The Nature Photography Thread

[kibakiba]

Gross. I'd hate living there, honestly. I couldn't stand living anywhere near spiders like that. Where my boyfriend lives there doesn't seem to be many spiders. Some spiders pop up in his house every once in a while but he's never scared of them. He's brave enough to smash them with his thumb... I have to smash them with something because it's just so gross... And scary.

[Selkielass]

I've seen that done, it's amazing! Honeybees fascinate me; I'd love to be a bee keeper. Except I think paralyzing fear is prohibitive in most things!

Yeah, that can be a game breaker, especially with bees as they operate on pheromones, and the scent of fear and stress can actually cause them to become more jumpy and defensive. A really good bee suit can help a beginner feel safe enough to get started and begin to lose their fear, and once you have a few stings under your belt, and begin to gain immunity it gets a lot easier to 'lose the suit' for all but the most in-depth manipulations. Bee stings still hurt, but I seldom swell up much and I have little itching to deal with.

[Mommy2many]

When I lived in Boston, spiders were a nusance.

Here... in Florida,

Spiders aren't so neatly defined. Spiders are garments, they're cowboy neckties. Spiders are garters on a thigh... they are substantial, agressive. They are 3 inch across. They watch one another -- and you. They grow larger as the season progresss, establish territory, strengthen. Their webs become tensile like the strings on a tennis racket. They easily catch the light and become wide when the sun captures them. The spiders in this place intimidate you. When you walk to you car during dusk, you are sure to wave a stick in front of youself to make sure you don't walk in front of their webs.

The size of spiders is a game changer.

black and yellow garden spider (http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/black_and_yellow_argiope.htm)

Golden Silk Spider [Nephila clavipes] (http://www.jaxshells.org/hill019.htm)


Ok, another very good reason to live in the North East, where it snows and we have temps that go below ZERO:D

[ConcinusMan]

black and yellow garden spider (http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/black_and_yellow_argiope.htm)

Golden Silk Spider [Nephila clavipes] (http://www.jaxshells.org/hill019.htm)

We have both of those here where I live. They never come into houses and they are nice enough to intentionally let you know where there web is so you don't get a face full of it while you're out walking.

That spider I showed in my house always stays right there and doesn't bother anyone. From the looks of all the debris in it's web, I'd say I'd rather have the spider than all the bugs it has killed.

[CelestiHel]

When I lived in Boston, spiders were a nusance.

black and yellow garden spider (http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/black_and_yellow_argiope.htm)


That is my absolute favorite spider. I took pictures of the one living in my tomato plant. I'll post them if they turn out.

[stonyloam]

Had a bumper crop of milkweed this year, and lots of monarch caterpillars, so couldn’t help myself, picked a few to watch. Almost the end of the season, only 2 left. This one hatched this morning. Pretty nice! :)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/monarch_10.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Awesome, Terry.
Monarchs are always fun. We didn't have any this year but in the years past the kids would find the caterpillars and, well you know the rest of the story.:D

[Dragonbeards]

I remember doing that in second grade. Haven't done it since, but it was always fun. Love seeing the butterflies, then releasing them.

[CelestiHel]

I can never find them! I have a field FULL of milkweed and every year nothing, and then butterflied everywhere! I'll get to do it someday! They look lovely!

[ConcinusMan]

Sadly, I don't see monarchs very often, if at all, in western WA or Oregon. We have a smaller similar black and orange butterfly though. "Painted ladies" I believe they're called. Our largest and most spectacular butterfly would have to be swallowtails. Very common and very big and beautiful, like monarchs.

http://www.edupic.net/Images/Insects/lep_tiger_swallowtail_butterfly06.JPG

[kibakiba]

That's a beautiful butterfly! I'd be amazed if I saw one in real life. I've had a monarch land on my hand before when I was a kid.

[Mommy2many]

When I was a kid, around 11 or 12, we raised Monarchs one summer. There were so many o fthem then, I believe ( with no exageration) that we raised and released a couple hundred that summer. It is extremely difficult to find them now. I would love to show that process to my kids. I am just amazed at the color of the chrysallis, a beautiful jade color with the gold dots on top.

[infernalis]

http://www.reptard.info/MySpot/fall/fall3.jpg

http://www.reptard.info/MySpot/fall/fall1.jpg

http://www.reptard.info/MySpot/fall/fall2.jpg

http://www.reptard.info/MySpot/fall/maple.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Wonderful photos Wayne.
Looks like the white, fluffy, cold stuff will be happening before you know it.

[kibakiba]

Beautiful area! Sometimes it looks nice like that around my area too :) but not quite as lovely.

[CelestiHel]

Ha! I was looking at your foliage pictures and thinking it looked an awful lot like here...and then I remembered we're in neighboring states ;P

[ConcinusMan]

Why did the mantis cross the road? Especially on foot when it's perfectly capable of flight.

Found this awesome Mantis religiosa in NW Oregon last Saturday. It flew off about 100 feet away when it finally got tired of posing for pictures. I think this one is a male. The females around here usually have underdeveloped wings and are too heavy to fly once fully grown like this one is. Of course, they are found with bright green coloring as well.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/160/gedc1683large.jpg
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6950/gedc1685large.jpg


It's funny, these weren't even found this far north 20 years ago (they just invaded my area en masse one year back in the early 90's) but we had tons of grasshoppers. Now grasshoppers are scarce but these are common. Coincidence? I think not.:cool:

[guidofatherof5]

Awesome insects. I love finding them around my place.
Haven't seen a single one this year.

[gregmonsta]

Lovely beasts :)

[kibakiba]

That's a cool looking little dude ;) I think I'd be scared if I saw one in real life, but most bugs tend to scare me. My boyfriend owned one once, I think he said it lived for a year or two before dying. He said it'd nibble softly on his fingers and hang onto him if he tried taking his hand out of the tank it was in.

[Mommy2many]

Those things can take down a hummingbird! Wonderful bugs to study, though! Too bad he may have the misfortune of not surviving a chance encounter with his mate:D

[ConcinusMan]

Actually, I captured a huge female a few years back and then later found a male and thought, what the heck. I put them together and the male locked up with her and remained that way for about 2 days. Later, after separating, he went to the bottom of the jar and died there. No eating involved. No aggression from the female.

