skykomish, King County, Washington entrance sign for Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington
Short dirt road to our destination      © Laurel Ramseyer Entrance sign of the ballpark (no game today!)        © Rod Crawford
cedars and lawn at Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington forest at edge of Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington
The lawn seen through big cedars      © Rod Crawford Rich natural forest at the edge            © Rod Crawford
fence and backstop, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington park lawn with picnic tables, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington
Fence & backstop had spiders         © Rod Crawford We're always glad to see picnic tables!             © Rod Crawford
sifter on picnic table, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington moss on branches, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington
But shaded ones better for sifting     © Rod Crawford Forest moss suitable for sifting             © Rod Crawford
bigleaf maple trees, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington bigleaf maple litter, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington
Maple trees make Rod's favorite habitat © Rod Crawford Bigleaf maple litter!                  © Rod Crawford
forest understory, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington forest understory, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington
The forest had rich, diverse understory  © Rod Crawford Sword fern and herbaceous understory            © Rod Crawford
Black cottonwood trees, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington South Fork Skykomish River, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington
Cottonwood among the maples   © Rod Crawford Cold, clear river water                    © Rod Crawford
bank of south fork Skykomish River, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington South Fork Skykomish River, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington
River bank habitats            © Rod Crawford South Fork Skykomish River                     © Rod Crawford
very large forest toadstool-mushroom, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington park buildings, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington
Toadstool bigger tnan my foot            © Rod Crawford Park buildings produced some specimens         © Laurel Ramseyer
cross orbweaver Araneus diadematus on park building, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington harvestmann Phalangium opilio on park building, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington
Araneus diadematus on building      © Laurel Ramseyer Phalangium opilio on wall                   © Laurel Ramseyer
crab spider Bassaniana utahensis in wall crack, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington crab spider Bassaniana utahensis from park builidng, Skykomish Ballpark, Skykomish, King County, Washington
Bassaniana in crack habitat            © Laurel Ramseyer Female Bassaniana utahensis                   © Laurel Ramseyer
native orbweaver Neoscona arabesca at powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington small quarry and grass habitat, powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington
Native orbweaver Neoscona arabesca at 2nd site © Rod Crawford Grass and rocky habitats                    © Rod Crawford
Laurel Ramseyer sweeping grass, powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington grass field habitat, powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington
Laurel sweeping the grass             © Rod Crawford There was plenty to sweep, and very productive!        © Rod Crawford
forest at edge of powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington juvenile jumping spider Phidippus sp., powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington
Forest at edge of powerline clearing    © Rod Crawford Juvenile Phidippus jumping spider under rock            © Laurel Ramseyer
grass field habitat, powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington lower end of Beckler River from powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington
Unexpectedly rich habitat!              © Rod Crawford Bird's eye view of mouth of Beckler River                     © Rod Crawford
crab spider Philodromus spectabilis on car, powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington
Crab spider Philodromus spectabilis on car   © Laurel Ramseyer Powerline continues eastward                    © Rod Crawford
powerline road, powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington vine maple Acer circinatum, powerlline above Beckler River, near Skykomish, King County, Washington
Lots more habitat, too little time    © Laurel Ramseyer Beautiful vine maple                   © Rod Crawford
Skykomish Elementary School, Skykomish, Washington habitats at W end of W Railroad Ave., Skykomish, Washington
Skykomish school building had few spiders    © Rod Crawford Habitats near railroad tracks in Skykomish              © Laurel Ramseyer
passing train, W end of W Railroad Ave., Skykomish, Washington Mount Index from near Index, Washington at dusk, 11 October 2018
Toot toot, there goes a train           © Rod Crawford Essentially no snow on Mt. Index          © Rod Crawford
Zeke's Drive-in east of Gold Bar, Washington on 11 October 2018 sunset near Gold Bar, Washington on 11 October 2018
For once we got to eat at Zeke's         © Rod Crawford Tail end of sunset between Gold Bar & Sultan             © Rod Crawford

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This page last updated 16 October, 2018