A very much shortened trip that turned out to be "there and back" in 2 days to Southern Ontario had us finding turtles sunning themselves. But it was turtles with a difference.
A treesome group at quick glance looked like three painted turtles until we noticed the shell on the right hand one being different. Turned out it was a Mexican red-eared slider turtle. Likely one well along in age. Red-eared sliders have become an invasive species in Ontario, and elsewhere. They are pet store turtles that have been released by their owners into the wild and they survive even in our climate.
At least two other red-eared sliders were present. One showing signs of shedding the top layer of its shell as it grows and a second sunning itself on the back of a snapping turtle
There were a good number of water "spiders" skittering about in a side stream. I took a few shots of them with the long lens. In processing one of the photos, there seemed to be too many legs..... Then I realized I had caught two "spiders" in the midst of mating.
There were two old willow tree trunks along the path. Both were in a state of decay, but very interesting looking
Yellow colts-foot blossoms (with small carpenter bees) were in bloom as were many blue violets
A few days alter much closer to home, sedge grass and hepatica were blooming. Both a few weeks earlier then normal.
I found a leatherwood bush starting to bloom. The person who used to own the woods loves the leatherwood, so I always have to find some for him every year.
Lichen was quite prolific in one area
It's interesting how the deer trim the cedar trees, but don't touch the other evergreen trees
An old maple tree trunk was getting a good work over by woodpeckers
Remnants of a fence, that was likely a good century old, was in amongst the trees
Yellow-bellied sap suckers at this time of year have a mating ritual of hammering on any piece of metal they can find. They make make quite a racket, but are very shy if a photographer shows up - they fly away very quickly. But I did manage to get a reasonable photo of one (extracted from a video) on a ladder.
Two trumpeter swans were mixing in with the Canada Geese at nearby lagoons
