Parks, birds, and a turtle rescue

I am thinking that the ring-billed gull pic from yesterday was plenty fine, but didn't show the bird well enough.  Usually, for the blog, I look to showcase the animal, and not make some kind of larger art.  So here is the ring-billed gull occupying more of the frame.

Ring-billed gull from Lake Royal Park.

Which brings me to putting up a picture of a Great Blue Heron that is the exact opposite of what I just said.

A great blue heron on the dock at Lake Fairfax

I can't carry my big telephoto lens everywhere, so the heron was just photographed as possible.  But not such a bad pic, eh?  Note that this heron is from Lake Fairfax, the locale of the next couple pics, while the gull was from Lake Royal Park.

So, what about trees in Lake Fairfax Park?  Lots of them.  Tons of them.  But also mixed with lots of open space and picnic tables.  This park really has it figured out.

Trees, forest, and open space...this park has it all

How about a short story, as it is time for such here on the blog.

My son and I were walking along the over-water boardwalk at Lake Fairfax when we saw a small group of folks looking over the rail.  They were watching two turtles, and we joined them and watched as well.

One turtle was just swimming and going about its business, while the other turtle was on a log right under us on the boardwalk.

An eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) stuck on a log

But after watching it for a long time, it was pretty clear that it had "saddlebagged" itself on the log.  All four of its feet were churning but it could not find enough grip to actually move.  Intervention was needed.  We slipped a fishing rod to a kid whose hand fit through the fencing down low, and he was able to knock the turtle off the log.  Success!  The turtle swam away.

A great day at a great park, even though I only got a couple average pics from it.