Alligator Turtle and Tree Frog, Baby Geese

My yard has been a sea of adventure in wildlife!  A few nights ago, I went out after dark to bring my porch chair cushions in for the night and there was this huge tree frog sitting on the back.  I had never seen one this large before!

Notice the suction cup toes.  I probably caused temporary blindness when my flash went off!  But he hopped away happily after posing for my photo shoot-ha!

I was fascinated with his approximate size of 3" as I had never seen a Tree Frog this large before.

Talk about a gaggle of geese!  About 4 Canadian geese families came with their babies to bask in the sun in the back yard before returning to the lake



The "teen" goslings are becoming beautiful, losing their soft down baby feathers.  They will be flying soon when their wings grow longer and then the flying lessons begin, fun to watch!! 

Returning to the water. 

Escaping through the neighbor's yard above and one cooperative pose from one of the babes. 

Resting and preening.

Last but not least, yesterday I encountered this Alligator Turtle that definitely looks like a prehistoric critter!  My neighbor helped get him back to the lake after he crossed the road and was in my front yard.  He was huge, approximately 24 " from head to tail and must have weighed 25lbs.  My neighbor picked him up on the end of a shovel (which the turtle bit) and flopped him into the lake.  He was bigger than my little Lilly Chihuahua!  I would hate to meet him in the dark!!

My neighbor deciding how to move him towards the lake.

He has lake weed caught on his shell which was really clean and shiny.  His tail had bumps going down it just like an Alligator!  Very scary!  But he finally was plopped back into the lake behind my house and I hope I do not see him again.  

A gift left behind from the adult Canadian Goose~ a Quill feather that I will make into a pen :)

My wild heart to yours....