Turtles & Tortoises
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I love seeing the turtles basking in the sun on a winter's day at the local park in Portimao, Portugal.
The Oriental turtle dove or rufous turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis) is a member of the bird family Columbidae. The species has a wide native distribution range from Central Asia east across Asia to Japan. The populations show variations in the patterning of plumage and have been designated into at least six named subspecies. Populations in the higher latitudes tend to migrate south in winter, while those closer to the tropics are sedentary. Vagrants have been recorded in North America. The species is predominantly granivorous and forages on the ground.
I have been spending some late afternoon, early evening time in a pretty secluded spot on the Lake - bugs of many kinds all over me - trying to locate the Pied-billed Grebe, and watching for any other activity. If one sits still enough, long enough, something is bound to happen…
These very young Wood Ducks ambled onshore and were completely oblivious to me, at least initially. The female with them stayed on the water in a supervisory capacity. Eventually a few of them noticed me, and I slowly brought up my camera while going from sitting to lying down, all in an effort not to spook them. The little photo bomber in the bottom right seemed full of beans, and they stayed for a couple of minutes, before re-entering the water.
There are often three or four sets of Wood Duck young on the water at this time of the year. I especially enjoyed the brief interaction with these ones as I had to misfortune to see a similarly-young duck caught by a Snapping Turtle a couple of weeks ago. Initially I didn’t understand the screaming and thrashing, but with binoculars I ended up figuring it out. It took a while to get that out of my head - I know predation is all around in natural settings, but that was a really unpleasant experience. These guys - who I know may suffer the same fate - cheered me up for the few minutes they were there.
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View F11 and L
Painted turtle offering up a nice scene at Wildwood Lake, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
1/200 sec. f/7.1 213mm ISO100
Canon EOS70D
Tamron 150mm-600mm
Turtle time - Galapagos Islands
Today will be my 12th consecutive day at work. I am ready for some time off and hopefully a little peaceful nature time this weekend.
Hillman Marsh. This North American turtle is considered to be an endangered species throughout much of its range.The most significant threats to the Blanding's Turtle are loss or fragmenting of habitat, motor vehicles, and raccoons and foxes that prey on eggs.
Illegal collection for the pet trade is also a serious threat. Blanding's Turtles are slow breeders - they don't start to lay eggs until they are in their teens or twenties - so adult deaths of breeding age adults can have major impacts on the species.
(I just noticed a Painted Turtle in the bottom left hand corner :-)
Painted turtle
Taken at Wildwood Park, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
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A new generation of turtles appeared finally in our garden, we haven't seen new little turtles for years, we think maybe some predator like a bird or something was getting them once they get out of the eggs, while their shells are still soft... :(
this time my father found these cute little ones and kept them safe in a closed place until they grow up and their shells become hard..
as I've mentioned before, there are many of them in our garden that I've lost the count :)
Happy Turtling Weekend!!
see your photos soon...
"In many cultures, particularly in China, Japan and among Native American peoples, the turtle is an ancient symbol of good luck."
for "Looking close... on Friday!"
Theme : "Lucky Charm"
GOSLING: I'm really sad, Mom!
MOM: Why?
GOSLING: They removed us from the Smile on Saturday Group because I don't look like you!
MOM: Don't worry my love, YOU WILL! In fact, unlike the turtle, you will be soaring up in the sky!
GOLING: REALLY!
MOM: Yes!
GROUP: SMILE ON SATURDAY
THEME: MAXI-MINI
SUBJECT: CANADA GEESE and GOSLING
I came across this fellow in Fort Washington State Park.
Race Car Bob was a Kansas box turtle we found in our garage after we forgot to close the garage door one autumn night. We kept him with us for a month and then let him go back to nature. He sure was a funny fellow.
Water turtle seen at Grand Cenote (waterhole) in the Tulum area on the road to Coba ruins. [Quintana Roo, Mexico]
Cheekwood Botanical Garden.
Many thanks to all who take the time to view, comment and favoring my images. Enjoy the day.
Happily it is spring again and my winter hibernation season is over, along with that of the turtles. But just to prove to my flickr friends I did go out one day in January, here is a photo with ice in it. :-)
Different kinds of turtles hibernate in different ways. Most water turtles go deep into the pond and snuggle down into some mud and leaves at the bottom. Then they let themselves get cold. Their bodies slow down so they don't need to eat anymore. Their hearts slow down too so that they beat only once every few minutes. They stop breathing through their lungs. Because their bodies are running at such a slow speed, they don't need much oxygen, but they do need some. They can get the small amount of oxygen they need from the water. It sinks in through some specialized skin cells that are just inside the tail opening. That's right! They "breathe" through their tails! Water turtles can stay like this for two or three months.
Bird Island | Seychelles
Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
There are seven types of sea turtle in the world’s oceans, six of which are officially classified as a ‘threatened species’ on the current IUCN Red List. The Leatherback and Olive Ridley are regarded as ‘vulnerable’, the Loggerhead and Green as ‘endangered’, and the Kemp’s Ridley and Hawksbill as ‘critically endangered’.
Seychelles is one of only a few major nesting sites around the world for the Hawksbill Turtle and, fortunately due to its remote location, Bird Island has perhaps more than its fair share coming up to lay each year. The laying season normally starts around the end of September / beginning of October, which coincides nicely with our annual visit. This is the time the south-easterly wind lessens and the sea becomes clearer and calmer. Green Turtles also breed on the island, but whilst they only come up at night when it’s dark to lay, the Hawksbill is happy to come up at any time of the day. However, the Hawksbill’s nesting season only lasts a few months to February, whereas the Green Turtle will lay throughout the year,
We’ve been very lucky over the years as we’ve probably now seen around hundred or so Hawksbills either coming in to lay, in the process of digging/laying or on their way back to the sea. For anybody who's interested in reading a bit more about the island’s conservation programme and the laying process then please see the final photo in this set where I’ve added some additional information.
I have so many photos of them that this year I only photographed them going back to the sea after laying - there are four shots here of three different turtles taken on three separate days.