We didn't see anything in any of the ponds or along the trail so it seemed like a good day to just look at flowers. These guys looked cool and it turns out they are Japanese Honeysuckle which is an introduced species that can strangle the native plants. Pretty but not wanted. Much like myself.
Some distant turtles could be seen from the dam. Looks like two Red-ears and a Painter, though I'm not certain.
More flowers... the Prairie Wild Rose.
Some Purple Crownvetch.
Past the dam, we got on a thin path that runs next to the water. It is fairly shaded so we thought it odd that a Painted Turtle was nesting on it.
The path runs between the big reservoir and a pond. The pond side had some good perches for a trio of basking Painted Turtles.
We don't get many "Holy Shit!" moments these days, being trapped in Massachusetts and all, but this was one of them. I was about 10 feet in front of Andrea, saw this and softly said back to her, "just keep walking softly and keep cool." She did. She walked past with her eyes wide and her hand over her mouth.
Stashed here by the mom while she went foraging, this little White-tailed nipper couldn't have been more than a few days old. Criminally cute.
We went on for a while and had to eventually turn back, knowing we'd pass by the fawn again. We did and it did get a little nervous as we passed back by it but it stayed put and all was well. The turtle rocks had become more painterly.
Back to the dam, ready to cross through the hot sun again, Andrea did what only she seems to be able to do... she spotted a hatchling Painted Turtle. Over-wintered and lost? I mean, surely it's far too early for this years new models. At any rate, she decided to get it towards a safe spot.
We went down towards the water, planning on getting it to a safe place among the reeds down there. Andrea found a good reason to nix this spot... a pretty large Water Snake.
We scooped some water into Andrea's turtle-carrying bag and headed back up to the dam path.
We saw our #64 bird of the year, a Spotted Sandpiper.
I ended 2025 with 66 birds. Looks like I SHOULD be able to beat that this year. But you never know.
We saw a slithering shadow on the path about 30 feet in front of us. It disappeared quickly so I feel fortunate to have gotten up there in time to get a (servicable) shot of a Racer.
A trio of Painted Turtles posing for their album cover.
We got to a spot where I could release the little Painter. I slid on my butt down a grassy, dirty hill to get to the muddy, reedy edge of a pond and the wee one made a break for it.
With dirty ass, I ascended the hill and we went on.
One more Painter nesting...
And that was it until we were almost back to the car when this Eastern Chipmunk stopped and struck such a pose that I had to get a photo!
And that, at about 5 miles of nature-walking, was the end of the hike and the end of a pretty darn good weekend.
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