About two weeks later, she attached an egg case to the lid of the jar. About a week after that, another smaller egg case before she died.

And Steve, I get the feeling that we pass by these "bugs" more than we can imagine. Just so happens some years/times we actually see them more. Could be because there is more of them, or it could just be chance. I haven't seen one in a couple of years whereas before I was seeing a lot of them. By far, they are most easily encountered this time of year when they are big and looking for mates. I'm pretty sure this male was out in the open and on the pavement because he was wandering looking for a mate. If you're going to find any, it's this time of year in tall grass / fields.

As I was flushing out garter snakes, I was also flushing out a lot more of these bugs out of the grass but most would simply take flight and get away.

[Selkielass]

Went for a walk yesterday at what I think will prove to be a great place to go herping. I didn't see any snakes, but I saw lots of signs that it should be a great place for garters.

Its a greenspace connecting two parks. One park is a sports field bordered by wet meadows, a river and floodplains and the other is a wooded area that was once the site of a canal.

This pair was just across the parking lot from my car.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/03deer.jpg

Amazing tree.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/02Oldmanwillow.jpg

Wild Cucumber vines
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/05Spinycucumber.jpg

Crossing my path
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/fuzzybear.jpg

Plenty of fungus
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/15Lotsalittleshrooms.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/14Prettyshroom.jpg

Continued...

[Selkielass]

And larger Fauna...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/06groundhog.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/16WellHellothere.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/17safernow.jpg

Now here's what really excited me- Lots of cover for snakes!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/07brushpiles.jpg

[Selkielass]

A big pile of tin roofing and boards.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/08massivepileoftinandwood.jpg

And the ruins of a house.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/09farmhouseruins.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/10LotsofHidingplaces.jpg

This retaining wall looks like a good candidate for a brumation site- *if* it is actually high enough above river level. It may be too low.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/11Wall01.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/12Brumationsite.jpg

This abandoned retaining wall was higher, but seemed to offer fewer voids and hidey holes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/selkielass/herping/13Worthwatching.jpg

Lots of birds and the logs and stones I turned were hiding plenty of worms, slugs and empty snail shells (Didn't see any live snails tho.) I talked to several dog walkers, and they reported seeing and hearing garters along the trail during the summer.

I'm looking forward to taking my son back with me if we get some more fair weather.

[indigoman]

Looks like a can,t miss place! Thanks for the pics The fun is really in the SEARCH!

[guidofatherof5]

That stone wall is a great place for garter snakes.
Best of luck , keep us posted.

[Selkielass]

Will do, and if anyone is planning on being in Metro-Detroit, and would like to go check it out themselves well, drop me a line. I decided against sharing the names of the parks publicly, but I'll be happy to in private to those who promise to respect the area.

[mustang]

wow steve herp-win (steve irwin steve herp-win ) lolo the snake hunter!

[infernalis]

http://www.reptard.info/2010/FoliageR.jpg

http://www.reptard.info/2010/frog1.jpg

http://www.reptard.info/2010/frog2.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Looking good in the boonies.:D

[Mommy2many]

Aaaww, it's a froggie!

[guidofatherof5]

I found this female Monarch bedding down for the night in my garden.
She was there the next morning until the sun warmed her up. Then she headed South.
Seeing these always brings a smile to my face.;)
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/butterfly11.jpg

[infernalis]

Very pretty Steve...

[Selkielass]

Gorgeous Flutterby!
Now I wait for you to show us the matching radix that turned up on your doorstep.

[infernalis]

http://www.reptard.info/MySpot/fall/swamp.jpg
http://www.reptard.info/MySpot/fall/barns.jpg
http://www.reptard.info/MySpot/fall/hills.jpg
http://www.reptard.info/MySpot/fall/road.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Great looking photos, Wayne.
Is that stream on your property?

[infernalis]

No, it was part of the same road trip.

Those views are typical of the entire region right now.

[mustang]

GUESS WHO JUST GOT HIS FIRST REAL (over $100) CAMERA AND IS GOIN TO LOS MAPLES(its a state park) WITH ABOUT 50-100 STUDENTS TO CLEAN UP THE PARK/EXPLORE THE PARK AND GET COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS? ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ill be lookn for snakes more than trash tho and gettn lots of pics!

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, you talk big. Show us the pics.:p

[mustang]

Yeah, you talk big. Show us the pics.:p
the example pic for the october photocontest is an example of this camera!!:D

[guidofatherof5]

Found this large Moth out by the back deck.
I haven't been able to ID it.
It was almost 3 inches long.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/moth5.jpg

[mustang]

dang ill identify it as BIG!

[guidofatherof5]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/moth5.jpg

Manduca sexta, Carolina Sphinx Moth
I had help getting an ID.

[mustang]

Manduca sexta, Carolina Sphinx Moth
I had help getting an ID.
ok im a teenager yall know how my mind works ....hehehe sexta:D

[guidofatherof5]

ok im a teenager yall know how my mind works ....hehehe sexta:D

Robert, Robert, Robert.:D(Shaking my head as I say it)

[kibakiba]

Oh boy. I'm not much older than you Robert and I almost didn't even get it. I didn't think anything of the name, either. Teenagers... Lol.

[mustang]

Oh boy. I'm not much older than you Robert and I almost didn't even get it. I didn't think anything of the name, either. Teenagers... Lol.
"teenagers scare the living **** outa me
they can care less as long as someone will bleed
so darken your cloths
or strike a violent pose
they may leave you alone
but not me"-my chemical romance song name teenagers:D

[kibakiba]

Yes, I went through a teen phase of loving MCR. Teenagers really do scare me. 15 year olds always try asking me out, mistaking me for someone their age. It's disturbing, yet funny when you see their face as tell them I like older men. :D

[Croti]

So I send also some pictures from my last holidays, I have maked a round Trip in the united states.
We was 3, my wife Regina, my doughter Yvonne and I.
Our landing and starting place was Denver Colorado, east of the Rockys.
Our first stage took us through the mountains to western Colorado / eastern Utah and we have visited some nice places in the Valley of the upper Colorado River.
Unfortunately we did not find any snakes, and certainly no garters, but very nice other reptiles.
See some pictures:

Best wishes, Robert

[mustang]

Yes, I went through a teen phase of loving MCR. Teenagers really do scare me. 15 year olds always try asking me out, mistaking me for someone their age. It's disturbing, yet funny when you see their face as tell them I like older men. :D
geez a 7 year difference in age! dang! (youll look in your 20s when your in your 30s haha cool!

