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.
On my walk through the woods to find warblers I nearly stepped on this turtle hatchling. Less than 2 inches and covered in mud, it looks like he just crawled out of his nest. I don't know which species, maybe red-eared slider?
Union County, NJ
Managed a trip to the Yorkshire Dales for these Turtle Doves before I disappear for a few days. They kept there distance, so unfortunately they are large crops.
Many thanks as always for your comments and faves.
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX. Sony nex5r and Schneider Kreuznach Componar 50/4.5 enlarger lens. The turtles have grown accustomed to the passers by at the entrance to the Center, and they seem to enjoy their theatrics.
This green turtle was one of 20 this particular day that crawled on the Hookipa Park beach on Maui, Hawaii to rest. The turtle had just come ashore and was about to drop its head to sleep.
The green turtle is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Major nesting is done in the French Frigate Shoals but some goes on right here in HI and we ran into one ranger going on a 'turtle nest watch.'
I came across this fellow in Fort Washington State Park.
Thank you, so much, for looking!
Painted turtle enjoying a warm Halloween.
Wildwood Lake, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
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.
I was leaving local park when this big fella decided to cross my path. Made sure I stopped traffic so it could make it safely across the road. (Cell phone capture)
Red Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) is a common resident in Thailand. Captured at Asia Pacific International University premises, Muaklek, Thailand
Don't let that smiley face fool you. These turtles can be feisty when out of water. Snapping turtles roamed the earth with the dinosaurs and have a strong bite but contrary to popular belief they cannot bite your finger off. They range from Canada to Florida. Their numbers may be in decline in some areas where trapping is legal. If you really want to get up close and personal with this snapper, view in Large! Didn't need 5 frames a second for this capture.
...or at least ready for takeoff...
There is growing evidence that turtles have a secret desire to fly. There have been several eye witness accounts and actual images of said turtles, practicing what appears to be flight postures, with legs and head elevated.
This theory is in the process of being investigated. ..... :)
See another image of a turtle trying to fly in 1st comment box :)