The Art of Garter 8-24-2014

We were still toast from the day before and I let Andrea sleep in a bit. We had planned on going to a turtle place, in hopes of seeing hatchlings. We chose Assabet, a good place to see the Chelonians that we saw so few of in Western MA. We got there after 10 AM, achy and tired. My head was still very fuzzy when we hit the trails.

Things got off to a frustrating start when Andrea flipped a shoestring Garter and it managed to elude both of us!! OK! I'm awake now!!!

She recovered quickly when, further up the trail, I turned around and saw this:

She had given me one of my favorite sights... my wife with a snake in hand!


A dark beauty.

Not much further in, we saw this little guy truckin' along!

All noggin and tenacity!


We looked around for deflated female Garters and took a path over to a pond where we had seen a girthy female last time here. We didn't see her but we spied our first Painted of the day, way way out there.


Closer in, some Bullfrogs were enjoying a bask on top of some lily pads.


Thank you, Bullfrogs... I love the classics!

Andrea pointed out some Painteds that were much closer.


Almost to our favorite spot, we flipped some Redbacks... one red and one lead!



Then we started seeing turtles... tons of Painteds! Large and small. Here are some of them.




I was considering using only this picture, because both turtles are visible...

But when looking at the close-up I got of the bigger guy, I see that there are six noggins poking up around him!

I'm in love with that picture!

Being a Bullfrog is SFB.


Walking up the trail, we were stealthy. Until Andrea saw a turtle on the path and burst into a run to see it! A young Painted was taking a stroll from one pond to another.



This threesome charmed us to death!


This wee guy is just being fabulous!!


A ride 'em cowboy Bullfrog!


Another Redback!


We were exploring a large field, hoping for some newborn turtles. I stayed near the edges because it was getting hot and I'm a pussy. But it paid off... I saw this Slim Jim Garter!

I thought I had a Ribbon for a second! He was so skinny, he could almost hide under a twig!


We decided to go further down the path, much to my surprise. But I sucked it up and went on like a grownup. And it paid off... another wee shoestring making his way through the day, obviously on a super serious mission.



This extended trail also got us a Pickerel Frog!


Andrea spotted an American Toad while I was enjoying a snack. Photos or it didn't happen!



Don't look now, but we were at 6 species! Only 8 shy of the day before!!

Hah! Yeah, right. We headed back. We saw this Bullfrog that I thought was a Green at first.


Then we saw a Garter relaxing in the afternoon sun.


I took ten shots of this Bullfrog before I got one I liked. Why? I dunno... I though he was cute!


Another Pickerel...


I saw a Garter... well, a bit of one. Just about 4 inches of neck and head coming out from the leaves.

She looked like she'd be big so I wanted to see if she was worth measuring or if she was deflated. It turns out, she had a big meal in her... I could feel it in her tummy. Needless to say, I left her alone.

Andrea finally found our real Green Frog: species #7.


Then, another big Garter with another big meal!


And our last herp? The eighth Garter of the day!


Not a bad trip for two tired souls! Good things come to those who herp.

That said, my work's summer party is today, Tuesday the 26th. I didn't want to go so when the place closed at noon, I hit Brook on the way home. It's 88° out there and it feels even hotter. But I made a quick trip out of it anyway. It was scorching in the sun and much of the water is dried up. I managed a few Green Frogs, though!






That's it until the weekend. The weekend that should blow my mind...