[ConcinusMan]

So I send also some pictures from my last holidays, I have maked a round Trip in the united states.
We was 3, my wife Regina, my doughter Yvonne and I.
Our landing and starting place was Denver Colorado, east of the Rockys.
Our first stage took us through the mountains to western Colorado / eastern Utah and we have visited some nice places in the Valley of the upper Colorado River.
Unfortunately we did not find any snakes, and certainly no garters, but very nice other reptiles.
See some pictures:

Best wishes, Robert


And those are very good pictures! :)

[mustang]

2nd pic is an earless lizard i believe

[Croti]

thanks,
here are some habitat shots from the same aerea...the images from the previous review were 1. my doughter and a friendly Gambelia wislizenii, a leopard Lizard, a female collared lizard, Crotaphytus collaris and the third a closer shot from the leo.

The new pictures: in the La Sal Mountains and a view to the Castle Valley, Habitat near the ghost- town Cisco and then a picture near Newspaper Rock, Canyonland NP


Rob

[Stefan-A]

Thank you for posting the habitat shots. People don't include them often enough.

[houchen]

some indigenes

[ConcinusMan]

Thank you for posting the habitat shots. People don't include them often enough.

You're right. I've snapped pics but never posted them here.

Habitat pic for T. sirtalis concinnus and T. ordinoides around late July. Location extreme NW Oregon east of the coast mt. range but west of the northern Willamette Valley.

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/1709/gedc1511.jpg

Said two species, pictured in sitsu, just yards from that habitat shot, basking in the evening sun at the base of a toppled fir tree root ball:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7364/gedc1560.jpg

Near the Southern Oregon Coast... west slope of the coast range on the way to the beach:
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8097/gedc0226.jpg
Home to elk obviously, but also T. elegans terrestris, T. ordinoides, and P. c. cantenifer, to name a few.;) Looks like a mt. valley but it's really just minutes away from the s. Oregon Coast. You're looking at one of the youngest mt. ranges on earth.;)

No concinnus here.:(

[Stefan-A]

Very nice.

[mustang]

Home to elk obviously
'a hunting we will go
a hunting we will go
oh i just cant wait for deer sea-Z-son!
:D:D:D

[mustang]

2nd pic is an earless lizard i believe
oh man one off collard lizard was my second guess!

[ConcinusMan]

'a hunting we will go
a hunting we will go
oh i just cant wait for deer sea-Z-son!
:D:D:D

Funny, later these elk walked right up to us, close enough to reach out and touch them. They're used to people and aren't afraid. I am told they only forage here in the spring. By the time they are in season, they won't be seen here or in the open at all.

[MasSalvaje]

So I send also some pictures from my last holidays, I have maked a round Trip in the united states.
We was 3, my wife Regina, my doughter Yvonne and I.
Our landing and starting place was Denver Colorado, east of the Rockys.
Our first stage took us through the mountains to western Colorado / eastern Utah and we have visited some nice places in the Valley of the upper Colorado River.
Unfortunately we did not find any snakes, and certainly no garters, but very nice other reptiles.
See some pictures:

Best wishes, Robert


Very nice Robert! Those are two of the coolest lizards there are! Add in Dipsosaurus dorsalis and you have my top three! Very cool habitat shots also. I may just be biased but Utah has the best of the best when in comes to habitat.

-Thomas

[Selkielass]

'a hunting we will go
a hunting we will go
oh i just cant wait for deer sea-Z-son!
:D:D:D
My dad's promised to share venison with me again this year- I sure hope he finds one!

[guidofatherof5]

Iowa has more than enough. Come take a few of ours.:D

[mustang]

Iowa has more than enough. Come take a few of ours.:D
pay for my ticket and housing ill pay for the procession!

[mustang]

in one of the snake books i saw a pic of a venomous snake that looked like a garter snake....after more research on it i figured out it looks like a lot of different snakes it has a varied pattern ill see if i can get the pic out of the book and post it....the snake is called a "boom slang"

[guidofatherof5]

in one of the snake books i saw a pic of a venomous snake that looked like a garter snake....after more research on it i figured out it looks like a lot of different snakes it has a varied pattern ill see if i can get the pic out of the book and post it....the snake is called a "boom slang"

Something like this Boomslang(Dispholidus typus)
Boomslang - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomslang)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Dispholidus_typus.jpg

[Selkielass]

Soo pretty!
I've heard they were moderately popular as pets before the fact that they were terribly venomous was discovered. (People thought they were harmless for years as I understand it.) Is this true or an urban myth?

[Stefan-A]

Can't confirm that they were ever popular as pets, but they were definitely thought to be harmless, until a herpetologist died from a bite.

[mustang]

one of the patterns made it look like a garter and another one made it look like a ribbon snake

[kibakiba]

Boomslangs are lovely. If they weren't venomous, I'd probably want to have one.

[guidofatherof5]

I want one anyway:D
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/boomslang9.jpg

[mustang]

theres one venomous snake id like and i dont know what its called at the expo i saw it without red tape (means its not venomous) but it had a rectangular heard and i told the guy who told his boss who yelled at another dude...it was really white, some sort of viper...or id like an fwc

[Stefan-A]

Two tiny comments:

- The photos in this thread should be your own.

- Stay on topic.

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry, I apologize.

[DangerMouse]

i wish i lived somewher with more wild reptiles but heres some or the more common wild welsh life mise :)

[Croti]

...Our first stage took us through the mountains to western Colorado / eastern Utah...



Dear Reader,
in a second part, I want to show some pictures of the beautiful landscapes that we was able to take the trip from Utah to Arizona and later to New Mexico



Best wishes, Robert

[Croti]

here some critters from that places...

[guidofatherof5]

A group of very nice photos.

[ConcinusMan]

Soo pretty!
I've heard they were moderately popular as pets before the fact that they were terribly venomous was discovered. (People thought they were harmless for years as I understand it.) Is this true or an urban myth?

