I went by the wetlands on Tuesday. It was mid-morning and perfect weather. The turtles and snakes seemed to be enjoying the warmth. I’m usually there so much earlier that I don’t see them as much. I’m terrible at identification. I will post an update once I figure out who they are. 🙂 The wonder of all the amazing beings who live there brings me such joy. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
So nice to see that bright, beautiful yellow again! Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
I was coming down a path at the Wakarusa Wetlands this morning, watching a couple of geese heading over to the heron hangout when out popped a lone gosling. He was talking up a storm and heading my way. I knew he must belong to the geese that were just swimming off. They were getting farther away and honking so loudly that they probably couldn’t hear him. He ran out of the water and right up to me. I just happened to be between him and his parents. He was trying to get to them, but kept getting tangled up in the grass while they kept getting farther away. I decided I’d better take action, so I grabbed him up and took him to the water and off he went. I was glad I had my gloves on, so hopefully he didn’t smell like human (I don’t know whether or not that matters to geese). I had no idea how fast those little ones can swim!
I watched him until he was out of sight. I knew his parents were on the other side of the little island in the middle of the water and I just hoped they found each other. I walked down the path so I could see the other side, hoping to see them all together again. There were three pairs of geese there by now, so I wasn’t sure who he belonged to, but I did notice the two who had been doing a lot of talking were now sitting in the grass on the shore. I hoped that when I got home and zoomed in on the pictures I would see him. I think I can see a little bit of fluff in the grass. At least that is what I want to believe–a happy ending. Oh my, the little round belly on that little one was just the sweetest. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
I saw these two playing in the water near the pergola this morning. The photos are terrible as it was early and very foggy. What seemed different was how they seemed to be playing like otters play and how they kept rising up out of the water to look at me. I tried to get pictures of that, but they were just too fast. Perhaps it is just wishful thinking on my part, but it sure would be neat if we had a couple of river otters back there (and maybe even these two making more). 🙂 If anyone can id them with these poor photos, that would be wonderful. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
There is nothing quite like being at the wetlands when the sun is coming up. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
Yesterday was the first time it’s been warm enough to see a lot of frogs and insects. I also saw what I think is a prairie crayfish. I think my father would have called him/her a “crawdaddy.” Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
I had a very entertaining encounter with a couple of muskrats at the wetlands this morning. They were very photogenic and I thank them for their time. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
If I could, I would walk the wetlands every morning. There is something magical about spending a couple of hours just wandering around, listening to the sounds, and watching all the activity. I like to think that those who think destroying the wetlands for a highway is in any way a good idea would change their minds if they just spent some time there. If you’re on Facebook, I encourage you to become a fan of the Wetlands Preservation Organization. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
I spend a few hours at the Wakarusa wetlands this morning. It started out pretty foggy, but once the sun came out, it was a very nice morning. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
I had my first encounter with an American mink at the Wakarusa wetlands yesterday. I am in love! I’ve seen them a few times from a distance, but this time I was privileged to have two very inquisitive minks come up and check me out. The first one spent a lot of time watching me. She came up a few feet, then stopped, then went back a few feet, then she would do it again. This went on for a little while and each time she got a little closer. I was a little nervous, but I didn’t have any sense that she felt threatened and I didn’t really. We were just curious about each other. After a little flirting, off she went. Near the same spot, I met another one who watched me from the cover of grass for quite a while before coming up very close, then running off. She dove into the water, but then couldn’t resist swimming by where I was standing for one more look. So cute, so charming! One thing that put a little bit of a damper on the morning was just how wonderful the experience was and then thinking about the possibility of the SLT. Would you destroy her home to shave five minutes off your commute? Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor