Odds and Ends. June 2, 8 and 9.

We had planned on going into Norfolk County to take a look around our best Green Snake place but there was a parade blocking the only road we could make it by, so we grumbled and turned around and decided to just go to our local cemetery to see if any turtles were hanging out. Really, it was just an excuse to relax and look at turtles.

It was a pretty hot day out (Sunday, June 2nd) and surprisingly, we saw no turtles up basking. But just being near the water brought up a friendly (begging) Snapper.

Neon Angel on the Rhododendron.

Bullfrogs were calling from the edges. They were hard to actually see, but they're there.

On the other end of the pond, another Snapper swam up to us looking for a handout.

This Red-ear is a familiar beggar, too.

Napping on an island, this Snapper made it easier to see the shell trauma it has survived.

At first, we thought this Painter had personal space issues... it kept bonking into the Snappers face. While we thought that was a dumb move, it was actually part of a symbiotic relationship. The Snapper would lower its head and the Painter was munching on something under the outer shell, maybe algae or something. Or some of that infernal pollen!

Interesting observation.

Moving along, we got to a spot where we saw the back end of a Snapper sticking out of the water.

I saw it move, I thought, but I started to worry that it was stuck. I stepped into the water to see if I could help. Damn, too slippery and heavy. All of a sudden, it moved out and it was our old friend Whitey.

When Whitey popped out, another large Snapper took off. It appears that he was standing tall, having a stand-off. We stood back and watched as the other one came back.

The way we see it, Whitey is the king of the pond. This reddish guy, who is also very big, looks like he'd like the royalty. He did force Whitey off a couple of times. Might be the changing of the guard.

Before leaving, we saw one more Bullfrog.

Not a bad way to spend an hour on a hot Sunday afternoon.

The following Saturday, the 8th, we headed out to Middlesex County to the preserve that we were flooded out of in April. We got there late, after noon, and headed in. The reeds were high and we didn't expect to see much. We did spy this Painted Turtle hiding in plain sight.

Ever present was the mocking, laughing trill of the Marsh Wren, my avian nemesis. I stood there looking at the reeds again, but knew I'd get nothing. Then, much to my surprise, Andrea pointed one out that flew up and perched on a cat-tail. #46, my nemesis, the Marsh Wren.

Andrae next spied a small Water Snake who was crawling towards a spillway. The water was rushing pretty hard and was worried that he might get swooped away. He took a look over the edge...

Finally, he came up above the grate, head swaying as he sought out lunch, and moved into the reeds.

A Blue Dasher female.

There were new signs up proclaiming private property. I missed the first one so we actually were trespassing, but before we turned back, Andrea saw this dirty-butt Snapper resting next to the pond. Hopefully, her nest will survive.

Not much we could do but head back. A note: this place used to be thick with frogs. We saw none last year. I suspect that something to kill off invasive plants a few years ago killed off more than the plants. We did see one quick frog jump out of the path and into the bushes. No clue what kind.

Another thing we couldn't get our camera on... a Garter with a gorgeous bright white dorsal stripe was on the edge of the path. I was so stunned, I didn't take a photo, just gasped at its beauty. Oops. Another slim garter also handed me my ass.

There was a Mute Swan family puttering around. I like this shot of an adult and a cygnet with teeny wings shaking out.

A couple more Painters on the way out.

Not an amazing day in the field, but every day in nature is better than any day not in nature. While the species count isn't much more than the miles invested, it's all good. 

The next day, Sunday the 9th, it was pouring in the morning. No worries. I had band practice at 1 PM so we couldn't go out anyway. Upon leaving practice, I saw the sun had come out. I got home and said to Andrea that we should head over to Green Snake Place right away... it was like morning to them at 3 PM. 

My plan turned out to work. We got there at 3:30 PM, just as things were warming up. We FINALLY got our First of Year DeKay's! Both flipped.

^ That mosquito in the shot is the reason Andrea didn't hold still for another photo.

Within a minute, I spied a big, fat, full o' eggs Green, our FOY.

If she's not gravid, then she just ate a pound of crickets.

Minutes later, we saw another Green crawling through the broken glass like the badass he is.

This place is horribly polluted  but there are snakes, so... we visit.

For the trifecta, a sleeping Garter wearing a flower hat.

We did see another couple of Garters but they avoided the camera like pros.

Nice to get a get FOYs there, and it';s always a treat to see Greens. I think that is the first time we have had two Massachusetts Greens in one day. This June sure it superior to last year's June!

And So Starts June. June 1st, 2024

Since it is still turtle nesting season, we wanted to get to a turtle-centric place, so we got up at going-to-work time, grabbed breakfast on the road and headed into Plymouth County to the turtliest place we know. We actually got there at 8 AM. Not bad for a couple of lazy bastards!

It was still pretty cool but the sun was up and the birds were singing. I added a Prairie Warbler (#45) to the year's count right away.

We took the Spotted Turtle path, but the sun wasn't hitting a lot of it yet. By the end of the trail, we stated to see a few.

This Viceroy butterfly was a shock of red in the path.

Onto the main path, we could see a Snapper up in the distance. Make a run for it? Nah, it was the better part of a quarter mile away. But it was still there when we got up to it. Female looking to nest? Male crossing between waters? I can't tell.

I startled a good-sized Water Snake and this is the best I could do for a photo after it fled.

Whereas the week before, we'd had a symphony of Green Frogs, this week it was a Bullfrog chorus. They were calling everywhere and it was awesome. Here are a few big guys...

We finally started to get our Painted Turtle on.

Another large Bull. This guy was calling.

We ran into a lady that didn't like snakes or Snappers but told us of a trail where she sees both all of the time. We were suspicious, but decided to check out the marshy trail anyway. It wasn't the greatest trail but we did see a skinny Garter that I had to catch for a photo. He musked me good for my efforts.

Back on the main trail, we saw a Male Kingbird that refused to budge. We saw why... his wife was on-nest.

We got to the main pond. There was a kid's fishing derby going on and we suspected that we'd see absolutely nothing. There were cars and trucks parked along the trail. But the local turtles in the distance didn't care. It was sunny and they were fabulous. Some big Red-bellies were up with some Painters.

We were talking to a parking attendant over by a concrete slab that we know Racers like. Still need a Racer on the year. I got down low and swear I saw a smooth, scaly black tail among the sticks. When I moved closer, it was gone. Definitely a Racer. I went into the grass to see if anyone was basking. No Racers, but a brown, tanniny Water Snake was there. I picked her up to teach the guy a little about the local snakes. No bites, no musk. She was very sweet.

More distant turtles... a line of Painters:

A pair of way-out Redbells.

Needless to say, we saw no nesting turtles along the path while it was busy with humans fishing. I did hear the most revolting thing I've heard in a while, though. A man teaching his kid to bait a hook with a minnow... "see the eye? Go in behind that. It's important with live bait because you don't want to pierce the brain so it can't move." {{{shudder}}}

We got back to more or less privacy and started photographing Painters again.

This guy had so much tannin stain that I thought he was a Red-belly!

Andrea was looking at the bog side and spotted this immense Snapper! That shell has to be 18" from tip to tip!

When there's no more logs in the pond, the Painters will bask on lilypads. (paraphrasing Dawn of the Dead, 1978).

For a change of pace, here's a Main Pond Spotted!

A hidden Water Snake, scales only.

Our last sight was the one we had come for... a female Painted Turtle who had just nested. Note the dirty butt.

And the best part? We'd hiked 6ish miles in four hours and it was only just noon! Even after errands, there was plenty of nap time! Win win!