I tend to think it's a bit of both. It is possible that many people "domesticated" their boomslangs and bites were dry or extremely rare and so they assumed the snake was harmless.:cool:

Habitat for 3-stripe poly concinnus in SW WA
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/873/3stripehabitat.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

A patch of habitat where I find a few T. ordinoides over many years. This place is in a very urban area of north Vancouver, WA:eek: (Hwy 99)

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/4394/gedc1155medium.jpg

[Croti]

Hellow Concinnus,
thanks for this verry nice and, as the most important point, informative habitat-shots. Hope I can visite some places in one or two years closely with my family...

Best wishes, Robert

[ConcinusMan]

They seem to favor open grassy areas around the edges of woods or blackberry patches. Being near water helps but they can also be found miles from water. If the area is scattered with trash such as boards, tires, etc. then it's pretty easy to find them by "flipping"

[mustang]

no luck with snakes but got a bunch of neat pics of other things ill post em when i get home and can use the computer were (the people on the trip) are goin to dairy queen now and im using my cell phone

[mustang]

i gave each pic a title
northa american giant millipede
http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy158/JJmustang/DSCN0220.jpg
POSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the student researcher(the rock im on is 6ft tall)
http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy158/JJmustang/DSCN0224.jpg
the new age pioneer
http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy158/JJmustang/DSCN0246-1.jpg
long way down
http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy158/JJmustang/DSCN0241.jpg
and a mantus
http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy158/JJmustang/DSCN0239.jpg

[Croti]

Hi Robert,
nice shots. Is that in Texas? Near San Antonio? Which Reptiles lives
in that terrain?
Are there some points, where you can find some collared lizards? I love this land.
Greetings the other Robert

[Croti]

Hi all,
I send some pictures from Germany, of a bog in the lower level land. Unfortunately, Our greatest part of this landscape in the last centuries have disappeared and have maked way for modern cities, farmland and roads.
An intact nature is rare in Germany and all reptiles and amphibians are rare and threatened.
Here in this small habitat are living some from the last Common Viper (Vipera berus), the Grass snake (Natrix natrix), the Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca), 2 Lizards, (Lacerta agilis, Zootoca vivipara) and 1 legless Lizard (Anguis fragilis).
Also some Amphibians.
Best wishes, Robert

[ConcinusMan]

Very cool robert. And that is a native mantis for once! Litaneutria obscura would be my guess. I have only found one once in my life, in the desert east of San Diego.

[mustang]

Hi Robert,
nice shots. Is that in Texas? Near San Antonio? Which Reptiles lives
in that terrain?
Are there some points, where you can find some collared lizards? I love this land.
Greetings the other Robert
lost maples in west texas i didnt find any snakes (i rarely do) maybe some collared lizards

[mustang]

Very cool robert. And that is a native mantis for once! Litaneutria obscura would be my guess. I have only found one once in my life, in the desert east of San Diego.
i let him stay at the park he aint stealing checkers food!

[guidofatherof5]

Great shot of that Turkey Tail Fungus(Trametes versicolor)
turkey tail (http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/turkey_tail.htm)

[Croti]

lost maples in west texas i didnt find any snakes (i rarely do) maybe some collared lizards

Dear Robert,
I collect photos of collared lizards from the internet, with associated locality data and have peppered eichert already several hundred. Most photos are from Utah, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Photos from Texas and especially from south of the border, Mexico, are very rarely among them.
If you could send me even a photo with locality, I would appreciate.
Best wishes, Robert

[mustang]

Dear Robert,
I collect photos of collared lizards from the internet, with associated locality data and have peppered eichert already several hundred. Most photos are from Utah, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Photos from Texas and especially from south of the border, Mexico, are very rarely among them.
If you could send me even a photo with locality, I would appreciate.
Best wishes, Robert
ill try:D

[guidofatherof5]

I found this group of Boxelder bugs in the backyard. They were entering a ball of milkweed vine leaves to settle in for the night. Down to freezing tonight so I think these Juv.(no wings) won't make it to adulthood. They are a pain to have around but a beautiful bug.
Boxelder Bug › Information on Boxelder bug pest control (http://boxelderbug.com/)
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/box_elder.jpg

[Mommy2many]

Poor buggies:(

[kibakiba]

Ewwww. I hate bugs. I feel bad when massive groups of anything die, but I really can't stand bugs. We have mutants around here and they are aggressive.

[ConcinusMan]

What? bugs are very cool. Check this out. Remember the mantis that was living with my snakes? Well... he died a few days ago. But not before giving me some great footage.

A few hours before he died, he started acting strangely and put on a defense threat display that I have never seen from a mantis before. I have video that is sooooo great, but for now, here's a still pic of the display he put on:

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1852/mantis002medium.jpg

I suppose if my life was about to end and I had never got to make an attempt at procreation, I suppose I'd be grouchy too!

[ConcinusMan]

A visitor on my backyard gutter, a Scrub Jay:

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/4858/damnbirds007medium.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

OK, got the mantis video uploaded. Prepare to be entertained by a "bug" He plays "fiddle" LoL. Listen carefully. Notice how interested my red stripe northwestern girl is. So cute!

TDjqmyVYz9s

[radtad]

Sorry he passed, it is unfortunate that they are so short lived. We have several every year and they are just delightful.

[ConcinusMan]

Sorry he passed, it is unfortunate that they are so short lived. We have several every year and they are just delightful.

Not short-lived. Just short-lived as an adult.;) Which is when a mantis is at it's most impressive.:D

I've kept them enough times to know that even if you bring an adult mantis in out of the cold, the best you can expect is early November and their life cycle will end:( no matter how warm you keep them, and no matter how much you feed them.

If I ventured to guess, I'd say this guy hatched sometime in May. 6 months is a pretty long life for an insect.

[radtad]

For a Mantis maybe. My kid has a male hisser that is going on four years old. That is old for an insect by my standards and wish that preying mantis would live longer. Thats all

[guidofatherof5]

Mantis. Very impressive insect.

[ConcinusMan]

For a Mantis maybe. My kid has a male hisser that is going on four years old. That is old for an insect by my standards and wish that preying mantis would live longer. Thats all

Maybe I should clarify. Most insects native to north or south of the equator can be equated to a plant that is considered an "annual". They are born, they grow, they mature, and then they die. Usually within a short period of time- over the course of a summer, for example. Significantly shorter than a year.:cool:

Hissing cockroaches can and do live for years. So do certain spiders in my area (I know, not an insect) by living indoors or coming indoors during the cold months.

