We both had the week of the Fourth of July off. Of course, we wanted to get a few hikes in but we also had a lot to do around the house, so we sought to choose our hikes wisely. Easier said than done. The week started out cool and rainy. Monday, the 3rd, was supposed to show signs of improving, so we tried a brand new place, an Audubon spot in Middlesex County that looked really good for turtles.
Of course, we got there very early and it was very cool and still drizzling.
I saw a deer next to the pond and a low-to-the-ground mammal (beaver?) hurrying through the brush, but I had my camera under my shirt for rain reasons and could not procure a photo. I was quick enough to get this Eastern Cottontail, though. It was one of three we saw there.
It was a very nice place but boy, did we ever pick the wrong time. We will visit it again under better conditions.
From there, we drove a few miles to check out a nearby State Park. $8 parking didn't deter us and we headed toward the beach. A dcr guy said "it's windy and wet". We figured that out.
But we got off to a nice start with a Pickerel Frog in the grass.
There was a lot of Common Mullein growing up there, which kept the Bumblebees happy.
At the end of the dam area (at the dam-proper), Rough-winged Swallows were flitting all over the place. We sat and rested for a while watching them. One finally landed for our #73 bird on the year.
This was our view from our sitting spot. Not too shabby.
As we walked back, we started to notice numerous Water Snakes popping their heads out of the rocks along the raised walkway. Most of them were too quick for my fumbling fingers but I got a shot of one more.
That was our first hike of the week. Not gangbusters, but two brand new spots that we enjoyed.
On the 4th of July, we walked around a local Norfolk County pond for the first time. We enjoyed it but the only animal we saw was one small Painted Turtle over the few miles of hiking. It was super hot.
Still, worth the effort.
We didn't get out again until Friday the 7th. We'd had a few walks planned but slept right through our "must leave by" times. It was incredibly hot so it's leave early, or forget it. We forgot it.
We'd hoped to hook up with our friend Box Turtle Tim and hit the Cape but he had to work all week so we ventured to the Cape on our own on Friday, leaving very early and arriving in Tim's turtle field by 8:30 AM. With scale, tape measure and Box Turtle forms, we were ready to gather some data for Tim. Except it was already well into the 80s and we were soaked with sweat at the word go. We didn't see any Boxies, but we did see a nice Fowler's Toad in his woods.
Looking around the area, we realized that we hadn't been to this sanctuary in the daytime since the pandemic. A lot of things had changed, but apparently, it was for the better. A lot of Bullfrogs were enjoying a man-made pool that hadn't been there the last time we were.
There was a Painted Turtle in there too, basking secretly.
Since we'd failed on Box Turtles, we hit the trails towards the beaches in hopes of seeing a Diamondback Terrapin, a species we'd missed the past few years. We passed a freshwater pond with a couple more Painters up basking.
Along the trail, we encountered this horrifying sight... a Parasitic wasp (probably Ammophilia sphecid) carrying a live Rough Prominent Caterpillar (thanks, Teá!) to go feed it to its young. Nature is brutal.
One thing that always surprises me at this place is the clumps of Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus... it just looks out of place near a beach.
Once we hit the beach path, Fiddler Crabs were all over. They are a lot of fun to watch and they're so variable in both size and color! Lefties and righties, too!
We'd been keeping an eye out in the grasses and dunes for nesting Terrapins but saw none. We saw a lot of nests, some protected and some marked to protect with cages. It had been a busy morning, evidently. Finally, we saw a little canal and our First of Year Diamondback Terrapin, first since 2019.
There were a few noggins poking out of the water, too.
One target achieved! We went out towards the beach and watched Fiddler Crabs for a while and even learned a thing or two. The ones without the big fiddle claws are the females.
This guy was my favorite... he stood there, gesturing and standing his ground against we two massive mammals. He was pure badass. Guy N. Smith would be proud.
Walking back (the sand after the soft pine-layered woods was starting to do a number on Andrea's ankle), we peeked into the canal again and saw two Terrapins basking.
Because I like learning shit, I photographed this plant. It is a Rugosa Rose plant and the fruits are edible, though I didn't test that out. We did see the flowers elsewhere and didn't realize it was the same plant.
Passing by the freshwater pond, a Painter had the float all to himself... for now.
Of course, we were toast by this time. Sore ankles and feet and overdone by the sun. We sat in rocking chairs, acting our age, and watched the bird feeder area for a while, cooling off. I added three (common) birds to the year, including the best portrait ever of a Wild Turkey (#74).
We ended the day with his bald Northern Cardinal, who looks more than a little bit like me.
The last day before work, Sunday the 9th, we were going to look at Green Snake place, even though it was in the 90s, but decided to go work on Andrea's garden plot instead. Weeding needed to get done. Well, making the responsible choice actually worked out in our favor when Andrea found our First-of-Year DeKay's Snake while weeding!
And that is how we spent our Summer vacation. We're still not able to do too much with that ankle, and if we try, it tells us to stop, but we finally got our Deke and first Terrapins in a few years, so it's all good.
The house didn't get very clean, though.
The house didn't get very clean, though.
Hi guys: Thanks for your efforts with the box turtles. I visited later on the following week with similar results .... nothing! Seems like box turtles don't like extreme heat (neither do I). You folks take care.
ReplyDelete