Trouble with Turtles

Weird story. I decide to walk (run) counter-clockwise for like maybe the first time ever. Upon rounding the north east corner I spotted two police officers off to the left of the trail almost in the weeds. One had an animal snare tool and there was a lot of commotion and walkers going by were stopping to look. As I got closer someone said "it's a big snapping turtle." Sure enough there was fairly large snapping turtle right off the pathway probably at least 24 inches long. I suppose someone called it in seeing him close to the path. The cops were clearly struggling with trying to snare him. I asked them if I could take a quick picture and they said sure. I hung around for a little bit to see what they were planning to do with him but then I heard one of the cops say "let's just push him back into the weeds." I figured he'd be OK then so I headed off. Not too much further I spotted a lone buck standing very still just off the pathway. I could just make out his new velvety antlers as I took a bunch of pictures. He barely moved the whole time.
Only upon viewing the pics at home did I realize he had 2 more forks behind the first set. On the south side I attempted to get a photo of a touch-me-not flower before they disappear for the season. A little further I saw a patch of flowers that I THINK are brown-eyed-susans but I'm not sure.

Nuclear Dandelions

No deer again today and not even much anything of interest until I got back to the south side. There I spotted something that made me do a double take. Have you ever seen dandelion flowers at about 5 feet tall? Not sure if there are different species but the plant itself looked different. The flowers however looked exactly like any dandelion you'd find in your back yard. Anyway, I thought, this might be the only time I'd ever see dandelions as tall as cattails.
A little further after crossing Shingle Creek again I spotted this Great Egret high up in a tree. He stayed put for just a minute before taking off. I think this closeup of his legs is kind of a funny picture.

July Wildflowers

Not a single deer to be seen today. Maybe getting too hot for them? About all I've seen lately are a lot of wild flowers. These white ones come in about 3 to 4 and are some kind of creeping vine. About the only one I know for sure here is this purple Thistle weed which is where I see the most butterflies and bees. The little pink ones seem pretty rare as I've only seen a couple patches of them. On the other hand the whole south side is turning yellow from these tiny little yellow ones.

Growing fast

Cool and slightly humid tonight. Upon entering the first wood chip trail I noticed a little black bug jumping here and there. I thought it seemed weird and when I looked closer I realized it was a tiny toad about the size of my thumbnail. He held still just long enough for this closeup. Lots of other good stuff tonight including some pretty cool thunder clouds and every sort of bird. While stopping to watch a Green Heron fishing in a slough on the East side, I heard a loud rustle in the cattails behind me. When I turned around, I couldn't believe what I saw. There was the doe with her 2 fawns again RIGHT in front of me! I stared snapping pics as quickly as possible and my first photo caught just the one fawn by itself. I decided to post it because it shows just how long their legs are. Surprisingly all three came out and just kinda stood there and let me take photos. I could tell they were trying to figure out where to go next as they actually walked even closer to me. It was fascinating to watch the group as the fawns were clearly paying close attention to mom and would not even move without her moving first. Definitely one of the neatest thing I've ever seen on my walks at Palmer Lake!

Summer Buzz

Landscape is now changing from plain old green to multicolored. Lots of wild flowers like these purple ones which seem to blossom from the bottom upwards. They are strikingly vibrant despite their small size. Still lots of thistle growing everywhere attracting all sort of insects like this Bumble Bee. On the North side I noticed some movement in the woods to my left. I was excited to see it was the doe with two fawns whom I'd first seen on July 5th. That first time I had actually seen her with three fawns which is unusual since a doe will normally have only two. This time I only saw the two of them. Although they stayed very hidden they were quite curious about me.

Wednesday evening bike ride

On a bike ride tonight instead of my normal walk so only a couple pics of interest. From the bridge over Shingle Creek on the North side we spotted a Bald Eagle keeping an eye out for food. Not a great photo as we were REALLY far away. This is only the 2nd time I've seen one at Palmer Lake. Later on the South East side we noticed these colorful Irises. There were some violet ones earlier this year (before I started this blog) in the same place.

Cool Saturday

Set out kinda later today and surprised that the temp was only in mid-sixties still. Didn't see a single deer today but there were plenty of other interesting things. Upon crossing the north bridge over Shingle Creek I noticed a Great Blue Heron and I stopped to watch him fish for a few minutes. I managed to catch a closeup right as he lunged his head into the water for a fish. Later, near the ball fields on the east side I noticed this Tiger Swallowtail butterfly feasting on tall thistle plant flowers. I will have to try again sometime for a better photo of one as they don't sit still for too long.
After crossing the bridge on the south side I noticed a rather large group of Egrets on the far end of the swamp. I counted about 14 I think. They were squawking loudly and must have been fighting over food or something.

Green July evening

This squirrel was so preoccupied with whatever he was digging for that I walked up right behind him. I had to finally whistle to get his attention. Noticed 2 does near the end of the first wood chip trail but they got spooked before I got any pics. At the very end of the last trail this third doe walked right in front of me. You can't tell from the photo but this only about 100 feet from the parking lot.

Doe with Fawns

Saw something today I've never seen before! About mid-way up the wood chip trail on the south west side I paused to look around and noticed 2 small rust colored animals standing in the creek. At first I thought they were foxes or something 'cause they were so small. Then I realized they were tiny tiny fawns. They must have been born sometime this week cause wow, were they small! They had both spotted me first and by the time I went for my camera they were already heading for cover. All I managed to catch was the back end of one as he entered the cattails. Seconds later, mom came round the corner and pushed them further into the woods. I tried to follow them for a bit hoping they might pop out on the trail for a better photo. No such luck as they eventually got spooked. As they bounced through the thick woods I counted one, two and three fawns behind her. Not much of interest then until coming back to the south side where there were a couple Egrets and a Great Blue Heron fishing for lunch.

Muggy 4th of July

Downright muggy today. Was like walking through a greenhouse. Things are sprouting up everywhere. Little villages of mushrooms are taking over the wood chip trails in many places.

Near the south side I kicked up a 3 foot garden snake. He darted underneath a pine tree but after a few minutes came back out slightly to sun himself. Not even sure what end his head was on here.


Also spotted a few of these butterflies. Just looked it up on the internet and sure enough it is a Mourning Cloak. On the 2nd to last trail back to the parking lot I finally managed to see one deer and a Great Egret.