I had a species of African Mantis that lived for 3 years in my care, but they are from equatorial Africa.:cool:

I'm just sayin.... 6 months is pretty good for an insect native to Europe, and pretty good considering the climate here only allows for 3-4 months of frost-free nights.

[ConcinusMan]

http://epicwinftw.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/win-pics-holding-the-moon-up-with-a-stick1.jpg

[gregmonsta]

That's a very nice moon shot ;)

[ConcinusMan]

So is this...

No. I shouldn't.:p

[amattel]

Here are a few of my favorites.

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z201/amattel/nature-4.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z201/amattel/nature-3.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z201/amattel/nature-2.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z201/amattel/nature-1.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z201/amattel/nature.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Check this out guys. A white Red-Tailed Hawk in Texas. Amazing!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5247778556_f63e4ed00a_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5247777744_c22cce711d_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5124/5247779202_3e98461507_b.jpg

[Stefan-A]

the only rule (at the moment) is that the pictures you post are your own.
Ahem.

[ConcinusMan]

Oops. I thought is OK if we left the credit on the pic. My bad.

[ConcinusMan]

I miss summer!

So...

I started browsing through some pictures taken last summer.

American Goldfinch, a.k.a. Wild Canary (Spinus tristis) in my backyard. (Washington's State bird) Here's a male in full breeding plumage. He's feeding at a regular feeder with black sunflower seeds but that type of feeder alone won't bring them to your feeding stations. In order to attract these birds one must buy a special feeder with very tiny holes and fill it with canadian thistle (Niger) seed. It's worth it.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/8232/junejuly2010055medium.jpg

Unfortunately, this bird is in serious decline due mainly to natural thistle fields in Canada and the northern U.S. being cleared for agriculture. The bird depends on the thistle fields for nesting and food and is unable to adapt to the loss of the thistle fields.

[ConcinusMan]

Mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) like to ground feed spilled seed under the feeders. This pair came back later in the summer with one of their offspring. (they usually only raise one or two per brood)

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/9660/junejuly2010059medium.jpg

[gregmonsta]

Right, these go way back. When I was younger and living in Germany my love for reptiles was born. Much to my mum's horror (at the time) I regularily caught slow worms and sand lizards and brought them home as a 'pet for the night'. I would accomodate them in a box with some rocks and a handful of insects and would set them free the next day.
I've scanned a few pics to share.

Around 1987 -

Slow worms

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Blindschleiche1_001.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Blindschleiche2.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Blindschleiche1.jpg

Sand lizard (female)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Eidechse.jpg

Slow worm found on holiday in Northern France 2003 -

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/foundinFrance03.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Hervorragend, Greg.

[gregmonsta]

Vielen Dank :)

[Croti]

Hello all, hello Greg and Steve,
I put some other pictures in it, some Lizards from the Rivers "Ruhr" and "Mosel" (Moselle). Germanys western part. The Mosel comes from northern France and flows in Germany into the "Rhein" (Rhine).
at first female and male Sandlizard, Lacerta agilis, than the Habitat, a male green Lizard, Lacerta viridis and a smaller Lizard Podarcis muralis.
Greetings,
Robert

[gregmonsta]

Hello all, hello Greg and Steve,
I put some other pictures in it, some Lizards from the Rivers "Ruhr" and "Mosel" (Moselle). Germanys western part. The Mosel comes from northern France and flows in Germany into the "Rhein" (Rhine).
at first female and male Sandlizard, Lacerta agilis, than the Habitat, a male green Lizard, Lacerta viridis and a smaller Lizard Podarcis muralis.
Greetings,
Robert

:D Very nice.

[guidofatherof5]

Great photos. Thanks for posting them. I want to come and visit and do some herping with you.
I slip a few dozen radixes through customs.;):D

[Croti]

Hi Steve,
yes that would be funny. Gladly we can make a Herping-round, you should come together to Germany.
But please, are not disappointed, reptiles and amphibians are very rare here in our industrial region.
How is the weather in Iowa? I send a view from my window, 2 weeks old.
And another picture from warmer times...
have a good day,

Robert

[ConcinusMan]

Sunset as seen from Vancouver, Washington U.S.A. on Saturday, December 06, 2008, 4:56:42 PM. Temperature 13 degrees F. I only wish I had a better camera at the time. This was the leading edge of an approaching winter storm that dumped 17 inches of snow overnight and into the following day.

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5103/gedc0454large.jpg

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/258/gedc0455large.jpg

[gregmonsta]

Gorgeous :eek:

[ConcinusMan]

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/2038/slightdusting.jpg

[Mommy2many]

All I can say Richard, is WOW.

[infernalis]

http://www.reptard.info/FT/acemaxsnow.jpg

http://www.reptard.info/FT/AceIce.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Looks cool.:p

[guidofatherof5]

Just a walk in the park. Isn't it Wayne.;)

[Mommy2many]

Here are a few from our storm last night:

My Minivan:

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww215/rotie1/IMG00568.jpg

My Trampoline:

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww215/rotie1/ackBerrypicturesIMG00570.jpg

[infernalis]

Just a walk in the park. Isn't it Wayne.;)


Just walking my dogs out back, Heading out for a morning walk right now.... I'll take my camera, it's been snowing heavily.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice minivan, Le Ann.:D Doesn't look so mini right now.
Here's what you do to get it cleared off. Make a clear area on the windshield. Head down the road at about 70mph and before you know it you'll have a clean van.:D

[ConcinusMan]

Holy crud that's a lot of snow.

[Nir]

With all the snakes brumating, there is not much to do in the reptile room these days...

I went walking two days ago and managed to find this little bugger:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y36/nir/petitenyctale3.jpg

For those of you who don't recognize the species, it is a Northern Saw-Whet Owl. It is a very small owl with adults being only 6-8 inches. Very cute IMO...

[Stefan-A]

Now that's a nice photo. :)

[mustang]

With all the snakes brumating, there is not much to do in the reptile room these days...

I went walking two days ago and managed to find this little bugger:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y36/nir/petitenyctale3.jpg

For those of you who don't recognize the species, it is a Northern Saw-Whet Owl. It is a very small owl with adults being only 6-8 inches. Very cute IMO...
haha he looks like batman or something.

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice photo. Awesome Owl.

[infernalis]

That owl is one great photo. Very nice work.

[ConcinusMan]

Indeed.

Backyard squirrel:

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3152/squirrel001medium.jpg
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/1339/squirrel004medium.jpg
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6237/squirrel005medium.jpg

These guys are very trusting. If I leave the back door open they come in and make themselves at home. Discovered that by accident. I was sitting on the living room couch, 2 rooms away from the open door one day, when a squirrel hopped up on the couch next to me, begging for peanuts.:rolleyes:

[kibakiba]

Better hide your nuts.
:D

[ConcinusMan]

Got my dad a T-shirt with a cartoon of a very old squirrel on it. It says "I'm so old, I forgot where my nuts are"

[mustang]

Indeed.

Backyard squirrel:


These guys are very trusting. If I leave the back door open they come in and make themselves at home. Discovered that by accident. I was sitting on the living room couch, 2 rooms away from the open door one day, when a squirrel hopped up on the couch next to me, begging for peanuts.:rolleyes:
NO WAY I WANNA TRY THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you get SOOOOOOOOOOOO many fun ideas from this forum!:D

[kibakiba]

Yes, I saw that.

[Mommy2many]

The picture of the owl is beautiful. I have only seen an owl in wild here maybe twice in my lifetime.

[Frank.S]

September 2010

http://dght-kassel.info/Bilder/div.6.jpg

http://dght-kassel.info/Bilder/div.7.jpg

Coronella austriaca

Regards Frank

[guidofatherof5]

At a distance that Smooth Snake looks like a S.dekayi on steroids.
Thanks for posting the photos.

[Hornets23]

Love that owl! Beautiful.

[Stefan-A]

At a distance that Smooth Snake looks like a S.dekayi on steroids.
Thanks for posting the photos.
Think of it as a prairie kingsnake off steroids.. ;)

[CelestiHel]

The picture of the owl is beautiful. I have only seen an owl in wild here maybe twice in my lifetime.

I see them all the time at night, big, beautiful barn owls mostly, but never during the day when I can get a nice picture of them. Nicely done!

[ConcinusMan]

Huh, that's funny, I usually see barn owls during the day where I live. Usually in the evening as the sun is going down, or in the morning. After dark, the little screech owls come out.

[Mommy2many]

I wish they were as prevelant around here.

[ConcinusMan]

While being much more common in rural areas, barn owls around here only require open grassy areas with plenty of rodents for hunting, (this can include grass along the freeway in cities) and they often nest under freeway overpasses even in the city.

I hear screech owls more often than I see them. Even in heavily urban areas I hear them call as they fly over at night.

The great horned owls are another story. I only hear and see those high up in stands of large old evergreen (fir around here) trees.

[Mommy2many]

We have Hawks that sit on the lights on the Highways and Overpasses. Also, maybe a few Turkey Vultures now and then:D

[guidofatherof5]

We have Hawks that sit on the lights on the Highways and Overpasses. Also, maybe a few Turkey Vultures now and then:D


Our hawks are of the Red-tailed variety. Yours?

[ConcinusMan]

Turkey vultures were all but wiped out around here but in recent years they're making a comeback. Red-tailed hawks, coopers hawks, bald eagles, and american kestrels are common. There's also a few pairs of peregrine falcons nesting on tall buildings downtown.

[Mommy2many]

They are red-tailed hawks. We do have Bald Eagles in the area as well. I had the privilege of seeing 3 of them about 3 years ago. First time ever in the wild. They were awesome!

[guidofatherof5]

Before I could get my camera the other two males had flown away.
Northern Cardinal, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_cardinal/id)
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/bird2.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Last Fall I found this little Praying Mantis. It stayed with me for about 15 minutes then it was back into the garden.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/praying.jpg

[gregmonsta]

Cute little booger :D

[Stefan-A]

What's the weather like over there, Steve? I don't think I'll actually see our garden for another 2-3 months. :D

[guidofatherof5]

Snow, snow, snow and more snow. Wind chills last week were at -30.
Nothing green here. Other than my green radixes.

[gregmonsta]

We had a recent spate of rain so Scotland is back to being green and soggy (a usually year round phenomenon) :D

[Stefan-A]

Right, I didn't notice that you actually said "last fall".

[andycul]

We had a recent spate of rain so Scotland is back to being green and soggy (a usually year round phenomenon) :D

Yeah thankfully rid of the snow at long last. Just hope we dont get anymore, lol :D

[gregmonsta]

Yeah thankfully rid of the snow at long last. Just hope we dont get anymore, lol :D

Until June :rolleyes:

[mustang]

Before I could get my camera the other two males had flown away.
Northern Cardinal, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_cardinal/id)
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/bird2.jpg
we had to shoot one it kept pecking out my aunts side mirrors. their neighboor covered up his mirrors so it moved on to them. long story (but i gave yall the abridged:D)

[ConcinusMan]

It is illegal to take, kill, or possess Northern Cardinals, and violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to 15,000 US dollars and imprisonment of up to six months.;)

[Stefan-A]

It is illegal to take, kill, or possess Northern Cardinals, and violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to 15,000 US dollars and imprisonment of up to six months.;)
There's probably an exception to that rule somewhere.

[ConcinusMan]

No exception to the killing. In extreme circumstances, a federal permit might be obtained for relocation but those permits are rarely granted. I still don't see why the bird had to be killed. It wasn't long ago that cardinals came very close to qualifying as a threatened species.

[CelestiHel]

No exception to the killing. In extreme circumstances, a federal permit might be obtained for relocation but those permits are rarely granted. I still don't see why the bird had to be killed. It wasn't long ago that cardinals came very close to qualifying as a threatened species.

Agreed. Songbirds are in so much danger from housecats and loss of habitat and loss of food sources, I can't see a reason to kill any of them ever. They've got it hard enough.

We have cardinals who tap tap tap at our windows all day long. On the rare occasion they actually find something they can damage, we cover it or move it. Problem solved. If only the same could be said of the woodpeckers on the tin roof ;P

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, It's like the woodpeckers are saying "can you hear me now?" It's their territorial call. They lack the beautiful song and so they announce their territory with a very annoying rapping. Tin roofs or stovepipes are perfect for that! The louder and more annoying, the better in their minds! Drove me nuts for a couple of years at my house too. Cardinals just pick at the mirrors because they think they are seeing another male cardinal invading their territory. I have only seen cardinals in the wild in Baja California, Mexico.:cool:

On to bigger and better things...

