Well, couldn’t keep away after such a successful outing, so the next day we return hoping for a repeat performance.  Fortunately, the herping picks up right where it left off.   I’m driving on the mainland, passing through woods just before the salt marsh, when I see something on the roadside blending in with the bushes.  It’s small, blurry, and as it turns out, furry.  I feel pretty foolish having stopped for a little brown bunny.  I start to accelerate, when Shoshi yells, “Dad!  Don’t you see the snake?!”  With my eyes focused on the rabbit, I had completely missed the Black Rat emerging onto the road 20 feet past my line of sight.     It’s good start, and terrapins are still out in force.    This turtle had just finished laying eggs . . . . . . but left the nest when she noticed our approach. We finish the job for her, filling in as best we could. This turtle, on the other hand, allows us to observe as she digs a hole, drops her eggs, and completely covers up her nest.   She even gives us permission to record the process on video.  Nothing like watching a real professional at work. Hatchlings emerge in late summer and often overwinter in the nest, leaving in May to burrow beneath nearby vegetation. And if you're really lucky (or have some kid tell you where they are!) you might find one on the beach, seeking out the shelter of shoreline debris.