No, we didn't see the Box. Or anything else for quite a while. Finally, we saw a Painted Turtle who might even have been dumber than me. Possibly, but most likely not.
We sat down at the end of Osprey Path with only one photo taken. Unheard of. I took a photo of something that looked like a Snapper head after the waterfall. No, it's not. Then it disappeared. It was?? Well, this shitty shot is all I got.
This Painted Turtle shows me how it's done.
As does this Bullfrog.
It was great hearing a lot of Bulls and Greens calling from the ponds. It was turning out to be a decent frog day in this cool rainy weather. We stood there for quite a while, just listening to frogs croak. I tried like hell to get a shot of a Bull sack extended but I was too slow, poorly placed, or I'd put my time in on a shy guy. But they were all beasts!
Painted Turtles were OK with us just standing there.
We decided that there was no need to go "the long way" and so we cut over to the big pond. I wanted to check out Racer Rock. No, no Racers (haven't seen one here in years) but the grass next to the cement platform had a chubby Water Snake gal laying about.
This massive gal had her head poking out for a nice photo.
Andrea got into the action as well.
Another fat mama Nerodia was in the grass on the other side.
After resting at a nearby picnic table, we went back by the cement and saw at least another two new ones. All huge and obviously with snakelet. Great spot, standing in the shade of the blossoming Swallow Tree. (They don't call 'em Tree Swallows for nothing!)
Walking back along the big pond, we saw some guys in the fishing area. That usually means we don't stop there. But they were laying down, reaching into a spillway with sticks, removing debris. This piqued my interest. They said that they'd seen a massive turtle in there that might be stuck. They'd already pulled out two tired Spotted Turtles. The two guys (Connor and Gary) were tenacious and their persistence paid off and they eased a big ol' Redbelly out of the confined space. Very impressive work!
These two are, like us, reptile enthusiasts and Andrea told them how good their karma will be! Connor even called me and ran to catch up with me afterwards because I'd stupidly left my backpack at trhe spillway!
Two good dudes. I wish there were more in the world.
This Snapper was, by the way, watching as they were trying to gather the Redbell!
A few more Painters.
It was warm enough, but still cloudy. At some point, I said that I didn't expect it to be quite like this. This Water Snake gal had a nice, secret place to warm on a small rock.
Finally added Bird #57 with a female American Goldfinch in her summer finery.
The next day, Sunday the 29th, was going to be warmer. I chose a place in Middlesex County that we hadn't been to yet because I figured it would have been flooded earlier on. Well, now it was very much grown in and impossible to see the water. We did walk out a boardwalk and dock to see a few Painters eventually.
Sun? Yes. Lots. It was hot. Again, at some point, I said that I didn't expect it to be quite like this. Anyway, we got to some rocks and I flipped a feisty, bitey Garter. Yes, that's probably musk on the lens.
A fellow nature walker (from California) pointed out a Robin's nest, which was beautiful... but more on that after this brilliant golden Green Frog. Plenty of Greens were calling.
Yeah, I thought this was a nest of baby Pterodactyls.
Turns out the guy was right. A Robin came back to feed them.
While I was waiting for the mom to come back in hopes of getting a better shot, Andrea was over by the Garter rocks and found an Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel). Cuteness overload.
We saw our First of Year Monarch Butterfly suckin' on some Milkweed flowers.
Far too lazy to look up the species but this dragonfly landed in a terrific spot for a photo.
The Spaghetti Plant was in full bloom.
Actually, it is Rope Dodder and it is a parasitic plant. Those host plants are probably doomed. It's cool stuff, though.
We sat for a bit in the shade, watching the river run beyond the trees. All of a sudden, 3 ermine hopped across the path right in front of us. What a treat that was. They were all no longer than 7 inches, the last one was even shorter! Black tipped tails. Adorable.
Last photo of the weekend. Also adorable... a young Painter.
I was happy to hear the Greens but this spot was a stronghold for Northern Leopards and we haven't seen them there in years. I hate that they seem to be gone from this spot.
Not my perfect choices of places to go but they both paid off with good sights. I took Rt. 95 the wrong way home though, wasting time and gas (which is money). I should be put down.
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