As happens, we got into Worcester County and decided to get off of the turnpike to explore a place on the way out. As always with this park, our main target was the Black Rat Snake, a criminally rare species in this state. We got there before 11 and headed over to the front ponds first thing. I mean, when it looks like this, you want to just immerse yourself in it.
Painted Turtles were our first sightings of the day.
Still no baby turtles but flipping a large rock revealed a neonate Garter Snake.
We took a sandy back trail for a bit, hoping to see hatchling turtles but only saw predated nests. Young Pickerel Frogs were abundant, however.
The last time here, we had tremendous luck flipping old, broken picnic tables and signs. This area wasn't as snakeriffic this time, but we did manage one in-the-blue Garter.
Just as I was going to flip this wood, a small Pickerel jumped into perfect position.
Another spot that had been good for snakes, snake skins and Efts last time was also giving us a harder hunt this time out. Once again, we were saved... all hail the mighty Pickerel!
This newly terrestrial Bullfrog was having second thoughts about being on land and was chilling in a mud-puddle.
Andrea found a Green Stinkbug nymph that was looking pretty handsome.
We were heading back to go peek at another pond when Andrea calmly said, "Rat". I said "Git outta her..." but she was right.
Oddly enough, this was the same individual we encountered here last year... we could tell from the bum left eye.
I got around the other side of her and she let me get all up in her grille for some close-ups of her good side.
A woman was biking by and saw us, stopped and admired the snake, then said she was going to get her son (who had briskly pedaled past us). The snake, however, decided she'd had enough human contact (I know the feeling) and she headed back to the woods. First of Year Rat Snake.
The lady came back with her kid but Ratty had left the building. I went into the woods to look for a Ringneck to show the kid and actually found one!
They had left by the time I got back anyway. Ingrates.
We weren't done yet, though. Andrea stirred up this wee Peeper.
We reached the pond and didn't see any turtles up basking. This Bullfrog charmed us, though.
He looked to us a little like our (dumb) cat Gibson or, as Andrea put it, "he looks like he's gearing up to ask someone to prom."
We decided to get back on the road, stopping long enough to shoot this molting Painter from the car.
Six species including a state endangered FOY... that was worth the stop.
We had no concrete plans and that felt good. I tend to over-plan trips and vacations and cause undue pressure on both of us. We just drove on out in the direction of our hotel and the places we wanted to visit. I asked Andrea if she wanted to stop at a vernal we know about where we have found a dozen species of amphibians, including Marbled and Jefferson's Salamanders. We decided to take a peek. Lunch would be bought for anyone who found a First of Year. (We still needed both of the above-mentioned species.) Andrea struck first with a metamorph Spotted Salamander.
It was I who got the free lunch, though. I found this chubby (and threatened in MA) Marbled Salamander... a real beauty.
We looked under a shit-ton of damp logs, always expecting to see some Redbacks and Efts, two very easy to find species here. But we were bereft of eft. Andrea saw a small Wood Frog jump under a log. I saw this out the other end.
It was actually a different frog than the one she saw jump under the other side.
So, we added three more species on another unplanned stop. Another FOY, at that. We then went on, checked in to our hotel and got some lunch before heading to our next stop.
The next spot was an entirely new one to us and it was chosen to explore as a potential Wood Turtle place. Upon laying eyes on the river, it was obviously that the sightings Andrea had read about were probably valid... the river looked perfect.
We walked along the banks for quite a while but we didn't see any reptiles or amphibians, much less Woods. But being a new place, we never gave up on our recon. At the very end of the path in one direction, where the river pools up, we turned around and saw a frog hop into the bushes. Much to our surprise, it was a Northern Leopard Frog.
A very surprising 10th species on the day.
We walked the path back and decided to keep going forward on the path, in the direction we hadn't yet explored. The water was moving faster along much of this stretch. It looked good for Dookies or Two-lines and I was proven correct when I flipped a log on the bank and saw this massive Two-lined.
4 1/2 inches, easy.
The habitat was still very Wood-good and quite beautiful.
In a puddle on the path, a large Bullfrog was keeping cool.
What was it with Bullfrogs and mud-puddles that day?
We went to the end of the trail on that side, then turned back. This place has a ton of potential and next time we visit, we'll try to choose a better time for Woods. They're still mostly scattered throughout the woods this time of year. (Not that we didn't look for them there.) We also hope to check out the opposite shore. Fields were visible and you know Woods dig a good field.
Back on the water, Andrea said "Is there something peeking at us from under that rock?"
Yup.
About ten feet from that Bull rock, we started back up to the trail when a large Garter slithered across the opening. I couldn't get a decent voucher shot so I mad a grab for her, got just the end of her tail but couldn't safely extricate her from the bushes from that position, so I wormed my way closer to her in the sand, finally procuring her for a photo. Yes, Virginia, she musked me good.
And that was how we ended the first day of our 15th Wedding Anniversary Celebration. We had dinner (on me, for the Rat Snake) then went to our hotel to prepare for the next day's adventure.
awwwwww i am so glad yous had fun
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