I had the pleasure this Thursday of going along on a trip the Oregon Coast. It's winter but we couldn't have asked for better weather if it was May. Sunny 63 degrees, winds calm. It was gorgeous! Here's some pics of the Pacific Ocean taken at Depoe Bay, Oregon Thursday, Jan 27th, around noon local time.

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/5769/oregoncoast010large.jpg
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/549/oregoncoast008large.jpg
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3841/oregoncoast012large.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Some more pics...

South Beach State Park, Oregon, USA

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/9276/oregoncoast040large.jpg
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/6691/oregoncoast041large.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/251/oregoncoast046large.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Some places we stopped along the way. It's hard to believe, but in that area of the Oregon Coast you have the best of both worlds. It's very hilly and forested so it feels like you're doing some mountain camping, but you're within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean!

Here's some pics taken very close to the Ocean. In fact, we could still hear the roar of the Ocean (and smell the idodine) at the site where these pics were taken. We could walk to the beach in 5 minutes!

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9749/oregoncoast030large.jpg

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/764/oregoncoast023large.jpg

Just feet from where those pics were taken, you can see the Pacific Ocean here:

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/5435/oregoncoast034large.jpg

got lots more pics and some really good video to be posted later!

[img]

[ConcinusMan]

Yours truly, thoroughly enjoying myself and nature:
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/7263/oregoncoast024large.jpg

There's nothing like actually being there, but I hope this brings you closer to experiencing the Oregon Coast. Videos available in HD, so if you have a good internet connection and hi resolution monitor/ graphics, watch them in 720p at full screen and listen to the audio. Awesome!

V8VB821AUI

Why isn't my youtube box working Stefan? I don't understand what the problem is so here's a link instead:

YouTube - Depoe Bay Oregon Coast - Pacific Ocean (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V8VB821AUI)

More video clips later...

This was just a day trip but I will be returning to spend a full week in this area in August. I also hope to continue that trip down the coast into northern California. (Coast garter, infernalis, and atratus territory) Been planning and saving for this for 3 years now. Can't wait!

[ConcinusMan]

sP4_Vj1Epgg

Now see, this one works just fine. Don't understand what's wrong with the one above. Can't figure it out.:confused:

OK, nevermind. I figured it out. I left out a dash.

-V8VB821AUI

[kibakiba]

My family used to camp a lot in Oregon. It was a lot of fun for me, except the car ride there and back... over 12 hours of sitting in a car is horrible! We always went to areas where the ocean was. The only problem with that was, there were a lot of kids in my family at the time... Kids + smelly ocean and sand = very smelly campsite. :D
Haha. Those are my only really fond memories of my family. Like when we went to Salem and my aunt bought me 2 scoops of my favorite ice cream at an ice cream shop near the ocean... Or the salt water taffy. Mmmm... The best salt water taffy comes from Oregon in my opinion. :D

[gregmonsta]

Very nice ;)

[ConcinusMan]

Unlike the non-native eastern gray squirrels I photograph in my back yard, this one is native. Took this picture at the Oregon Coast.

Douglas Squirrel - Tamiasciurus douglasii

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/722/oregoncoast026large.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/475/oregoncoast020large.jpg

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5837/oregoncoast019large.jpg

[mustang]

Some more pics...

South Beach State Park, Oregon, USA

aww no snake tracks :(

[ConcinusMan]

I would be quite suspicious of any "snake" tracks found around there.;)

[zooplan]

http://www.zooplan.net/images/natrixh11a_201101.jpg
This is a Grass Snake habitat near Bonn.
http://www.zooplan.net/images/natrixh11b_201101.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Nice board.:D

[ConcinusMan]

Looks just like the kind of place I would find garters here in the Pacific Northwest.

[Reptar!]

I have way to much photography to put up here lol. If you guys want. I have a facebook just for my photography. feel free to check it out or add me as a friend. Keaton De Smet | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/keatonsphoto)

[ConcinusMan]

I sent you a message and a friend request from Richard Lingo.

Where in Colorado are you? I'm extremely interested in acquiring just a few certain snakes found In CO. Especially milks found usually only in spring.

I want one or a pair of these milks, or others you might find in CO

4hFRgkRZwmg

[Reptar!]

I live in a town just north of Denver. I think that video was shot down south aways. I am taking a trip down to new mexico at the end of march. I might just leave a day early to get down there and go snake wrangling for a day. It might be to early but I will for sure look. What other snakes were you interested in finding here??

[ConcinusMan]

Some pictures from the Portland, Oregon metro area (right outside my house) this morning. Temperature 33 F (barely above freezing)

http://oi54.tinypic.com/210g683.jpg

http://oi53.tinypic.com/taftat.jpg

http://oi54.tinypic.com/w7eqol.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

http://oi56.tinypic.com/esnq6p.jpg

http://oi52.tinypic.com/rmv5mv.jpg

[mustang]

I would be quite suspicious of any "snake" tracks found around there.;)
why, if i found tracks id call myself lucky:D

[ConcinusMan]

Do I have to spell it out for you Robert? Ever heard of a fictional book called "trails in the sand" ? Who's the author?

You just won't find any snakes that close to the Ocean in that part of Oregon. You must go inland a bit and get away from the harsh wind. Sandy beach and wind-twisted shore pine forest with it's lack of undergrowth just doesn't make very good snake habitat.

It's a beautiful sunny day in Western WA and OR today with several inches of snow on the ground. Unfortunately, it's well below freezing and not expected to thaw. 15-18 degrees expected overnight tonight. It should be around 60 degrees this time of year. Brrrr...

