Sun lover

Today, when the sun finally broke through the cloud cover, at least one of the painted turtles emerged to bask in the sun's warmth. And a second one was thinking about it - see its head at the right, behind the stick.

Cold-blooded sun-bather

The painted turtle population at the marsh is certainly very healthy. Sometimes as many as a dozen turtles can be seen basking in the warmth of the sun (when it decides to shine!) on grassy clumps at the marsh edges. This little fellow was really soaking it up yesterday morning.

Soaking up the sun

There's certainly an abundance of painted turtles at the marsh this year. The recent warmer weather has brought them out to bask in the sun on grassy clumps and the muskrat lodges. I've seen a number of very small turtles, probably from last year's crop. This pair includes one of the smaller ones. Note its hind legs stretched out.

Oh, that sun feels good

Well, this morning I was finally able to get a shot of a painted turtle. I saw one yesterday for the first time, but was unable to get close enough before it slipped into the water. Today I happened to find where a number of them were basking in the warm sun, several on one of the muskrat lodges. This one was looking quite content.

Like falling off a log . . .

I was happily surprised to see this Painted Turtle sunbathing this morning, I don't think I've noticed one this late in the season before. It seemed to be lying in an awkward position, but I guess it must have been comfortable, as it was fast asleep.

Catching some rays

I happened to catch these two Painted Turtles basking in the sun this morning. It could be a male and a female, as apparently the females are larger than the males.

Out on a log

I was lucky to catch a glimpse of this little Painted Turtle basking on a log yesterday morning. (It's a good close-up shot of the duckweed, too.) The turtle eggs laid last June should be hatching before long.

That sun feels good

Although I haven't noticed many Painted Turtles at the marsh for the last month or so, I did see this one sun-bathing on a clump of cattails this morning.

More painted turtles

On the 26th I mentioned I hadn't seen any Painted Turtles for awhile, and then saw one that day. Today as I approached the water's edge near the viewing stand, I noticed three round humps in the duckweed, two of which disappeared as I got closer. It was then I realized it was three painted turtles who were partially submerged in the water. Just a few feet away was this one, with just part of its head visible above the surface.

Sunbather

I was just thinking that I hadn't seen any Painted Turtles for awhile, when I noticed this one basking in the sun near one of the viewing stands. It'll be another few weeks before baby ones hatch from the eggs laid last month.

Painted Turtle Eggs

The Painted Turtles are laying their eggs now at the marsh. This occurs in the evening hours. Some friends who walked the marsh on the evening of June 12th noticed three females digging holes along the sides of the old railbed, which forms the SE portion of the trail. The next afternoon, I discovered that one of the nests had already been raided and the eggs devoured, probably by a raccoon or a skunk (see above photo). All that remained were the leathery egg shells. It's the fourth nest I've seen dug up so far this season. The second photo is of a female laying eggs at the side of the trail on June 13, 2008. I really shouldn't have gotten so close to her, as sometimes, if disturbed, they will move away.

Painted Turtle eating snail

I didn't notice the snail in this painted turtle's mouth until I enlarged the photo. Apparently snails are commonly eaten by these reptiles.

Painted Turtle young

This little fellow, no more than 3" across, was sunbathing on May 23rd in the tiny pond below the sewage lagoons.