April is the peak breeding time for Eastern painted turtles (Chrysemys picta picta), the subspecies that resides in Maine. The seduction most likely will be hidden in the shallow water at the edges of a freshwater body, which is what I suspect was going on with these two PTs Thursday. (Look closely.)
The smaller-bodied male usually will approach the female, moving his face in front of hers. When he’s got her attention, he’ll wave his long-clawed front feet in front of the female in a mesmerizing way and sometimes touch her face lightly with them. Then, he’ll swim away. If she doesn’t follow him, he’ll repeat the performance until she does (or doesn’t and he gives up).
If she’s willing and ready, the female will swim after the male and then sink to the bottom, where the male will mount her. His shell bottom (plastron) is slightly concave to accommodate her shell top (carapace). And, his front claw nails are longer than hers so that he can grab her shell. (Image taken in Brooklin, Maine on April 21, 2022.)