Turtles, pheasants, and Great Blue Heron

Watching the water seep out of the Pond now.  Only a small pool in the bottom.  Did you know that turtles can hibernate in the mud for eight months?  During that time they absorb oxygen through their skin (according to Google). A few turtles have come out of hiding and walked along the drying bottom to the little pool.  Here is a shot of some tracks.   They remind me of a railroad track.  On a walk around the Pond site we discovered a dead ring-necked pheasant.  Had heard of others seeing two of them, but my first spotting.  Then last evening a pheasant was walking the labyrinth!  Next on the agenda, our Great Blue Heron stopped by yesterday and the day before and went fishing in the little pool.  Both times he came up with a huge fish - first a large-mouthed bass and last evening a BIG bream but he still managed to get it down his throat.  We watched until too dark to see him as he slowly fed the fish down his throat.  With live shows like we get, who needs TV?