Hit Me With Your Nature Stick: Stumbling into October. The 1st, 3rd, and 9th.

This is the year that wasn't, for the most part. Again. Other than our enjoyable trip to PA to meet up with our friend Bob, we haven't gone further from home than Worcester County. Maybe we'll get back on track next year. Maybe not. At any rate, here we are in October already. Time is running out for 2021 so we're happy to get whatever we can in.

October 1st was my work's company picnic. Andrea took the day off to attend with me. After a half day of work, we headed over to my boss's house for the party. Being in Middlesex County and not too far from a place we like, we decided to just pull in for a minute and poke around. After all, we didn't want to be the first ones there. We looked at one of the ponds from a different vantage point than usual and, despite the cool breeze keeping things chilly, there was one distant Painted Turtle pretending it was warm out.

We also managed to flip a few good lookin' Redbacks.

Not a bad way to start a weekend! This katydid congratulated us at the car. In fact, it wouldn't get out of the way of the car. Andrea had to physically remove it.

My boss's house is right on the Assabet River in a gorgeous location. Naturally, our animal seeking didn't stop when we got there. This Painter was right next to the shore on a rock, basking for all he was worth. Everyone got to get a good look at him.

In the distance, there was a remarkable sight; a metric fuck-ton of Painted Turtles were up basking, taking advantage of the Autumn sun.

I saw a large Water Snake as well, but she slithered off, unphotographed. This drunken bee was my last photo of the day.

The next time out was on Sunday the 3rd and it was kind of cool but sunny. We'd wanted to go to a different spot in Middlesex County, but as it got later, we decided on on closer spot. But, due to a parade in our town, we had to change course again. We decided on a spot that was on the other side of town. Well, we got there and saw nothing after hiking in about a mile and the 'skeeters were abominable, so we turned back and decided on yet another spot, our ol' favorite pond in Norfolk County.

There has been much talk lately about Crazy Worms, an invasive species that is becoming more prevalent all over. We've been seeing them here for years. But a friend voiced a relevant concern: are they displacing Redbacks? There have been fewer Redbacks seen by some of my friends and that could be a reason. So, I've started taking note of whether or not I see Redbacks and Crazy Worms in the same area. For the most part, no. But this flip had one of each. A resilient Redback? A lazy Crazy? This is something I will continue to keep an eye on.

At the dam, we saw one lovely Water Snake up catching some Vitamin D.

This gal was also an ambassador of good will. A self-proclaimed snake non-fan looked at her and listened to our spiel and walked away understanding a bit more and appreciating the animal.

We didn't have a lot of gas in the tank, especially after that false start, so we turned back at the end of the dam. The Nerodia gal was still sunning as we went by. Just off the trail, we noticed something that we'd missed on the way in. A pair of Green Frogs were bathing in a puddle.

One more lucky flip on the way out got us a look at a small Spotted Salamander.

Not a bad way to end the day.

We didn't get out until the next weekend. We stayed close-by, again, because we figured we can fail without having driven too far just as easily. It was warmer than the previous week but the nights are getting cold and we know our days are numbered.

Instant gratification happened anyway... this small Garter was laying in the grass next to a rock. I wasn't sure it was alive, but I picked him up and he quickly warmed up enough to become cantankerous.

A kid named Miles was walking by with his family and he was enamored with the snake. We let him release it.

Here is a Leadback making very good use of a worm tunnel.

Out to the Alley. I wanted to check the mouth of the tunnel because, in the past, we have seen shoestring Garters there. On the way in, this large-ish Garter darted off the path. Gorgeous animal!

As hoped, there was indeed a wee this-year's-model Garter just inside the tunnel!

From there on out, to the river and back, we didn't see anything but Northern Leopard Frogs. But oh, how beautiful they are! The first guy tried to hide from my camera.