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Borrego Springs, CA

Thursday, August 2, 2012

A turtle-ly slow day

It was a work day for me today, so first, I drove the five miles over to the maintenance area to pick up a refuge vehicle.  Then I was off to check the information boxes at all of the various entrances to the Alligator River NWR.  I had a good supply of refuge pamphlets with me, and most of the boxes needed restocking.  There are about 11 different places to check, and it takes quite a while to cover the 70 miles or so around the perimeter, with a couple of stops in the interior of the refuge.

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I took a little extra time today to check out some of those gravel roads that penetrate the refuge.  About all that was out and about were some turtles.

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I believe that these are yellow-bellied sliders.  They’re pretty common in the southeast.  As you can see, there wasn’t a breathe of wind, so it provided some nice reflections.

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Why do turtles cross the road?  To get to the other side?  Smile with tongue out  I’m not sure what species this is since it didn’t quite look like the others.  I encountered this one after checking the canoe/kayak launch along Buffalo City Road.  Didn’t have a chance to pick it up to see if it was a male or a female. 

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After lunch, I was off to the Pea Island NWR visitors center, and checked out the pond at the beginning of the nature trail.  Just like five years ago, it was loaded with turtles.  On the left is a mud turtle, and on the right is a big snapping turtle.  I wondered if this was the same big snapper that lived in this pond in 2007.

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As I walked along the boardwalk over the pond, all the turtles came swimming up.  I suppose they thought I might throw in something for them to eat.  Not a chance, guys.  There is a big sign prohibiting feeding the wildlife right on the boardwalk, but my guess is some people do it anyway.  Why else would they all make a mad dash over when they felt the vibrations of someone walking on the boardwalk?

I was slated to help one of the interns with the Soundside Presentation today just like last week.  At least this time I had been given a script of what was to be covered.  It turned out, I wasn’t much help once again.  As the presentation began, a gentleman approached me for help.  Seems he had locked his keys and cell phone in his car.  Hmm… I seem to remember I did the same thing last week, so I was sympathetic.  I ended up driving his wife back to the VC so they could use the phone to call a locksmith.  I suggested the same one I had used, and they were soon on their way. 

By the time I got back, all I could do was help with the last seining walk out in the Pamlico Sound with the net.  We didn’t catch much other than a couple of really tiny crabs.  I was prepared for this, though, and had already changed into my walking in the water shoes.  I just can’t do the bare foot thing.  Since half the interns are leaving this weekend, I may be running this show for the next month.  I’m ready.  There is some other intrigue with refuge staff going on that I’m not at liberty to divulge, so we’ll see what happens._MG_9628

After picking up my car and dropping off the refuge vehicle, I encountered this fellow on the drive home through the back roads.  What a nice ending to my work day.  You can only get so close to these bruins before they decide to high tail it off into the woods.  That, of course, is best for all involved.

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                                                           SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE.

                                                                             THE END!!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

18 comments:

  1. Nice wildlife pictures. We love to go out to our local Delta Ponds and watch the turtles. Have no idea what kind they are - they're just turtles!!

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  2. Turtles! I can take pictures of turtles. At last, something that moves slow enough for me to be able to get the camera out, focus and snap a photo. :c)

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  3. Greetings Emma ! I nave been following your blog for a while. We just returned from a 2 month trip out west . I live up in Chessapeake Va. If you crave a "trip to town" let me know. Love the bears, we have been doing t,he bear watch there for a couple of years! Holly Fox

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  4. More bears! If we weren't having such great weather, I'd tell Eldy to hit the road, we're going where Judy is! One bear sighting wasn't enough for me.

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  5. Turtles and bears. Interesting combination. I don't like to go barefoot either.

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  6. This refuge looks delightfull. Love reading every night or early morning.

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  7. Intrigue Among the Refuge Staff--sounds like it could be a Nancy Drew title! I like your turtle pictures.

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  8. Sure lots of turtles - and bears! Wherever that is, it's sure not a place to be walking I'll bet!

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  9. Sooo. . .I used to help my Dad seine for bait for the trot lines. . .I'm with you on the barefoot thing. . .ughhh! Love the reflections. . .and of course the bear is awesome. . .great job!

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  10. Another great bear picture. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. Your "The End" photos are getting cuter every day.

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  12. I never realized there were so many bears there...I love to watch the turtles, but cannot pick one up...I hate their little claw birdlike feet..Yeeks.

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  13. You get the best shots, love the bear coming out to greet you. The turtle shots are fascinating, I have never seen that species before.

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  14. Turtles cross the road to get to the next campground! :)

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  15. Judy, that different turtle looks like a box turtle. Here is an on-line guide that may help - I am supposed to already be chasing butterflies to capture and preserve for my pollinator display.
    http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/

    Great post and a perfect job for us snoops.

    I only have to put out brochures at Malheur NWR at four places off the refuge and 5 places on the refuge but, if I do them all in one day, I log over 100 miles.

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  16. I'm liking this refuge more and more. Nice of the bear to give you end of day send off.

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  17. I've never seen a bear in the wild. Very cool!

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