Monday: Belmar park (the day there were all these turtles)

[mistressofmuses]

The weather on Monday was beautiful, so after the vet visit for the dogs, we wanted to go out for a walk. We did drop Cy off at home, since he'd already had more than enough of a day, haha.

Bella came back out with us, and this time we walked around the whole of the lake (a couple weeks ago she was tired after doing a quick partial walk around just one edge, so this meant she had a Very Big Day.)

It was wonderfully warm without being too hot. We saw lots of birds (though heard more than we saw), and then there were SO MANY TURTLES!


These flowers look and smell like the flowers of the plum thickets in our yard as a kid, but I don't think they're actually plums.


Turtle preview! In addition to all the usual slider-type turtles, it was a two snapping turtle day! Look at that impressive tail!



I did pause and browse at the little free library in the park. I was surprised to find a mainstream published (by Avon) f/f historical romance novel, so I picked that up.

There was also a "wholesome cowboy romance" that promised that it included "a free Hallmark original recipe for Classic Italian Lasagna." I did not pick that one up, but now I feel like I should have.

(And I need to find a few books that I can drop off in exchange next time.)


A pair of geese and the first goslings of the season! And a conspicuously domestic looking goose on the shore...


Such tiny babies! (We did not want to get close enough to bother them, so not the clearest images.)


Last one of the goose family, but also a pair of ducks!


The cormorant nesting island.


More apple blossoms.


These were the first turtles we saw, on the opposite side from the "usual" turtle spot. Three pictured; two had already blorped into the water and away. Big one on shore, slightly more medium one on the big log, tiny one in the middle of the branches.


A bushtit (ha, poor things, saddled with such a name.) They were presumably eating insects on the flowers.


Tiny nest! The same one I got a picture of a couple weeks ago. Many more leaves now!


Goose nest!

The parent geese were a few feet away in the water, one guarding and one bathing.


Our noticing was noticed.

The goose hissed at Bella, which she seemed to find baffling. Much head-tilting.


This is looking out over the muskrat lodge... and that slightly greenish shape in the middle amongst the sticks is a snapping turtle! (Just behind the biggest of the sticks.)


SO MANY TURTLES! There are 19 slider-type turtles (that I counted) and a snapping turtle! Not counting the snapping turtle that was on top of the lodge. Plus a goose!


No really! SO MANY! Green dots for all the slider-types, purple dot by the snapping turtle in the water, and a blue dot so the goose doesn't feel left out.

And finally:


Bella, the amazing floating dog head.

I am very glad we went on a good walk in the nice weather. I hope we can keep it up!

Comments

[spikedluv]

Wow! So many turtles, lol! That sounds like a great walk. And the goslings! I don't think we have any yet, but that's another thing I'm missing out on. /whine

Bella, as always (er, when she's not looking derpy), looks adorable. *g*

[mistressofmuses]

So many turtles! It was a lovely walk. These are the first goslings we've seen (Alex also spotted some brand new wee ducklings out on the lake, but they were too far to properly see.) Definitely early!

But boo on missing out on the goslings. :( Hopefully you'll be able to get out there to see some flowers and goslings while they're around.

Bella has the range! The derpest of derps, the cutest of cutes.

[umadoshi]

SO MANY TURTLES indeed!

[mistressofmuses]

An absolutely delightful number of turtles!

[omens]

lolol bella :D

so many turts!!!! & what a chill nesting goose, lol. They can be terrifying! Goslingssssss. I can't wait to see some here.

Nothing goes together like cowboys & lasagne, I always say 😌

[mistressofmuses]

Majestic Bella.

So many turts! I think this is the most I've ever seen over there at once.

I was so excited to see the little goslings. Definitely the earliest I have seen, and they were brand new little things, but I know it's almost time for more.

I mean... it is a classic combo! Apparently!

[vriddy]

TURTLES!! :D I'm surprised the goose let you calmly so close to the nest, unless this is a good zoom haha.

I am kind of curious about that lasagna recipe too, now... 😂

[mistressofmuses]

So many turtles! I am tragically lacking in any sort of decent zoom on my phone, so we really were quite close to the goose nest! We were up on the elevated boardwalk, which also has a railing that was between us and the nest, so I assume that made the goose feel a bit safer. Bella was very surprised to be hissed at!

Right? I regret not grabbing that book, haha. Now I'll never be able to make Hallmark Cowboy Lasagna!

[a_natural_beauty]

Aww, what lovely photos. Sounds like you had a nice walk/little adventure. Thanks for sharing :)

[mistressofmuses]

Thank you! It was a lovely walk on a lovely day. :)

[a_natural_beauty]

That's wonderful to hear! :)

[which_chick]

It's such a gorgeous time of year, after the daffodils and before the lilacs. Here, spring is climbing the mountains, trees are all leafed out at the bottoms of the mountains but everything is still stick brown at the tops of the mountains. It's a short period of time, with the shadblow and the redbud, in the valley, but also there are all the different greens in the stuff that is leafed out. Our dogwoods are starting to think about blooming but their horizontal drifts of white are still kind of small and greenish. In another week, I think. I should take some pictures.

[mistressofmuses]

This is a lovely time of year. The lilacs are just starting to bloom (the ones in south-facing areas, at least. The north-facing or shaded ones are still buds.) It's always neat when you can actually see the progression of the season change. The mountains here are a little more bare, but watching the fuzz of green groundcover creep upwards a little more every day is a nice marker to be able to make. Most of the little trees are at least a bit leafed out, but some of the bigger, older ones are just now putting buds out.

The redbud in some of the yards around here are lovely this year.