Whitaker Ponds

We visited Whitaker Ponds to see what we could find in the water.  There is a deck built over the water with an opening in the middle.  Years ago we went there for Tadpole Tales and the kids were given nets and as to see that they could fish out of the pond.  It was the first time Jasper had done that and he was fascinated.  This time we had our microscope with us. We were hoping to find water fleas, and we got lucky.  Jasper also found lots and lots of vivid red water mites, which are tiny air-breathing aquatic arachnids.

Camas flowers.

Water flea with eggs.  We wonder if the smaller dots are  baby water fleas.

Water flea with eggs.  

Water mite. 

Midge larva.  Photo by Jasper.

Aquatic snail. 

Yellow flag iris.

This weird object was in the water behind the gazebo.  I asked the Columbia Slough Watershed Council
what on earth it is but they said they are keeping their secrets for now!   Any guesses?  Jasper guessed
a sound cannon, but they don't seem to look alike. My husband pointed out that the nozzles are different
sizes.  Maybe they are sound makers, and each one makes a different sound?

Wild rose.