The first thing is this strange looking flower called Indian Pipe or Ghost Flower. Last summer was the first time I ever saw them growing around here. This summer they came up in different spots and I’m somewhat confused by that. They only last for a couple days, before turning black and drying up. 
The next two things I saw from my little blind. Even though the water is going down, there’s still a lot of action out there. Thursday a green heron landed right out in front of me. It was there to get some fish, frogs and whatever else they eat. I saw it grab something out of the water, shake it around, dip it in the water and then finally swallow it whole. All the time, I’m taking pictures of it and thinking it grabbed a great big frog. After looking at my pictures, I was really confused. What kind of frog has such a long tail, I asked myself? 
This was really freaking me out, trying to determine what in the heck the little heron caught. I ended up showing this picture to a friend and he knew right away, it was a baby muskrat. Whew, that explains the long tail and the claws on its webbed feet, although we didn’t know muskrats were still out there.
I’m guessing it got washed out of its nest (or den or whatever baby muskrat holes are called) when the pond drained.
A couple days later in just about the same spot, I watched a turtle climb out of the water and there on it’s shell were a couple leeches. Ewwww!
It sat there long enough for the leeches to get all heated up and I’m assuming very uncomfortable.
But it didn’t stay out in the sun very long and went back in the water, so the leeches didn’t dry out. 
I know for sure, if I were a turtle, I would NOT like having a couple leeches attached to my shell! It’s really not very attractive.
The next two things I saw from my little blind. Even though the water is going down, there’s still a lot of action out there. Thursday a green heron landed right out in front of me. It was there to get some fish, frogs and whatever else they eat. I saw it grab something out of the water, shake it around, dip it in the water and then finally swallow it whole. All the time, I’m taking pictures of it and thinking it grabbed a great big frog. After looking at my pictures, I was really confused. What kind of frog has such a long tail, I asked myself? 
This was really freaking me out, trying to determine what in the heck the little heron caught. I ended up showing this picture to a friend and he knew right away, it was a baby muskrat. Whew, that explains the long tail and the claws on its webbed feet, although we didn’t know muskrats were still out there.
I’m guessing it got washed out of its nest (or den or whatever baby muskrat holes are called) when the pond drained. 
It sat there long enough for the leeches to get all heated up and I’m assuming very uncomfortable.
But it didn’t stay out in the sun very long and went back in the water, so the leeches didn’t dry out. 
I know for sure, if I were a turtle, I would NOT like having a couple leeches attached to my shell! It’s really not very attractive. 
7 comments:
LOL! reminds me of my youth in Wisconsin swimming in Mill Creek - we always had to chip a bit off the cattle salt block before going down there just to get the leeches to release...
Awesome photos. I love the ghost flowers!
Very interesting. It looked like a frog to me but that long tail? The one leach looked like a gray silver bearing. Those flowers look so like mushroomy stems. Cool post Cindy.
Those are great pictures. It sure is interesting to view how other creatures live. I totally agree on the "yuck" for leeches.
Wow, so many cool things!!
I love the ghost flowers. They look sort of moist. Are they kin to a mushroom?
I have seen many hunting herons, but have yet to catch one with it's dinner. Lucky you :)
Thanks for linking up with "behind the camera".
WOW! I never would have thought a Heron would take a muskrat. Nice catch.
ME too..do they usually eat muskrats or are they not finding much to eat these days. I know with the water that low, well things are scarce. I always thought they ate fish only. Nice shots Sis..: )
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