The bridge empties of people and fills with other lives.
This thread follows a guild rather than a single species: orb-weavers on steel cable, funnel weavers in dead wood, black widows guarding egg sacs, and the seasonal work completed after dusk.
The thread so far
Late summer, written in silk
Night 1
Spotted Orbweaver
Spotted orbweaver photographed clinging to a steel cable — the large, robust orb-weaving spider in sharp close-up detail. Muddy-brown globose abdomen, white lateral spots, spiny legs with alternating dark and pale banding, dense abdominal setae. Body length estimated 15-20 mm — almost certainly a mature female. Initially identified as western spotted orbweaver (N. oaxacensis) then corrected to spotted orbweaver (N. crucifera or related) based on the muddy brown dorsal coloration observed on subsequent visits.
Entry 86 · SAR corridor, Green River Golf Course stretch, Corona
Night 2, Multiple Angles
Spotted Orbweaver
Spotted orbweaver — same individual as Entry 86, photographed from multiple angles on the same steel cable. Three views documented: ventral angle showing cephalothorax detail and white lateral spots, lateral profile along the cable, and dorsal view against the evening blue sky. The abdomen notably swollen relative to the cephalothorax — suggesting peak reproductive readiness approaching egg deposition.
Entry 89 · SAR, Green River Golf Course stretch — same cable as Entry 86
July Bloom + River Landscape
Telegraph Weed / Menzies' Goldenbush
Yellow-flowered composite plant photographed on concrete path margin — small yellow ray flowers with brownish disc flowers, growing from the disturbed concrete edge. Consistent with telegraph weed (Heterotheca grandiflora) in active bloom. Wide-angle landscape photograph also taken documenting the full July community structure: the dry golden annual grass foreground, native shrub mid-ground, dense riparian cottonwood-willow canopy background, Santa Ana Mountains behind.
Entry 92 · SAR corridor, Green River Golf Course stretch, Corona
Unknown Species
Crevice Spider
Spider photographed in a dark crevice — pressed flat against the crevice surface, fine silk threads visible around the crevice entrance. Dark coloration, somewhat flattened body form. Image quality limited by low light conditions.
Entry 97 · SAR corridor, structure crevice, Green River Golf Course stretch, Corona
Night 3, Then Gone
Spotted Orbweaver
Spotted orbweaver — confirmed present on cable on third consecutive evening (July 29, 30), then absent on July 31. Three-night documentation of a single individual at a consistent day-resting site now complete.
Entry 98 · SAR corridor, cable, Green River Golf Course stretch, Corona
Portrait at Golden Hour
Fremont Cottonwood
Fremont cottonwood photographed at golden hour — a mature, full-canopied individual standing in the golf course maintained turf, its deeply furrowed pale gray trunk and broad triangular-leaved canopy lit from the west by the setting sun. The tree's full summer canopy in deep green contrasts with the warm yellow of the evening light filtering through the outer leaves.
Entry 100 · Green River Golf Course, Corona
Two Burrows Documented 26
Funnel Weaver Spider Burrows
Two funnel weaver spider burrows photographed in the dry soil of the trail margin — one showing fine silk trip-lines visible radiating from the entrance, the second showing the characteristic silken funnel entrance. Both in fine sandy-loam soil amid dry grass stems.
Entry 102 · SAR trail margin, Green River Golf Course stretch, Corona
Field observation
Southern Black Widow with Massive Egg Sac 26
Southern black widow photographed in her web clutching an egg sac — the spider positioned at the entrance of her silk-lined retreat tunnel in the log crevice, the massive creamy-white spherical egg sac immediately adjacent, the irregular tangle web extending outward. The full reproductive biology visible in a single observation: retreat web, egg sac, defensive posture.
Entry 103 · SAR trail, fallen rotting log, Green River Golf Course stretch, Corona
Continued observation on the bridge
Spotted Orbweaver
Spotted orbweaver — a same individual photographed suspended on a single dragline thread between the bridge railing cable and vegetation below, hanging in open air above the river channel. The round, muddy-brown abdomen and spiny leg banding consistent with Neoscona.
Entry 104 · SAR bridge, Green River Golf Course stretch, Corona
Spider Visible in Burrow + Full Web Architecture 26
Funnel Weaver
Two funnel weaver burrows at the fallen rotting log — one burrow with the spider partially visible as a dark shape at the tunnel bottom; the second showing the full silk funnel architecture with extraordinary clarity: smooth circular silk-lined entrance tube approximately 2-3 cm diameter, flat sheet web extending outward across the log surface incorporating dead oak leaves and debris, characteristic circular collar of silk around the entrance.
Entry 105 · SAR trail, fallen rotting log, Green River Golf Course stretch, Corona
Fully Emerged, Maximum Detail 26
Funnel Weaver
Funnel weaver spider — same individual as Entry 105 at the fallen cottonwood log, now photographed fully emerged from the funnel retreat. The bold black-and-white striped leg banding, pale-marked cephalothorax with paired dark longitudinal stripes, abdomen's chevron pattern, and full body posture at the funnel entrance documented in extraordinary detail. The full architectural context visible: silk-lined funnel entrance, flat sheet web extending forward, spider in the active hunting posture.
Entry 108 · SAR trail, fallen cottonwood log, Green River Golf Course stretch, Corona
Observed in Flight
Tarantula Hawk Wasp
Tarantula hawk wasp — observed in flight, documented via Google search after the observation. The large, metallic blue-black bodied wasp with brilliant orange wings, body length up to 5 cm, observed flying actively near the trail.
Entry 112 · Green River Golf Course stretch, Corona
Deep in Retreat
Funnel Weaver
Funnel weaver spider photographed deep in the funnel retreat — the spider positioned at the bottom of the silk-lined tunnel with its legs in the characteristic legs-spread detection posture. The circular, smooth silk entrance tube sharply visible, the spider's forward-facing detection posture with first two pairs of legs extended outward to detect vibrations through the silk.
Entry 115 · SAR trail, fallen cottonwood log, Green River Golf Course stretch, Corona
Home Garden
European Garden Spider with Egg Sac
European garden spider photographed in the front yard garden on a dried thistle or cactus seed head. The spider positioned on her web, with a brownish papery egg sac visible adjacent — the spider showing the characteristic Argiope body form: rounded abdomen with pale mottled dorsal pattern, long legs in the characteristic X-posture. Purple blooming plants and silvery-leaved plants visible in the background consistent with a native or drought-adapted garden.
