Anniversary Weekend... August 20th thru 23rd.

August 22nd marked our 18th wedding anniversary. (Can you believe she has put up with a thing like me for so long?) We both took a few days off around the weekend to do some hikes. Unfortunately, the hot summer of 2021 was going to continue, so we had to plan our excursions early.

Friday the 20th, we decided to head into Bristol County. Our targets were shoestring Garters and hatchling turtles. We got there early, while the grass was still dewy, and saw a number of shoestrings straight away. Unfortunately, I'm not keen on picking them up as they are so fragile, so we saw 3 before Andrea procured this wee stinker for a photo.

Speaking of This Year's Models, our next sight was a Pickerel Frog of the same vintage.

We deemed it too hot for turtles to be up basking, but there's always a few intrepid Painted Turtles to prove me wrong.

As expected, we didn't see a lot of animals up and about, but we were walking through a nature preserve instead of working. No complaints. Especially when we next saw a couple of American Toads.

Out on the river at our usual turn-around point, some Painters were basking in the distance.

Even though it was cleaned up a number of years ago, we still always check in the (formerly known as) Appliance Graveyard. A few scraps of tin and shingles remain. Our tenacity gave us a great reward this time... our first ever (for this place) Four-toed Salamander. Most of one, anyway.

These guys are masters of the tail-drop and this guy had evidently done just that earlier this year, apparently. Still, he struck the defensive pose of putting his "tail" up over his head... tried to anyway. Then he ran a few inches and did it again. So cute! We let him be.

We also saw the first snake in the Appliance Graveyard in a few years, a neatly coiled and beautiful Garter.

Almost back to the car, we peeked into the garden again and yes, we saw a few small Garters. I procured one slightly larger one (Last Year's Model?) but he thwarted any attempt I made at a photo... this was my best.

Then Andrea gently corralled a newbie shoestring.

It was still only around noon when we were done, so we went to a couple more spots. At the next one, just inside Plymouth County, we were greeted by a small Painted Turtle who swam up to look at us before retreating back under water.

We noticed that we were still a few weeks early for shoestring Water Snakes. These two plump gals were still bakin' babies in their bellies.

One of my true joys in life is seeing snake hamburgers in stone walls. I just don't get to see enough of them. This small Water Snake was the finest 'burger I'd seen in a while!

How hot was it? Ask this Mydas Fly who stood there drinking for quite a long time. He was massive, about 2 inches long.

We went to one more spot, but it was very hot by this time and despite our hopes, it was still a bit too early in the year for hatchling turtles. We looked around anyway and were rewarded with one candy-cane Water Snake enjoying a soak.

Not a bad way to spend a day off!

The next day, Saturday the 21st, was supposed to be even hotter and more humid. Still, we dressed in long pants and decided to go to our Copperhead spot. This time of year, the females are getting in their last minute baby baking sessions.

Upon hitting the trail, I started picking up discarded dog shit bags to put on the "pick up after your dog" sign. Perhaps my cheekiness was my downfall but just as I finished doing that, I saw the latter half of a snake finish crossing the path. I ran to the spot, saw a Racer through the brush, shifted for a better look and it had vanished. Like Racers do.

I didn't have time to feel sorry for myself, though. We soon flipped a log (that was still pleasantly moist underneath) and had a double salamander delight... our First of Year Marbled Salamander was one of them. Just a little guy.

The other guy was a bright Redback.

Quite a lovely surprise for a day we figured was too hot for salamanders!

Just to keep us really happy, Mother Nature threw us another bone and we flipped another, bigger Marbled down by some water.

Vernal pools have been staying very full this year with all of the rainfall we've been having. We checked out one that we've seen both full and empty this time of year in the past and it was thriving. Massive Bullfrogs were all over the place!

We were almost to the spot where we had to ascend a hill up into the blazing sun in order to see our serpentine targets, but first, we saw one more Redback in the cool of the shaded forest.

We trudged our way up the rocky hill and finally reached the top. Mercifully, we had instant luck... a Copperhead was visible in a crevice.

From another view under the same rock, Andrea could see this snake-section. Same one? I think so, but I can't be sure. It would be a pretty long snake if it is!

Under another near-by rock, we got another Copperhead... a beautiful, baby-baking burger, becoming well-done in the sun.

She looks to be a little blue. Man, that's gotta suck.

So, pretty much instant gratification. We looked around up there a little more, but it was so damn hot and we were soaked with sweat; it was pouring into our eyes. We descended a little and sat in the shade for a while (after making sure there were no venomous snakes cryptically resting near us).

We headed down the hill in the shade and saw a few new Peepers hopping about.

I put Andrea through the agony of "that trail's gotta be around here somewhere" for too long before we actually got onto said trail. A nice American Toad hopped by on our way out, ending a sweaty but rewarding hike.

Sunday the 22nd was our anniversary and it was pouring rain (Hurricane Henri). We opted to stay in, watch movies, nap and eat Thai food. Heavenly.

We still had the next day off and nothing is better than a Monday hike, even if you're not so sure if the weather will cooperate. We went to our closest local spot in Suffolk County knowing that rain was imminent. Sure enough, as soon as we stepped in, a gentle sprinkle started. No worries. This small Wood Frog came up to greet us.

Probably looking for a Wood Frog of his own, this Garter was slithering through the wet leaves.

Next up... a Peeper!

A thought I saw a little noggin poking out of the pool... yep- a wee Green Frog. I left this photo uncropped. I like it as it is.

We went quite a way after that without seeing any wild animals. We got to the river and some Painted Turtles were trying their best to catch some rays through the clouds.

We started back, keeping our eyes open for anything now that the rain had subsided a little. Andrea saw this gorgeous Garter just off the path, hiding in the wet weeds.

Another Garter, foraging around the rocks.

I'd promised Andrea a Water Snake and by gosh, I wanted to show her a Water Snake! Finally, we saw a large, dirty, baby-filled momma Nerodia. *whew*

That gal is gonna pop any moment now.

Andrea repaid me with a gorgeous Northern Leopard Frog.

On the way out, we saw our 8th species on this short hike... an American Toad.

Not too shabby for a Monday.

So, by my count (which may not be right), that's 14 species for our Anniversary Weekend! Not bad. We'd planned on some time on the Cape or in Western Massachusetts, but a possible hurricane (Henri) made us stick closer to home. We have no regrets. We're lucky enough to have lots of nearby beauty that we can escape to. 

I officially declare that we had a wonderful Anniversary Weekend.