Home Away from Home. 6-17-2018

We had afternoon plans this sunny Sunday so we chose a nearby hike that we've been enjoying for over a decade. 4 1/2 miles around a lovely pond in Norfolk County. We got there early enough but apparently enjoyed ourselves so much that we were too late to make our afternoon plans. Oh well... this is what detained us.

After a brisk walk through the woods, we reached the open dam area which is usually a place to find Water Snakes and turtles. Sure enough, floating in the vegetation on the pond's edge, we spied our first Painted Turtles.



Further along the dam, I was dawdling along the rocks on the edge looking for Nerodia while Andrea, about 20 feet away, declared that she'd found a Spotted Turtle.

Is there one in there?

Sure is! And another!

And another!

She'd found the Spotted Turtle Hot Spot ®!

Hey... you're not a Spottie!





These were all fairly small, mid-sized specimens and it was pure joy to be able to watch them just be turtles for a while.

Meanwhile, we never noticed this small Water Snake at our feet.


Further along the dam, Andrea spotted another Spotted, though it depahted before a better photo could be plotted.


I'm enjoying my new camera quite a lot. Even Gypsy Moth caterpillars look wonderful under its scrutiny.


This place (and yes, I realize pretty much everyone knows where we are, but I don't name places anymore) is blessed with a wonderful bog area and that was our next portion of the hike. A large Garter swished off and out of sight right away but the next one, a large female, sat there for some photos.



It just wouldn't be a walk through the bog without a look at the carnivorous plants present... Pitcher Plants and the Sundew. You can see the Sundew has caught a mosquito.



The next mile or so was pleasant but we saw no new animals to photograph. The Hobo Camp, however, got us a beautiful Ringneck under a rock.


Back to the edge on the pond, I waded out a bit to cool off while Andrea sat on the shore.


She felt as though she was being watched...

Garter eyes were upon her.

It was a week before the swimming/ camping area would open so we had free reign of the rock walls and dock area. This worked out well. A nestled Garter...


A pond-side Ringer...


This large Water Snake was up near the wall and darted to the water (very impressively). I procured her for a voucher shot.

Then she sat on the deck pondering what the forthcoming summer holds for her before slipping into the drink.


We ended the day with one more Ringneck, another beauty.


This place, as populated with humans as it sometimes is, remains a favorite spot. The animals have figured out how to coexist and the natural beauty hasn't changed much in the decade plus that we've been coming here.

But hey, where were the frogs?