All lot activity this last weekend considering the rain and the floods.

Saturday, the 19th. A large turtle at Norris Lake road where it adjoins 124. On a related note, I came across a smaller turtle on the way to this junction (only alive) and attempting to cross Ross Rd. The turtles are no surprise giving the rain.

Also on Ross. Rd on that same date. An opossum about midway and a small cat near the 78 junction.

Wednesday the 23rd. Raccoon on Hwy. 78 West, maybe a half a mile west of Hugh Howell Rd. and a white tailed deer also westbound but further in towards Snellville. This was near Lake Lucerne Drive (not road). The recent activity is no doubt a result of the weather. Lake Lucerne and the Yellow River was particually effected by some pretty extreme flooding. Also adjacent to this area along the Yellow River is a wildlife ranch that I'm sure was not on safe ground at the time. I had a pretty good look at the river when it was running high on Monday evening and it was close to consuming the bridge on 78. A scary sight to behold if you imagine yourself falling into the water and being plowed under the bridge by its magnificent current. I will be checking more into the damage at the wildlife ranch.

Saturday the 12th. Racoon, Hwy. 78, going west near the newly infamous WalMart. Approaching the Stone Mountain Park exit. There is a four foot concrete median present, probably a factor to its death.

It's still pretty uneventful out there. Today, one Grey Squirrel westbound on Annistown Road., a little to the west of Zoar Church Road. I'll note that it is a full moon, but it doesn't seem to be clearing up the lull in activity.

On another note, or possibly not very distant tangent I observed 6 or so birds flying about in the night hours, between 9 to 10 O'clock. They were visible only by means of a bright light high on top a telephone pole which had done a decent job of illuminating their undersides. They were too large for me to say they were bats but they possessed a lack of hastiness and an almost frolicking like pattern that reminded me of the feeding habits of bats, particularly how they stayed close to the light as if they were gathering up moths. They could be nightjars or some other nocturnal bird we barely witness or it's possible they are run of the mill songbirds engaging in behavior that is also rarely observed.

From the doldrums of August

Location: Highpoint Road north of 78, Gwinnett County.

Nothing significant in the past so many weeks. Small mammal, somewhat larger than a cat, largely decomposed, doglike with a stout body and short coarse fur. The underside fur around what appeared to be the throat was white. My guess would be a red fox. It's nothing I'm sure of.