Nature in small packages

Humid morning today. Seems like the carp in Shingle Creek are getting bigger every day. On the east side of the park I noticed a green heron in a little slough. He was stalking something so I stopped to watch. Right after I took this picture he darted his head into the water and came up with something in his beak. Could have been a frog but I was too far away to tell. Coming back to the south side I started to notice the small snails again that I'd seen after first setting out. Seems like they're always trying to cross the foot path for some reason. Or maybe that's the only place you'd notice such a small, slow moving creature.





Lastly, per suggestion, I wanted to post a photo of something I see everyday...garbage. I sure wish people would be more careful with their plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Eventually, all this stuff ends up in the lowest places in the park -the very same areas that collect water essential to the wildlife here. I try to pick up items here and there before they end up in the water, but geez is there a lot of it. Considering a Palmer Lake clean-up day sometime soon...

Rabbits galore

Gotta begin this post by noting the caterpillar from previous post is a "Mourning Cloak caterpillar." Walked and jogged tonight. 85 degrees and humid. Almost ran right into this first deer while jogging for a bit. Was only about 8 feet away before I noticed it standing in the low ditch next to the trail. I stopped, then backed up slowly before attempting to take any photos. The next thing I saw is something I've been hoping to get a photo of forever but have only seen twice. There it was, a deer wading right in the creek, eating from along the bank. I watched for quite a while before it finally hopped up onto the high bank. After crossing the creek again on the south side I spotted a Heron and snapped a quick pic before he got spooked and flew off. Around the whole park I was spotting rabbits left and right. On the very last wood chip trail I saw a little bunny munching on grass. I decided to take a few pics so I stood very still. He must have thought I was a tree 'cause he walked right up underneath me. It was funny as I didn't realize how little he was while I was looking through the camera lens. Total deer spotted: 4. Rabbits: 7.

Warm Sunday

Pretty uneventful walk today. Temp was 81 degrees and there were no deer to be seen. Unfortunately there's a lot of wildlife that never makes it onto my camera as it's too far away or moving too fast. Such was the case today with a Baltimore Oriole and a Great Blue Heron. One thing I did manage to catch was this spiny caterpillar. Been seeing a ton of them lately. Not sure what kind it is so I will have to look it up.

Wildlife on the water

Red-wing blackbirds are everywhere lately. Been tryin' to get a decent photo of one but they don't stay put for very long. Here's a recent attempt. Didn't think I was gonna see much this walk as I hadn't seen anything until I got half way around to the bridge over Shingle Creek. There I spotted about 20 Carp and a Wood Duck with babies. A little further I noticed a huge Snapping Turtle in a little swampy area. He went under right away so I couldn't get a photo. On the last corner, crossing Shingle Creek again, I spotted another Snapping Turtle right up by the bank. I stopped quickly to avoid spooking him and he just kinda floated there. Eventually he poked his head out and I got some photos of him. They are cool to see as they're so large and their long necks make them look even bigger. I'm guessing this guy's shell alone was about 18" long. Also spotted another female Wood Duck with babies in the same area.

Geocaching Doe

Getting out to walk more frequently now that temps are finally warming up. Out with a friend tonight teaching me a little about geocaching. I had NO idea people did this in Palmer Lake Park! Apparently there's like 13 of them but we only got coordinates for 2. Upon finding the 2nd cache, a curious doe almost walked right up to us. Shows how used to people these deer must be as we were not being all that quiet. Later, we spotted one more waaay off towards the middle of the swamp. Right now their "rusty" color makes them stand out like a sore thumb against the intense green surroundings of spring time.

Stomping Deer and Turkey

Sunday, June 7th 2009. Just before rounding the corner on the North East side, I spotted something shiny way off in the woods that ended up to be a mylar balloon. Since I didn't want to leave it laying there, contributing to the already littered park, I grabbed a stick and popped it. Immediately after, I noticed 2 deer very close behind me. I balled up the deflated balloon and shoved it into my pocket while they watched closely. They were super curious and actually walked a few steps toward me. They were so close that the one in the front started stomping the ground with it's hooves. I realized I was probably TOO close and backed up to find a log on which I could sit and watch. From there I watched them forage while snapping photos here and there. Only after I got home and looked at them on my computer did I realize that one was a buck with newly grown antlers covered in velvet. He was the more curious of the two, stepping way in front of the doe to check me out. After I was satisfied with my photo opportunities I slowly backed out from where I'd entered. Only a few minutes afterward I spotted a turkey off in the woods -something I'd never seen at Palmer Lake before!