We all like going for hikes and spotting bears, deers, raccoons, etc but animals like these are often evasive and so we can become dissapointed.
Excitement can still be found, however, if we downsize our expectations a little and concentrate on some of the forests smaller creatures !!!

This little Banana slug was my first spot on my mini safari today !



This one looked like he couldn't decide where he wanted to go !!!!



I then came upon this forest beetle feeding on the remains of some long deceased bird !



I'm not too great when it comes to ID'ing spiders, anyone know what kind made this web ?


This is the 3rd deer carcass I have found in this area, I have also found Cougar scat nearby but the local park ranger still tried to tell me that there are no Cougars here and that the deer are probably wounded by hunters and then die in the depths of the forest !!!!!


Me and Maisy then headed off into the swamp area....


What better knife to have in a swamp than a SwampRat !!!

Cont'd.


I think of the swamp's muddy floor as an up to date guide book that shows me all the creatures that live in the forest, it is just a matter of learning to read the book( tracks ) !!!

As I was checking out some deer tracks I spotted another swamp dweller, this little Newt, I guess he was a virtual giant compared with the other creatures I had found today !!!





He didn't want to hang around with me and headed back off into his house....


Check out how old Maisy looks in this pic !!!!!


And a total different look in a photo taken straight after !!!


We then headed back for a much needed cup of tea !!!

Nice pics, thanks. I need to get out soon, it's been 3 weeks.

Nice pics. The spiderweb looks like a Wolf spider one.

I love the pics of your safari. It is great to get out and see the smaller denizans of the forest. Thanks!

Nice Safari, and cool critters! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

It's always interesting to me the way that spiders can build such and interesting web.

Pit, you need the right tool for the job. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> You need one of these:

Nice pictures Pit. You always bring such great photos to the Yard! What kinda Swamp Rat was that again?

recon, swamp rat bandicoot

snotpig, that picture gets me going every time, haha.

Nice pics, That 1st pic of the banana slug looks alien...

Every time my wife see's that mini weiler she says that she needs one !!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Cool pics, thanks for posting.