October 11, 2022: Painted Turtles
The Painted Turtle is the most widespread native turtle in North America. These turtles have long, oval, smooth shells with little grooves where the large scale-like plates overlap, and a flat bottom. Painted turtles have very distinctive heads. The face has only yellow stripes, with a large yellow spot and streak behind each eye, and on the chin two wide yellow stripes that meet at the tip of the jaw. Painted Turtles mate in spring and autumn. Females dig nests on land and lay eggs 
between late spring and mid-summer. I was lucky enough to find a female very near my deck, where I watched her dig her nest and lay five eggs.
While my camera clicked away, she covered the nest with mud and grasses. After she completed the whole process, she took off at a fast pace and headed toward the lagoon. My neighbor and I stared in amazement as she disappeared into the water.
All of this happened on June 8th. Throughout the summer I would check out the nest. The grass was mowed often, and several foxes passed through the area regularly. It was hard to tell if something was going on down under.
On September 23rd, I notice a ball of mud over the nest area. I moved it away and sure enough—there was a baby turtle with its eyes open ready to crawl out. I could see another one and lots of eggshells. My camera was again clicking away. The first turtle headed into the grass, a second was slowly moving, and I thought I could see another one.
Darkness set in. The next morning, I checked and there was still a third turtle working its way out. And finally, on Sunday Morning, the last picture I took was of an empty hole. I feel truly blessed to have witnessed the whole process!
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Happy Turtle-ing!
Jado Foot