As I was going through the yard, with my trusty Canon point-and-shoot camera in my pocket as always, I came across some critters that I think are worth sharing.
This little toad was hanging out beside my pile of flagstone. I tried to catch him, but he was way too wary and quick.
The birds that are nesting over the side door of the garage are tending babies. I don't know what type of birds they are, but they get REALLY upset when you stand on a step-stool and point a camera at their young 'uns ... not to the point of 'immediate violent death' like the Mockingbirds, but they're still pretty menacing.
Do you know what type of bird this is?
These are the parents.
and here are the babies.
Another mystery visitor was this turtle (tortoise?) that I found loping across the driveway near the house.
He was about five inches long. When he saw me, he sucked his legs inside his shell, but he never pulled his head in completely ... though it looked like he could if he had wanted to.
He was a bit more elongated than the Box Turtles I am used to seeing in the yard, and his shell was very smooth.
I should have probably taken a photo of his underside, but I didn't.
Does anyone recognize this little guy? I checked the Virginia Wildlife web site to see if any of the turtles listed there were a match, and I didn't find anything.
I love finding critters in the garden!