Male Twelve-Spotted Skimmer

It was a weekend of hard work, but we tried to fit some fun in around the edges. Saturday, we had a nice lunch at Jim's in Bellefonte and swam at Bald Eagle State Park in the afternoon. We had planned to go for a swim at Black Moshannon on Sunday, but after working around the yard for several hours again on tree debris removal, we were too tired to go that far.

So we grabbed a pair of hoagies and headed to a favorite little wetland along Bald Eagle Creek instead. It was our plan to eat our late lunch and then go wading in the stream. I am sorry to report that one of the first things that happened was that I bit into my hoagie and cracked a tooth, so my week will include an unexpected visit to the dentist. Let's just add it to the list.

There is a major project underway at the wetland. They are doing some work around the stream and also building an accessible boardwalk along it. They are in the middle of the project and so the stream has been widened and grass is growing along the edge. There is no sign of a boardwalk yet, but they have removed some trees (which never makes us happy; no, not at all).

We walked in the stream and the widening has made the water warmer and more silty. I am not sure that part is an improvement. I also encountered huge turkey tracks in the creek, a first for me. I did not know that turkeys would go for a wade! So apparently we're not the only one who like to hang out in the creek on summer days.

I spotted a butterfly or two, but not a lot. But there were some really large and fabulous dragonflies buzzing around, and on the way back to our car, I was able to get a few decent shots. Above is my favorite, because it includes not just the dragonfly, which is a male twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella), but also some of the nice, round, interesting looking spiky vegetation.

My song has to be a tune about flying, so here's a favorite: John Denver and Olivia Newton-John, with Fly Away.