You’ve heard that song, I’m sure, 99 bottles of beer on the wall? I couldn’t believe it when I unloaded my camera and I had 99 pictures of geese. I managed to toss 53. Jim always offers to get me down to ten pictures, but, I tell him I intend to paint some day and I need models.
It was tough to pick photos because we are getting close to our limit on bytes. These geese look like they should be on the Christmas platter.
This one was just poking its head under the water for a morsel, but often they turn upside down, and I found myself laughing to see three butts in a row sticking out of the water.
I felt I learned a lot about geese observing them for most of the day while I sat on this gorgeous river bank and read my book with my camera close by.This is a mad goose, steaming through the water, head down, chasing a flock away from a particularly popular log so his bunch could move in and take a bath.
This is that same stance, this time a mother head down, challenging anyone to interfere with her goslings as she made her way through the crowd.
Later in the day, they moved onto the grass to feed on bugs and grasses. They feed in a group with an ever protective gander watching over all.
Actually, these mallards had the log first and got chased away by the geese.
I took a short walk along the river’s edge where bright flowers grow in the sandy soil.
Folks, including me, appreciate the river on a hot Saturday afternoon, quiet and soothing.
Fishing, kayaking and canoeing are popular. I was grateful no one used a noisy skee-doo. It is quiet and beautiful here at the Elks Club where we will be parked until I fly to Las Vegas on the 5th. It was hot yesterday and the river is cooling.
I spotted this little turtle making a bee-line to the water. The minute I got close enough to take a picture, he stopped and hid from me. As soon as I walked away, he completed his journey.
From out of the woods came this mystery animal. Some type of rodent, I think. At first, I thought it could be a baby beaver.
I got a good look at its tail. I remember beavers having a flat, rounded kind of fleshy tail. I looked up nutria and they have definite rodent, rat-like tails. This is a mystery animal. If anyone knows what it is, let me know.
Que Sera, Sera... Whatever Will Be, Will Be... 
I believe that’s a groundhog. You know, the kind that comes out and sees its shadow on Feb 2?
I went online and looked at pictures of ground hogs, and you are correct, Virginia. I didn’t think of either a muskrat or groundhog. I’m glad to know. Thank you both for putting me on track.
Could the mystery animal be a muskrat?
Maybe a groundhog or possibly a marmot?
One of those little rodent animals tried to invade my garden today. I don’t live close enough to water for it to be a beaver. I looked it up online and the closest thing to it was a Nutria. Except the tail looked just like the one in the picture you took. So it is a Muskrat or Ground hog? He was kind of cute but I don’t want it destroying all of my hard work I’ve done in my garden!
It was a groundhog! I don’t know much about their habits and whether they invade gardens or not. Good luck! And, thanks for writing.
Marmots are related but different groundhogs.
It’s a baby marmot. Funny as I’ve seen both in person yet never noticed how similar they look.
OK. So you are saying for sure it is a marmot? I just have to look up pictures to satisfy my own mind. Again, I currently am short of time, but I will do it. And, having your info attached will allow others to decide as well. Mary
A groundhog is a type of marmot. It’s probably a marmot, so the best way to tell what species of marmot it is would be based on location.
By location, do you mean state? Terrain? Again, I’m in a very demanding situation personally and won’t look into this for the present. But, thanks for your concern for accuracy.
Geographic location. There’s a Wikipedia page about marmots (wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmot) that lists the different species of marmot. Some species have a very limited habitat like the Vancouver Island marmot, but some have a very large habitat like the groundhog which is found in much of east North America. I don’t know where you took these pictures, so I can’t help you out, but it will take a little research to find out exactly what critter you photographed, though you can take as much time as you need.
(By the way, you were correct about it being a rodent.)
The picture was taken in northern Massachusetts.
Then yes, it is a groundhog. Other species are on the west coast or in Asia.
I’m glad you took the time to look it up, because I’ve been swamped with a number of things besides trying to beat the heat. Thank you.
No problem!