April 04 – My Nature Journal
April 04, 2026 Nature Journal
Dark Fishing Spider
Dolomedes tenebrosus
Dark Fishing Spiders are reputed to be common in my area but I’ve never seen one in the wild until today.
The Spot
These spiders are quite large, especially females. Female Dark Fishing Spiders range from 0.6 to 1.0 inches (1.5 to 2.6cm) in body length alone, and their legs can span 3.5 inches (9.0cm) (males are about half the body length of females).
I can attest to the size of these spiders; I spotted this one from several yards away.
The Approach
It was perched on the edge of a sewer drain. I approached very slowly because I didn’t want to scare it away. But it turns out I didn’t really need to worry too much. This spider proved to have both excellent vision and an attitude.
The Reaction
The spider reacted to my presence when I was some distance away; maybe about two yards. It darted closer to the holes in the manhole but remained out in the open. For me, this implied remarkable eyesight for a creature that—while big for a spider—is tiny compared to my size.
As I approached closer, I expected the spider to run into cover. Instead, it did the exact opposite. This large, intimidating spider actually darted several inches closer to me. Which got the adrenaline going, let me tell you.
I also found the spider’s willingness to face off with me interesting. I try my best not to anthropomorphize wild animals. Probably this spider just wanted to get a closer look at me before deciding if I was a threat. But the same deep, primal instinct that gives me the automatic heebie-jeebies upon sight of a large spider offered a much different interpretation.
Call me crazy, but I’m convinced that spider was just spoiling for a fight.
Pumpkinseed Fish
Lepomis gibbosus
Pumpkinseeds belong to the sunfish family Centrarchidae, which one of the most important gamefish families in North America and which includes popular, large fish like the Largemouth Bass.
These are slow-growing, small fish. Pumpkinseeds grow only an inch or two a year and average size is usually only around 3-5 inches.
Fisherman often catch Pumpkinseeds but don’t hold them in very high regard because of their small size. But Pumpkinseeds can thrill young children who are just learning to fish as they practically volunteer to swallow bait.
These two fish were a mated pair.
They swirled and circled together in shallow water inside the bowl of a depression in the lake bottom. This depression was scooped out by the male and represents these Pumpkinseeds’ nest. The female Pumpkinseed will lay her eggs and the male will aggressively guard the nest, the eggs, and eventually the newly hatched young.
Pumpkinseeds are pretty easy to recognize. Their most distinctive feature is a bright scarlet spot on each black opercular flap (a structure located on the posterior edge of each fish’s gill covers). Pumpkinseeds also have iridescent blue stripes on their cheeks.
In my area, another sunfish species called the Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) also has red on its opercular flaps but lacks the blue cheek stripes characteristic of the Pumpkinseed.
Skink Lizard
Plestiodon spp.
Common Whitetail Dragonfly
Plathemis lydia
Common Musk Turtle
Sternotherus odoratus
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Today’s Nature Journal Snapshot
|
Time of Day |
Mid-morning into early afternoon |
|
Setting |
Two large lakes |
|
Temperature |
Around 77° F / 25° C |
|
Weather |
Sunny with scattered clouds |
|
Humidity |
Around 56% |
April 04, 2025 Nature Journal
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
Today’s Nature Journal Snapshot
|
Time of Day |
Noon-time |
|
Setting |
Suburban backyard |
|
Temperature |
80° F / 27° C |
|
Weather |
Overcast |
|
Humidity |
67% |
