Species of April... April 13th and 14th

We both had four day weekends! Of course, the beginning of the month was rainy and cool but we were promised two days (Sunday and Monday) of decent weather on this weekend so we were happy enough. Imagine our delight when Saturday turned out to be less shitty than forecast! Due to all of the rain, we headed over to a good salamander spot in Norfolk County to see if any Ambystoma were present. 

It was in the mid-50s but rain was going to be light. We got there at about 11 AM and hit the trails. Salamanders were tougher than expected, but finally nabbed a couple of Redbacks.

Being as cool as it still was, I was quite surprised to see a little striped tail scurrying through the grass when I went to sit on a log. The tail belonged to a much larger Garter than I'd first expected to see. Gorgeous specimen, lots of bright yellow.

We enjoyed seeing a few birds and other things before we left that spot. We decided to hit a nearby reservoir in the same reservation. A Common Loon (#18) was cruising around.

Last year at about this time, the water was trilling with American Toad calls but we only heard one this time! We guessed that we were too early. But on the way back to the car, we saw these two fellows heading towards the drink. First of Year American Toads.

Yes, we were early, but only by a few hours it seems!

Why not get some lunch and head over to one more spot in the reservation? We did get some lunch, but it started raining pretty good. Oh well, we ate in the car. While Andrea was finishing up, I went over to a nearby stream to look for Two-lines. I saw one very bright adult, all golden yellow, but couldn't get him. I had to settle for a larvae, still our first on the year.

The rain stopped for a bit but it was still very cloudy. The third stop was our second best Spotted Turtle area but none were up. We were delighted to see a dark Northern Leopard Frog, however.

We were going to let the weather decide on how far we were going to hike but a flooded and washed out bridge made up our minds for us.

On the way back to the car, we saw this little Spotted Turtle peeking out of the water. This is the best I could do before he submerged.

Six species and a lovely group of hikes on a day that we thought we'd be stuck inside. I call that a good day.

The next morning, we got up at a reasonable hour because we wanted to head into Middlesex County and have another shot at seeing a Blanding's Turtle. We'd missed them earlier in the year. They usually emerge from their Winter slumber right about now so off we went.

The place wasn't too busy because it was flooded in many spots. We came prepared. Andrea brought boots and I decided that wet shoes would be fine for the day. A guy rode a bike in and wiped out in a water filled ditch... he had no idea it was so deep. Yes, we laughed, but not loud enough for him to hear. I was first greeted by an Eastern Phoebe (#19) who was trying to keep me away from the nest.

The place was 90% water covered. There was about enough path in most spots for us to carry on but it was a water-filled wonderland. Painted Turtles were enjoying it a lot, but mostly they liked the sun that was shining bright.

The river that runs next to the place was over the banks, making much of the wooded areas look like this: this IS the river!

It was bad, but not as crazy as this day! We've also see this place dry as a bone during drought years. Give me flooding any day.

More Painters.

^^ Oops, last guy slipped!

We headed up the path, which went a bit uphill so we stayed out of the water for a while. On an elevated part, we saw our main target, a Blanding's Turtle, our FoY!

Peering down the hill towards a vernal (the one that was filled with Wood Frogs a month ago), we saw another Blanding's, this time with his neck stretched out.

Let's get a closer look at that derpiness!

There is a path that leads from the trail down to a railroad track where I can sometimes get a better shot from the other side of the vernal. I did not expect to see this up on the tracks...

What to do? You see a threatened species just asking to get plowed over by a train. Play god and move it? Let nature take it's course? We decided that trains aren't a part of nature and got close enough to it to make it decide to turn around. As we were walking away, we saw him traversing the gravel.

We were both in need of a sit-down, so we sat on a concrete structure and had a snack. Right next to me, I noticed our First of Year Green Frog! And a big beauty it is! Second target achieved!

Another lovely Green was also there while we rested.

We went down a path that we knew we'd have to turn back from because of flooding, but we wanted to see as much of it as possible. This is when we saw our first Garter of the day.

A pond next to this path was extremely deep and most of the basking logs that we're used to seeing were under water. But it you looked hard enough, you could find the sun lovers. A Canada Goose joined a short stack of Painters.

Back in the distance, I found the popular spot. It was too far away to get a great shot but there are 24 Painted Turtles back there!

A wooded area that had a ton of puddles and pits and streams in it also had a couple of perfect Garter coils on the dry spots.

I spent a long while trying to get a shot of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a species I'd only photographed once before. It bested me at every turn. Fuck you! This is good enough for an ID... #20, dammit! Ruby-crowned Kinglet!

A Garter who had just emerged from his tannin-y den site.

Our hike was once again determined by flooding... the first bridge was underwater. Time to turn back.

