Shiny Shells and Secret Stacks. 4-25-2020

That Saturday was supposed to be nice, but would we actually go out and face possible human interaction? The decision was made very easy with a message from our friend Bob. He was going to drive up to Massachusetts from Pennsylvania for the sole purpose of trying to see a lifer Blanding's Turtle. We decided to join him for two reasons: 1.) We love the guy and wanted to see him and 2.) We could make his quest much easier. We all met (he beat us there...) in the parking lot of a Worcester County nature refuge that had more cars than we'd hoped for, but we set about our business anyway.

We hit the soggy trails, staying far enough apart and wearing masks when needed, and started seeing animals in the extremely full pond right away. The first was a proud Painted Turtle.

Then a nice Green Frog.

These were the two most-seen species on the day. In fact, if you don't like Painted Turtles, you should turn back now. And reasses what's important in life while you're gone. Painters rule.

The main path didn't have too many humans on it other than us. It was flooded and most of the undesirables presumably took the river path. Not us. We slopped through the slop and saw plenty of Painters on our way to a target vernal.

We approached a vernal pool that Andrea and I suspect that Blanding's Turtles over-winter in. In Spring, if the timing is right, you can see them in or around the pool. I was taking Bob to go to the other side of the pool to look across at the leafy bank. Andrea cut to the chase and called us back... she had spotted not one, but two Blanding's up and out of the water.

These were Bob's lifers, so I left him to admire in awe and photograph these turtles while I explored the nearby area. I came up with one more Green Frog.

I also saw the proof that the Spotted Salamanders and Wood Frogs had been busy again this year.

But this is what it's all about... seeing a friend very happy. It's his 496th overall worldwide herp.

We eventually moved on. Further along the trail, we started getting serious with Painters.

It had turned out to be an excellent day, weather-wise: mid 60s and sunny. I predicted dozens of snakes along the middle path. Eh, I was kinda wrong. Andrea found the first of only two Garters on the day, and it was well off that path.

Another view of a Painter stack. I think I count 29 here, my best of 2020 thus far.

With the trees still bare, I got a look at a pond I wouldn't normally be able to see and was rewarded with some hidden Painters.

We walked along the trail and every once in a while, we got a glimpse through the trees at a basking Painted Turtle.

We were approaching a spot where we've seen Blanding's up basking, so I warned Bob and we both took long-shots through the trees at distant stacks way out in a pond. Sure enough, there was a Blanding's up, along with some Painters. This is the best I could do.

Not good, by any means, but you can see what's there. Bob had been watching a different log, it turns out, that had one Blanding's on it. 

Right around here, a gent who was on the path came up to us and introduced himself! It was long-time Facebook friend Kirk, a nature and horror film buff. I raised my mask but shook his hand bare-handed. Not my most lucid thought ever, but I've talked to the guy for years and it was instinct! Anyway, it was awesome to meet him in person. To our delight, he joined our crew.

We made our way back to get a better look at these secret turtles. One Blanding's stayed up long enough for us to get some blurry shots...

... but this guy and another solo basker slipped into the drink. 

Bob crawled out to await a hopeful reemergence and I prowled around the edge of the pond. It was there that I found another Garter. I picked it up to take over to show Andrea.

We gave the turtles a little time to come back but time was tight... Bob was still going to have to drive back home and wanted to get on the road by 2 PM, so we all headed back. As predicted, the river path was where all of the mewling human scum was congregated, and we hurried past them. 

Back on the main path, heading towards the lot, we were stirring up many Green Frogs, and each one was more beautiful than the last.

That last little emerald beauty is about as good as it gets!

So that was good... we got to hang with a dear friend for a couple of hours and meet a long-time internet friend in person. The flooded trails kept the riff-raff to a minimum and we got our main target. Not too shabby. It was still early when we pulled out so Andrea and I decided to hit another spot just a few towns over. We took the back-roads and were treated to some scenic beauty. We took notes for future excursions.

We got to the next refuge and, as expected, it was a full-house. But it was pushing 3 PM so we knew that little brats get tired around this time and the human herd would be thinning out. But it took some time.

Our first sight here was a 3-pack of Painters, braving the nearby humans in favor of some sun.

This place is usually pretty annoying with gnats, but not so much this time. It was the humans that were the most annoying, so we scooted past them all quickly. At least many of them had masks on.

We got to a favorite spot and this beautiful Bullfrog greeted us.

Despite the invasive humanity, the Painted Turtles were up. You just had to look for them.

The corner of this pond was a real hot spot. The turtles were loving the sun here. This is why Painted Turtles sometimes get called "Sun Turtles".

As we stood there, just watching turtles, we could see more and more as our eyes relaxed. They were all over.

The shadows were getting longer but the Painters would stay up as long as possible. Note the wee one on the stick on the far right.

We moved on and I got to flex my bird photography muscles.

(My #32, a Pine Warbler. I got a slightly better shot for my "official" one.)

The next pond area was on a well traveled path so there were no turtles. No turtles that were easy to see, anyway. The far shore, a good 50 yards away, had secret stacks of Painters shining in the sun.

A secret stack behind a Ring-necked Duck.

There was an Osprey (#33) on the nest back there, too.

We hit one more woodland trail after that pond. It was humanless and it afforded a peek an some other secret stacks.

Before looking for Wood Frogs, Andrea flipped our first salamander of the day, a large Redback.

While she tended to business, I spied this stack from high above.

It was getting late so we turned back. Before getting off of this path, Andrea flipped this pesky Leadback who almost thwarted my attempt at a photograph.

Walking back past that last pond gave me a new view and I spied some previously unseen secret stacks.

This stack perplexed me a bit. I could only see it with a very extended zoom lens. That bottom turtle is not a Painted Turtle.

After dozens of shots and a few lucky angles, I was able to determine that is was a small Blanding's resting his fat noggin on a big Painter. He's having a molt.

3rd Blanding's we've ever seen here over 5 or 6 years.

One last look at a chorus line of "Sun Turtles" before we hurried out of there.

Not a bad day. I didn't kill any humans and we got to see more turtles than you can shake a stick at. First of Year Blanding's (5 total) and spending time with like-minded friends. I'm happy to report that Bob made it home safely.