Shell Shocked. 7-9-2020

Hey, it's vacation! Let's get up at 5 AM and drive to the Cape to see if we see any Terrapins! It's going to be super hot today, so let's get there early! We did... we got to our destination by 8:30 AM. It was already pretty hot, so we decided to trek into the woods to see if any Box Turtles were up. It wasn't exactly Box Turtle weather but it had rained in the night and... well, who knows.

The caretaker of this population, the wise and wonderful Box Turtle Tim, asked us to let him know if we saw any Boxes. He was unable to be there that day. It wasn't long before we ran into this guy.

Ya got a lil something on your face there.

This individual had a paint mark on his shell... Tim had already worked up his stats this season.

The next little guy is an interesting one...

I had first found this lil scamp back in 2016 and Tim had worked him up and given him a number. He was seen again later that year, then not again until this sighting- 4 years later. We sent Tim plenty of photos, which is nice, but I really wish we'd have had a scale and the means to measure him (it).

Still, the little one is looking very good and healthy and was very strong. We put it down and it walked behind a branch of a fallen tree. When we came back by a half hour later, it had completely disappeared under the leaves.

I was looking at some shady areas beneath bushes and trees and thought that's where I would hang out if I was a turtle. This Boxie agreed.

It was another one Tim needed specs on. We took many pics.

So, three Box Turtles on an 80+° day isn't too shabby. We went out to the trails to see if we'd have any luck with Terrapins. The Painted Turtle float wasn't present in the small fresh-water pond so we were lucky to see this one basking Painter.


A bird we usually check off in Florida, the Green Heron (#60).


Another thing we always like to see on Cape Cod; Fiddler Crabs and Willets (#61)



We made a pretty thorough search of potential places to see Diamondback Terrapins but in the end, never saw any. There were plenty of protected nests, though, which is a wonderful sign. To satisfy our chelonia needs, this Painter was swimming in the pond when we walked by again.

I'm not sure if we'll make it back to look for Terrapins this year... we might have to go without for 2020.

Andrea, in her amazing way, spied some Tinies, presumably Fowler's.


Another bird I usually get in Florida, the Purple Martin (#62). I learned that they are only recently back and breeding on the Cape.


So, that was our Cape trip. Pretty short, but it was pushing 90°, so we hit the road to head home by 11:30 AM. But, as we'd be passing through Plymouth County on the (99 mile) way home, we figured we'd swing by the National Forest to look at some spots before calling it  a day. It's at about the half way mark to home anyway.

We checked out some snake spots and, unsurprisingly, we saw none. We decided on checking to see if any Plymouth Redbellies were up on such a hot day, so we swung by the most reliable spot and, sure enough, there were two up, as well as two Painters. The Redbells are massive.



Freddy Krueger without the lame quips:


Before leaving, I added #4 to my admittedly not-doing-so-well Grasshopper Project, the Carolina Locust.


It was a lot of driving and a lot of sun but it was all worth it. Turtles... is there anything they can't do?

We Drove 60+ Miles for a Rat. 7-8-2020

We're stuck in Massachusetts this year, obviously. We're not even supposed to drive to other nearby states so we're doing what we can instate. We still want to see as many different animals as we can, so we have to hit up the tried and true spots. No New Jersey or Pennsylvania this year for us, so we took a hike 60  miles out the Turnpike to try our luck at a sometimes reliable Rat Snake spot. As easy as they are to see elsewhere, the species is endangered in MA and this place is our best bet.

That said, it was going to be hot, hot hot and 92% humidity, so we got up early and hit the road. We got there at about 8:30 AM, before it was too steamy. Our timing was very good. While Andrea was still "looking for Wood Frogs", I flipped a Ringer next to the parking lot.


There is plenty to flip at this place and since we were early, we went about doing that first. A pile that has been good for Ringnecks in the past had a Milky surprise for us.

That's a new one for us here!

A tarp-full of ornery, abruptly awakened Garter.

OK, sorry... go back to sleep.

That's three snake species before 9 AM! Quite a difference from the day before, when our snake count was ZERO.

We walked past the ground-zero Rat spot a few times, looking closely every time. Nuthin', but we went on to some more flip spots and had good luck with more Garters and Ringers.




We walked on, taking different trails and a few other flip-spots, hoping for an Eft, some toads or the elusive Rat Snake. Eventually, we wound up walking past "ground zero" again and went over to peek. As Andrea way saying, "well, it worked once", I added "twice".

Our First-of-Year Rat Snake posed nicely for some photos, then gently backed in to the hole. Like it was never there.

OK, that was four snake species on what was gearing up to be a super sweaty, hot day. Adding any salamanders was going to be tough, but we got a few nice Painters up basking.



A Garter was up catching some rays before starting his day.


One more Painted Turtle.


At that point, we considered ourselves done. We picked some wild berries to bring home and checked "ground zero" again. Nothing. See, timing is everything here. But I just had to hit one last spot before heading out. Hey look... another Milk!


That was a pretty successful, if quick trip. It was still only 11 AM when we left but we were absolutely soaked with sweat, so we cranked the AC in the car and hit the road. We actually did take a quick swing into the next County for a walk at a newer spot. We did see a large Water Snake take off, but pictures were not to be had.

But mission accomplished. Plus lots of other beautiful animals.

Hellbent... Hellbent for Painters. 7-7-2020

We took Monday off for reasons of sleeping in and relaxing all day. Tuesday was going to be hot and sunny and we went to a favorite spot in Plymouth County, getting there early. We headed into the woods first, as is our way. Andrea found some tiny Peepers before we decided that the 'skeeters weren't worth staying in the woods.


Now, I'm going to make this blog post very easy on myself. I missed a photo of a Spotted Turtle early on but got dozens of photos of Painted Turtles and Bullfrogs. Rather than give a blow by blow ("then, we saw another Painter. Further up the path, a Painter..."), here are a bunch of photos of those two species.
















Sorry to interrupt. Here are some baby Mallards.


OK, now where were we?







Here's a shot that pretty much sums up the day... a Painter and a Bull!


OK, more Painters, but on the far left... a Plymouth Redbelly.

Though he appears to have a Painter head growing out of his back.


I also spent way too much time being frustrated by my Annual Avian Adversary, the Marsh Wren. This blurry shot will have to suffice for #59.


Andrea finally found us a big, foraging Snapper.


OK, so... back to the theme of Painted Turtles and Bullfrogs.







Hey, wait a minute... this guy is a Green Frog! We'd heard them calling all day but this is the first we actually saw!


So, that was six species on the day. That's respectable. Let me say, if you think I'm bored by seeing so many Painted Turtles and Bullffrogs, think again. They are both beautiful and (obviously) extremely successful. Surviving in a tough world out there on their own. With all of the turtle nest predation we see, it's amazing that anything survives. But we saw hundreds of Painters on this walk (and dozens of Bulls) and each one is a treasure. It seems fitting that our last animal on this hike was a Painted Turtle strolling across the path as we were leaving. We watched her slowly make her way into the brush next to the path and disappear.