Ending May... the 29th and 30th.

Considering how well we did with turtles the day before, we got a little cocky and headed out to our Wood Turtle spot on Sunday. What could possibly go wrong?

We headed out early, knowing full well that it was going to be super hot later on. We got there and the grass was dewy and the air was fresh. It was lovely. We didn't see any Wood Turtles. You know, this is why I'm a lousy trophy herper... I'd rather see some common stuff than nothing at all. When we target  less common species, it's either all or nothing. It wasn't until well over an hour in that I saw this American Toad and risked a huge amount of blood-loss due to mosquitoes to get this photo.

We continued on for a while longer but inevitably said fuck it... let's go back. On the way back to the car, we stopped next to the river and finally saw a couple of frogs... a Bull, then a Green.

Since it was still relatively early, we went to a nearby area on the same river to do recon. It sure looks good for Wood Turtles and it connects to what we think might be a well known spot where entitled twats think they own the turtles... but I'm not sure. Nor do I care, really.

I saw a Garter, who outsmarted me, there and managed to photograph two Redbacks in the woods. We haven't been seeing many lately due to the temps, so they were welcome sights.

Heading back, we stopped near a spot where we'd been talking to a guy on the river, resting in a chair behind his house, enjoying watching the water. We wanted to bid him farewell, but he wasn't there. Then we heard a massive SPLASH and saw a White-tailed Deer swimming across the river and getting up on to the guys property. I could only get a shot as it appeared in a clearing before disappearing.

Pretty exciting!

Well, we were hot and tired and admitted relative failure so we rewarded ourselves with ice cream. We'd made Milk Snakes our "ice cream snake" this year and wouldn't you know, we've had a freakishly low Milk count... as in ZERO. So, we got ice cream on credit. We'll find one soon enough.

The next day was Memorial Day and we tried to stay pretty close. We went to a spot deep in Norfolk County for a leisurely walk. Right off the bat, before we parked, we saw two rangers standing next to a grassy spot in the parking lot. I looked and saw a Snapper climbing over a rock, looking for a spot to rest or nest. We parked and ran back. She had settled in under some leaves.

As always, there was lots of Barn Swallow action going on. I caught this pair gathering nesting material. They are #84 on the year.

While I was doing that, Andrea had spied a large Water Snake who was down in between two rocks and she couldn't get a photo. Nor could I. There was a young family there that wanted to see her, too, so I pulled her up.

Of course, the family then wouldn't come within 30 feet of her so what's the point? At least we got this nice voucher shot. The last 3 inches of her tail was hanging by a thread with a recovering injury. I suspect the next time we see her, it will be a stub.

A bit further along the pond, we saw this lovely candy-cane Nerodia. We kept the sight to ourselves.

Next, we saw this guy resting his head on his food-lump.

Standing next to the pond, I looked out for turtle perches, but saw none. But, Andrea pointed out a massive Bullfrog on the edge that I somehow managed to miss.

At a different spot, I could finally see a Painter doing what they do best.

I made the proclamation that "first one to see a garter gets a kiss". I won. What a cute little cinnamon shoestring!

Andrea tried to get out of it but I got my smacker.

A couple more Painters, who obviously would only be turning up one at a time.

This Garter slithered across our path and was nice enough to stop for a photo.

We had reached the halfway mark and the promised heat was starting to rear it's hot head. Walking the back road to get to the place to resume the trail, we saw another couple walking towards us. The woman yelped and jumped to the side. I know that sight anywhere... snake! Much to our delight, it was our first Milk of the year.

Sneaking ice cream a day early worked! The couple stayed to listen to us talk about the snake and I'm sure they thought we were daft. But what a beauty, if a tad slim.

From there, things got pretty slim everywhere. It had become quite hot and even the turtles weren't up very much. This one distant Painter was all we could muster.

Back to the beginning, we were pretty tired but saw some stuff on the way out. This Water Snake has a big day in front of him!

This Garter found a nice spot to digest the morning meal.

While these two water Snakes decided to take a tumble. It seems late in the year to me, but maybe this was just recreational. The female is more than twice the size of the male. He likes big cloacas and he can not lie.

On the way out, we checked our Snappy friend. She looked pretty happy, whatever she had decided to do there. Shady and cool... likely just a rest until the humans all leave.