It's just as well... the raindrops started to fall and we were about a mile and a half in. We saw this Green Frog on the way back. We'd really broken the seal on Blanding's and Greens!

We'd also seen that orange Garter crawling along on the way back... must have warmed up enough to look for some lunch.

This adorable Red Squirrel stood still long enough to get photographed.

The rain started getting heavier so we moved on faster, marveling at the tenacity of this Painter who had a never-say-die attitude! "I'm still gettin' UVBs, bruh!"

We went and had some delicious Mexican food after that. I call that an excellent Sunday. Only four species, but plenty of all of them.

And we still had another day off coming...

March has Ended. 3-30-2024

 Cold and windy, but with sun. We went to a turtle spot in Middlesex County but it was flooded and far too windy. We hiked about a mile on a little used (by us) trail and turned back because not only was it freezing, but we knew we'd see no animals. Good thing, too, because in my typical stupid old man fashion, I'd forgotten to put the battery back into my camera.

Much to our surprise, a gorgeous Water Snake was sunning on top of a hill next to the path, shielded from the wind by a tree.

Our first (and only so far) Spring snake. All of the others were still during Winter.

Man, I hope it warms up for good very soon!

Ending Winter. March 16th and 17th.

Andrea was down with Covid. That said, it was sunny and mild so I thought that getting a little bit of actual sun onto her skin might be a good idea. I also figured, why not try to see a turtle or two? So I wrapped her up and we drove out to Middlesex County for an easy, short hike with plenty of sit-down places and a chance to see our first turtles of the year.

The spot we went to has Blanding's Turtles but it appears that they aren't up yet, or we just failed to see one. We did, however, strike Painted gold right away.

We could hear Wood Frog Madness from about 1/2 mile away. This gave us a big case of the smiles. This small Bullfrog wasn't amused.

A Painted hoist.

We made our way over to one of the many vernal pools that was so loud with frogs. Sure enough, they were all over, making the wondrous Springtime music!

So many ride 'em cowboys!

After that, we saw a few more Painted Turtles catching the sun, but it was still fairly cool. We took it very easy, sitting often.

From a bench, we enjoyed watching a matched set of Ring-necked Ducks.

And a frolicking, matched set of Muskrats.

Some good nature for a couple of under-the-weather nature lovers.

The next day was unexpectedly sunny so we went over to a nearby place just inside the Blue Hills. It's a good spot (!) for Spotted Turtles, who always seem to come up early. See?

Often in these early days, we can hear American Toads and Northern Leopard Frogs calling, but it was quiet. That said, our next two sightings were of the latter, our first Northern Leopards in two years.

I can't wait until we start seeing the bright green ones in warmer weather!

We slowly made our way out the path. We started hearing Wood Frogs off the trail, singing their choruses in the pools off to the side. We couldn't see them, though. That is, until this small guy hopped across the path.

We went over a flooded area in hopes of a Garter but the sun was too intermittent and we saw none. The Eastern Skunk Cabbage was growing up in cool shapes, like these devil claws!

I flipped a small Redback who lay there like a slug (it was his only defense) when he dropped out of the log, but he righted himself by the time I got the camera in order.

We were sitting down near a pool that was noisy with Wood Frogs. It was pure heaven, just listening to nature's horniest anurans. A woman hiked by and heard the frogs. I remarked how the Wood Frog calls and Red-winged Blackbird calls (also heard) are two of my favorite signs of spring. She added Red Maple buds. They'll be a sign for us now, too.

Still pretty gassed, we were on our way back. We stopped and got a few shots of the more brave Woods next to the path. Eggs were starting to appear.

I snuck a shot of a Painter basking by holding the camera way over my head and hoping for the best before he bolted. Not too shabby.

The Spotted spot at the beginning had three turtles up basking. Repeats of the earlier two plus one? Who knows? Who cares?

I haven't been doing too well with birds so far this year, so I was happy to add a Common Grackle (only #16 on the year) perched in... a Red Maple!!

I learned something.

From there, I had to get a few groceries but before heading home, I figured we could drive around the local cemetery pond and see if any turtles were up there. No Snappers, but a few Red-ears were basking loud n' proud. The first guy is absolutely massive.

The Yellow-belly who has been in this pond for a couple of years now seems to have survived another Northern Winter. Here he is in an amazing pose, ready to blast off into the sun!

Thus ended our Winter... we wound up with 14 species of reptile and amphibian, though the last two are introduced. Still, if they can survive our shitty Winters, they are welcome additions to our state. My friend Mike ended up with 18, I think, rather than the twenty I reported last time. I don't read so well sometimes.

Upward and onward... it is now Spring and too cold to go out this weekend. Oh well.