Finally, a fawn! And lots of box turtles!

It was late June before I saw the first fawn this year, and I’ve seen only two so far. (I saw one twice.) I know that the pregnant does in the video have had their fawns, but they haven’t brought them to the meadow. I keep looking and hope they’ll show up soon!

The does still come to eat, although I never know when. I always take food down when I see one; they definitely have a fawn (or fawns) nursing and are always hungry.

Last year’s fawns show up more predictably; they’re usually waiting when I get up in the morning, and one or two emerge from the woods almost every time I take food to the mamas. Oddly, all six yearlings are little bucks; even Friendly finally grew antlers. The antlers in the posse are a variety of lengths, ranging from a few inches long to almost a foot, and one has forked antlers.

Meanwhile, the French Broad has risen and fallen several times since I last posted. (This video will play; I don’t know why it shows up looking like a cassette. I am still struggling with iMovie.)

When I ramble down to the river, I sometimes see some of the semi-resident Canadian geese in the field by the shore. This year they raised a gaggle of goslings!

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I pick up my newspaper (yes, I still read a print edition) down at the river highway, too. The box I put up last year was moved during roadwork, and the carrier can’t get to it easily any more, so they toss it nearby. It’s a good thing, too; some male Carolina wren decided the box would be a good nesting site!

If you’ve followed this (almost four-year-old!) blog for a while, then you know that I really like seeing box turtles. (In fact, I’m such a nerd that I regularly post my photos to the Carolina Herp Atlas.) So here are the ones I’ve seen since April:

I don’t usually write about anything but my rambles, but I had my house painted since the last post and wanted to share this! I love the new colors and fresh look!

I started this post yesterday and don’t want to wait another day to post it. Maybe I’ll finally learn how to use iMovie without getting too frustrated, and the next time will be easier. Until then, here’s Dark Hollow, across the ridge from us.