All the ducks have gone, and the sky is gray. (People keep asking me, “Where do you think the ducks are?” My answer is, “My best guess is that they’ve gone south for the winter.”) But the squirrels and turtles are still here, and I’m been remiss in feeding the rodents. (The turtles get their own food from a feeder person.) One squirrel remembered me yesterday, crawled into my lap repeatedly, and was rewarded with two walnuts and four peanuts. I haven’t kissed him yet.
It’s been cool but sunny these last few days, and the turtles have taken advantage of the weather to soak up some rays and jump-start their metabolism. Yesterday afternoon four of them found their way to a sunny rock and, stretching out limbs and necks in what we call “turtle yoga”, basked for a long time. Here are four red-eared sliders absorbing UV.
Note that they’re all facing the same direction: the sun is behind them, and they’ve exposed as much of their bodies as they can. If I don’t miss my guess, there are two more turtles in the pond.
Notice how their rear feet are stretched out behind, and their necks are extended.
Finally, here’s a video in which turtle #4 joins the three that were already there. Be sure to watch until the end.
I haven’t seen a single duck even stop briefly at the pond since Miss Duck left along with her brood (Rupert was the last). I do wonder where they are.
In the Botany Pond Ecoverse, I’m more interested in the turtles than the ducks, actually.
D.A.
NYC
That is close to a banning offense, but I’ll refrain. . . .
David, best to now either pull head in shell or head for the mud!
Love the turtles!
Another season at Botany Pond almost behind us. Sigh.
Till next year.
Yikes. That was scary. On first glance, I read the title to be “The Fall of Botany Pond”, not “Fall at Botany Pond: The…”. Briefly asking myself what hell hath befallen this quiet enclave? But to my great relief, I saw the true wording and what a nice Fall day it is there. At the Mariners Museum Lake here in Virginia, this time of year, 10 to 12 turtles regularly line up in the sun on a long log that stretches from a few yards out in the water to up on the bank. A nice life.
I have been wondering about the ducks. Good to know they safely headed south. I enjoy hearing about the turtles and squirrels, but miss the ducks. But it gives me something to look forward to next spring when, hopefully, we will have lots of good stories.
I enjoy just sitting and watching turtles sunning. Very relaxing.
“All the ducks have gone, and the sky is gray”
You’ve been for a walk on an Autumn day….
You are so fortunate to have sunshine. Bask away!