Snapping Turtle Laying Eggs

Its that time of year again and the search is on to find Snapping Turtles laying eggs.  I had searched yesterday morning, looking for turtles but had , had no luck.  However today was my lucky day. I was almost ready to give up and go home when I saw a turtle walking toward my car along the roadside.

There was no action to see other than the turtle wandering around and a couple of times tried to cross the highway, however I directed traffic calling attention to the turtle on the road by gesturing toward it  and drivers caught on, saw the turtle and avoided hitting it.  I took a few pictures of the turtle nosing around on the edge of the roadside.

    These huge reptiles are big, ancient  , pretty ugly looking things; but I still find it fascinating when their rhythms of nature can be tracked every year.  After my first turtle sighting I went home and downloaded my pictures and then went down to the river area again AND  this time I found a turtle laying its eggs in a hole dug in the sand alongside the roadside.  Wow!!! What a lucky day I was having!  The exciting thing about this second sighting was that I got a picture of a turtle egg being dropped into the hole it had dug.  As soon as the egg dropped the turtle immediately put its hind legs in motion to draw sand from the sides of the hole to cover the eggs it had laid.

                 The turtle egg is the round, white ball in the center of the picture above.  Good job Mama Turtle!!!
I shall mark September 20th on my calendar as a reminder to check on the possible hatching of  this nest site.  The average incubation period for these newly laid eggs will be about 90 days!

                                     Above the turtle can be seen covering its eggs nest with a sweeping motion of its strong, powerful hind legs.

Finally a female ruby-trhroated Hummingbird

We have been watching our hummingbird feeder hopefully waiting for a female hummingbird to show up and finally , earlier this week we saw both a male and female Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding at our feeder.. "Oh Happy Day"

male hummingbird feeding on the left and a female hummingbird feeding on the right.

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American Toad

Garter Snake

I don't often see snakes ad so I was rather pleased ( Not that I like snakes) to see one in my yard earlier this week. The striped body suggested to me that it was a Garter Snake and I feel quite confident identifying it as such.

shown above the Garter snake, head and body

above , the head of the Garter Snake.  I like its yellow eye!

Bye, bye snake . I shall be watching for you during the  coming summer months.( please do not creep up upon me in surprise!, as you might frighten me!)

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

We have seen few ruby-throated Hummingbirds this year.  Usually the sightings are plentiful and we enjoy watching their visits to the feeds in sight of our windows.  But this year their visits are quite infrequent.  In fact I bought a new feeder and hung it in full view of our dining room window over a week ago. this morning was the first time I saw a hummingbird feeding at the new feeder.  Go figure? Following are a few of the best Hummingbird p[pictures I have been able to get so far this spring.

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A Spotted Sandpiper at the pond's edge

I love dots and find them ever so delightful when seen on a Spotted Sandpiper's body. I was searching the pond's edges one sunny day last week hoping to find a Painted turtle sunning itself upon the pond's shores.  Here are a few pictures  of the Spotted Delight that I had seen.

I had meant to post these Sandpipers on Saturday Critters but the day got away from me before I had it organized and under control.  I am hoping to get some Swallowtail butterfly pictures next week as our lilac bush is in beautiful bloom and colour : all ready to receive S2wallowtail feeding guests.  Have a nice Sunday everyone.  Sunny with cloudy intervals here and a bit cool, not such a lovely day.

Cliff Swallows Gathering Mud for Nest building

Yesterday I noticed much active behaviour and wing fluttering of a small bird species around a mud puddle and decided to take some pictures to attempt to discover what was taking place.  It didn't take long to realize it was a small group of Cliff Swallows gathering mud to build a nest which I discovered in the eaves of a house nearby  where a cliff swallow house was being constructed.
The many pictures below need few words to describe the action.

Today I am linking with http://viewingnaturewitheileenblogspot.ca

Have a wonderful; holiday weekend folks.

Northern Shovelor

The Northern Shovelor is a duck that I don't often see, however, on Thursday of last week we saw about4 pairs feeding in weeds along the shoreline of the Saint John river at Sheffield.  At first we weren't sure what we were watching but the the size and shape of their bills left no doubt we were observing Shovelors.

                                          thisduck has a prominent ,wedge shaped bill

 

above , a male Northern Shovelor

                                                 wing spread of a male Northern Shovelor

                              two shovelors ( male and female?)

A Savannah Sparrow for Camera Critters

It has been several years since I have seen a Savannah Sparrow in Bird Alley, but this week I have had one or two feeding there. I didn't really see it until I had downloaded some  pictures of what I had thought was a White-throated sparrow.  I had been confused as both sparrow species have yellow lores and a white throat ( the savannah's white throat is not as noticeable as the White throated sparrow and the white median on the head of the savannah is not as strong as that of a white throated.  You can see by comparing the pictures that I post.  My first picture is of a Savannah Sparrow and you can see its yellow lores ( the region between the eye and the bill on the side of the bird's head.)

above , a Savannah Sparrow, notice the weak white medium( line) on its head.

Above is a white throated sparrow, notice the yellow lores and the strong white medians(lines) on its head and the white throateds as compared to the Savannah Sparrow.

Next , a couple more Savannah Sparrow pictures.

 

So there you are, Savannah Sparrows.  I hope I haven't confused you too much with my mention of White throated Sparrows.  I would be interested in knowing if others have seen Savannah Sparrows often?

I am linking this morning to Eileen's meme, Saturday Critters, which can be found at http://viewing naturewitheileen.blogspot.ca

 

Female Wood Duck

Words are not always necessary!

First Great Blue Heron Sighting

Welcome to the first day of May!  Isn't it wonderful!  I am beginning to see some of our old favourites that have returned!.  Saturday I caught a glimpse of a Great Blue Heron.  What magnificent birds they are!  The one I saw was in the midst of a tangle of bushes and twigs but nevertheless I was able to find it in the middle of the picture  below.

Can you see it in the middle.  Maybe the next picture will help.  I applied a bit of funky focus to help in seeing it!

 Yes, there it is.  Now lets have a better look at it.

Ta Da!

It is going to be a beautiful first day of May with warm temperatures forecast.  Have a wonderful day everyone.  We are planning on going to a favourite annual yard sale today.  I will probably buy lots of books and I am always hoping to find some fabric,  Then later in the day our son will be coming out for dinner.. Oh Happy day in May!!

A Red Fox for Camera Critters

We have been waiting and watching to see a Red Fox since February.  Finally we saw one yesterday while driving past a newly plowed field.  The fox looked like it was in good condition after enduring another winter.

 

 As it hunted over the field it was intent upon watching the ground, then to out luck it slightly changed direction and veared towards us as we were sitting in our parked truck allowing us a more frontal view for picture taking.

It had great black legs! 

I am linking this morning to Eileen's meme of viewing nature which can be found at; http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca

Have a wonderful Saturday everyone!

Male Goldfinches cming into their golden yellow Colour

We have lots of golden yellow male goldfinch today feeding at our niger seed feeder today. Below are three hanging on the feeder.

Also feeding with the Goldfinch are several Pine Siskins

You can see that some of the males are still growing their black head cap feathers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a wonderful day everyone!