So, the weirdness of 2022 continues. Finally got that Milk, barely made it in May. Still no Ringnecks. That's just bizarre. But we got out four days in a row and we're happy about that. Twelve species of Reptiles and Amphibians on the long weekend and I added six birds to the count. I'm happy with that. 

The Nesting Game. 5-28-2022

It's turtle nesting season. We wanted to see some nesting turtles. So, we chose the turtliest place we know, in Plymouth County. (After checking the UV Index... the place can be brutal.) It was going to be a little overcast, but in the mid to high 70s. It sounded just about perfect. 

We got there late morning and jumped right in. We headed down the wooded path first (to "look for Wood Frogs") to look for Box Turtles and Gray Tree Frogs. We didn't see any of either of those, but flipped a Redback on the edge of a drying vernal.

But truth be told, it was 'skeetery as hell and we just wanted out of the woods. They were intense. We saw this Painted Turtle walking through the woods (why? I do not know) and took our life into our hands to get this photo. There's at least 3 skeeters on him.

Back out to the bogs, it was less buggy and we had a chance to take our time. The first part of the path is very Spotted Turtley but they were on to me this time... I couldn't get a shot. My first success was with a Painter and a Green Frog who startled each other.

At a cross-path, we looked down the one we weren't taking and saw, in the distance, a Painter crossing. So, we ran for turtles! Got there just as she'd reached the grass.

Heading back to the spot that we'd run from, we got to see things that we'd passed by in a hurry... a few Bullfrogs...

...and an absolutely mammoth Snapper.

Finally added a Great Blue Heron to the year (#82). I usually get them early but luck hadn't been with me yet.

A few more Painters...

A massive Bull.

One of the joys of taking pictures in nature is the surprises you get when you upload. Here's a surprise Painter head in the right foreground...

Here, dead center of the picture, behind the branches... a Snapper face!

This looks like a lovely spot to nest...

A Painted Turtle not nesting!

We got to a spot we like to sit and relax at, but it was already occupied!

We helped her back safely, then admired the Painters who were basking nearby.

(In case you can't see that face in the front...)

This spot is near an Osprey nest and we often get scolded. We'd heard nothing, so we figured "what could possibly go wrong?"

Oh yeah, we got a scolding.

A few more Painters while we retreated.

This Bullfrog pretty much sums up my thoughts on most days.      

Ahead, in the path, we saw a summit; two Painter Ladies were crossing in opposite directions.

We got to Spotted Pond. It pretty much lived up to its name. Here are two Spotties and a Painter enjoying a bask.

And here's a solo effort.

Heading towards the big pond, we saw another Snapper plopping some eggs into the earth.

No sooner had I said "where all da snakes?" than Andrea pointed out a periscoping Water Snake.

Another Painter up, looking for a spot as we headed to the big pond.

The big pond had its share of happily basking turtles. Here's a Redbelly.

Some Painters.

A Redbelly and at least 17 Painters. (Guess which one is the Redbell...)

A pair of Double-crested Cormorants guarding a pair of Redbellies.

Heading back was a slow mission. One thing that slowed us down was spying this Racer.

I tried to move in for a better shot and startled a second Racer. As I tried (unsuccessfully) to get a shot of that one, I saw a third one resting not far away. Anyway, they lived up to their names and I failed to photograph the other two, who slid under the concrete slab the first one had been resting on. Here is another shot of the first one, deciding that the two bipedaling mammals had spoiled their spot. Sorry 'bout that.

Walking along the pond, we figured we'd see plenty more nesting turtles, but we did not. We had to content ourselves with the occasional one in the water.

Some male American Goldfinches were flitting about in their bright yellow finery. I always lament that I count Goldfinches early in the year before they get their color, so I took a shot. Turns out, I didn't get one in January this year... here is #82.

I wonder how many birds I miss every year by doing that.

We rested a bit but had to hurry because the storm was coming in quickly. This happy Painted Turtle was our last sight before heading back towards the car.

Remember how we'd stopped seeing nesting turtles? Well, on the fairly short trek back to the parking lot, we saw six more female Painters laying some eggs!

Well, we went there to see nesting turtles. Mission accomplished. 9 species of reptile and amphibian and a few more birds. That was a good trip.