20130604 Harper Park

Bioblitz at Harper Park, Peterborough, Ontario, led by Kim Zippel and the Harper Park Stewardship Initiative. Volunteers were organized in groups to cover different areas of the park. These photos were taken during a hike by my group along the creek with the goal of observing and counting Brook Trout. Bird ID by song and observation along with mammal ID by tracks was also done during this hike. Other photos include plants, algae and invertebrates.
(Photographed June 4, 2013 at Harper Park, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada)

Aquatic plant in Harper Creek
Close-up of aquatic plant
Honeysuckle shrub growing close to Harper Creek
Honeysuckle flower
Raccoon - tracks
Brook trout fingerlings in Harper Creek
Brook Trout - fry
Close-up view of Brook Trout fry - estimated length of between 1.5 and 2 inches
31 of these fry were observed during the bioblitz, a good sign that the creek is ideal for Brook Trout spawning and that the 2012 spawn was sucessful. Note that this sandy stretch of creek did not have many fry, but presented the best photo op.
Wild Turkey track in mud near creek
Muskrat - multiple tracks leading to and from the creek
Long-tailed Weasel - tracks
Raccoon - tracks
Raccoon - track
White-tailed Deer track
Beaver lodge - not currently active
Small feeder stream entering main branch of Harper Creek
Human tracks in mud along creek - likely from a fisherman
Human tracks in mud along creek - likely from a fisherman
White-tailed Deer tracks in mud along creek
White-tailed Deer track
Harper Creek showing stretch with a clay bottom
Interesting erosion patterns in clay bottom
Interesting erosion patterns in clay bottom
Viceroy butterfly

Don McLeod's Nature Blog

20130604 Harper Park