Totally Turtle. 6-13-2021

 After successfully finding our two targets the day before, we put Northern leopard Frogs into our brains for Sunday and headed to the most likely place to see them, in Middlesex County. Long story short, we didn't. We were skunked. But we saw plenty of interesting things, mostly of the Painted Turtle variety.

We were a little jealous of a couple who were sitting on a bench with this big Bullfrog sitting in front of them. We know just how wonderful that feels!

Painters were plentiful and beautiful.

A couple of Water Snakes were cuddling next to the path as we walked by. One took off but the big female stayed in her spot. She was in the blue and likely didn't know we were there.

Some smiling Painted Turtles.

Here's a smiling Bullfrog.

One bad thing about this particular spot is that River Carp get into the ponds and cause trouble. Usually, they are a nuisance but one scared up the wee Green Frog from under the duckweed and I got a photo of him.

Thanks, Carp!

We'd gotten to a stretch of the place where we often encounter Garters. We call it the Garter Belt. We'd had a few shoot away from us but eventually, I got the camera on a couple of gorgeous specimens.

From the Garter Bert to Water Way... there were some big ol' gals basking.

#72 on the year, a Cedar Waxwing making a funny face.

We were heading back towards the main part of the park but many of the usual turtle basking areas were underwater. The turtles had become few and far between. This Painter kept our spirits up.

We took a sit-down on a bench and were delighted to see a Garter utilizing the same spot for belly warming.

Two contortionist Painted Turtles.

We got to a spot on the path where another hiker was standing around. A family of geese wouldn't let him by. With strength in numbers, the three of us approached and the goose family s l o w l y waddled along in front of us for about 100 yards.

The goslings' fuzzy butts were endlessly entertaining.

At our destination, behind a bridge, we saw this Painter up on land and had the pleasure of watching her slip into the shallow water and swim. Beautiful sight!

Heading back, I took a look out at the river and saw this Canada Goose enjoying a vigorous bath.

Back on the main path, heading back toward the parking lot, turtles were a'plenty. The sun was warmer than when we'd been by the first time and Painters were all over.

Peering through some bushes, I saw something that I'd been anticipating for a couple of years. An odd shell... I wriggled into position to try a picture...

That's a Map Turtle. They don't live up here. But Petco has been selling them for a while and we knew it was just a matter of time before we saw one in the wild. I can't call it a "lifer", but it sure is pretty. It didn't stay up for long with me poking about.

This Painter was right next to the Map, feeling much more secure.

A couple more Painters rounded out the day.

That last guy looks like he's about to blast off!

So, no Leopard Frogs. And we did see a discarded pet. I wish the Map Turtle well. In the meantime, I do wish that aquatic turtles (all turtles?) were pets that needed permits. It's a huge responsibility and most humans are too selfish and small minded to care for them properly.