[stonyloam]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/hat.jpg

OK you are probably wondering why, in this nature photography thread I have a photo of my old fishing hat. Well it is a kind of interesting story, this being a snake forum, and this is not really about snakes, I thought it might fit in here. A couple of weeks ago we were down in Florida visiting my friend Jim, who has been bragging incessantly about his collection of ant lions (my favorite insect) living in his back yard, so first thing when we got there we had to go take a look. On the way out he said “look at this” and there in his lawn was a patch of carnivorous sundew plants. Man! I tried not to look too impressed, and we proceed out the ant lion range, and there were dozens and dozens all over the place, (I have trouble keeping one or two at home), I was crushed, and conceded the “ant lion king” crown to him. We couldn’t help but dig up a big one and place it on a smooth patch of sand to see how long it would take to make a new cone trap. We then took off to look for alligators. Saw one 10 footer and a 4 foot black racer. Anyway it was dark when we got back and decided to go out and see how much progress the ant lion had made. I grabbed my old fishing hat with the LEDs attached and went out to look. We found it but it had not gotten very far, so we headed back to the house. This is where it got interesting (and the hat comes in). As we walked back it occurred to me that there were several tiny points of light in the grass. At first I thought they were just reflections from my hat light off of the droplets on the sundew plants. Then one moved! Maybe not! I said to Jim “what are those specks of light?” He said “what specks?” He could not see them with his LED flashlight. I handed him my hat and he said “wow, I don’t know”. I took his flashlight and held it up to my forehead, right between my eyes and looked. Bingo! Could see them just fine. We had to find out what they were, so we took a closer look. They were spiders! The first one was a large “wolf” spider (about 1 ½ inches across), but there were dozens, all sizes form tiny to impressive. We found an impressive big one, and I decided to tease it, so put my finger in front of it and wiggled it a bit. It instantly jumped for my finger.:eek: Two things happened (three if you count nearly crapping my pants), my hand went one way and the spider flew another. After a quick check to make sure it was not on either of us, we decided it was unwise to annoy the large ones. So, the little points of light we saw was the light from our flashlights reflecting back from the spider eyes. The reason we could see them with the hat was that the beam of light was very nearly parallel and very close to the line of sight of our eyes and the light was reflected directly from there eyes to ours. When the light was held off to the side the angle was too great and you could not see the reflection. It may also be that the light emitted from a LED is more columnar than from an incandescent lamp and reflects better in this case. Anyway the hat lights are only a few dollars, and it might be fun to see what is looking back at you from the grass on a warm summer evening. Sorry I did not get any actual photos of the spiders, but a generally good time was had by all.:D Sorry if this got a little long winded.

[guidofatherof5]

Great story.
I would have love to have seen your face when that spider introduced himself/herself to you.:eek:

[ConcinusMan]

If I were to taunt a spider, I think I would use something other than my finger!

[kibakiba]

I would have screamed if I even saw the spider. Let alone have it jump at me. The spiders we have that come in our house are actually vicious and will run at you if you move anything near it. They're the size of my palm. I might have small hands, but I have nothing to compare my hands to.

[Mommy2many]

Ok, Chantel. What kind of spider is that? Cause if it is as big as my palm, there is no way it's living under the same roof as me. That means I can see it's hairy legs, and I already broke down the spider rules on the other forum.

[kibakiba]

I'm not sure, a friend of mine who saw a dead one said it was either a wold spider or a hobo spider. It looks like neither. I looked online and the closest match for what it looked like was a "giant house spider". I can't wait to move to Canada. My boyfriend rarely sees spiders in his house, while I have spiders running across my my floor literally once a week if not more. I'm not sure if it's the same spider that I get bitten by on a yearly basis, but I wish they would all jst die. I hate getting cyst like bites every year... Haha.

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, Chantel, giant house spiders are common here in the northwest. Giant house spider - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_house_spider)

Wikipedia says the bite doesn't pose a threat but that's a lie. That's what bit me a few years ago. I know this because I caught it and had it identified. The infection (MRSA) that follows is worse than terrible. It's life-threatening if not treated within a couple of days. The venom isn't serious at all but it always gets infected.

This one is mild compared to what I had just 3 days after being bitten:
http://www.riversideonline.com/source/images/image_popup/sn7_boil.jpg

I ended up with a crater on my arm big and deep enough to place a stack of quarters in.

If you live in an old house that isn't in the best shape, you get infested with them. I don't have that problem but still see wandering males running across my floor from time to time in late summer and fall. They give me the willies.

[kibakiba]

I live in a 30 year old trailer that has a 7 year old room build onto it from when a tree fell on our house. We have lots of holes in different areas of the house. There was a gas spill where the pond was and since then we've been getting extremely aggressive bugs here. It's a weird coincidence. Haha.
Mine never get that bad, it's usually a big purple hard bump that I get. I tend to get them in awkward places. I got one on my under arm once. That was painful as heck. I find that lavender oil literally solves all of my problems. even with snake bites since I'm allergic to their saliva, rub some lavender oil on it and within a couple minutes its 100% gone. I haven't had a spider bite in about 6 or 7 months though so I haven't tried it.

I think most of the spiders are females, they're pretty huge. The ones that run across my floor sometimes have black and red legs and are slightly bigger than a quarter. The bodies are usually a fade between tan and red. I cant find anything that looks like them, all I know is that they are fast and they are EVIL.

[PINJOHN]

what a relief, reading these posts about spiders, i have always felt very guilty about my aversion to spiders, i call it an aversion but the truth would be it is more like a horror of them.
i know our phobias dont necessarily follow any form of logic as i have kept tarantulas and they didn't bother me at all, but let me catch sight of what we wrongly refer to as a daddy long legs and i can be found trying to climb on my wifes shoulders, i gave up the tarantulas because i found them so boring
i have struggled with my attitude towards spiders because i have always been into nature and animals and could never rationalize my view of them, i have on occasion even killed them when being surprised by one in the room and this is at odds with my live and let live attitude.
well there it is, my guilty secret is no more, no more guilt because it seems i'm not the only one, and no more secret because i have told you guys :o

[guidofatherof5]

How to Overcome the Fear of Spiders - wikiHow (http://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-the-Fear-of-Spiders)

[PINJOHN]

thanks for that steve but i suspect it will take more than that advice to get me passed my problem, i have always assumed it comes from my being brought up back in the fifty's in an old house with an outside toilet which had no light but plenty of spiders :(

[guidofatherof5]

That can be a pain in the butt.:D
Sorry, I just had to go there. Not there there but there to the joke.:D

[PINJOHN]

That can be a pain in the butt.:D
Sorry, I just had to go there. Not there there but there to the joke.:D

bum joke steve:i must ASSume you REARly could not think of a better one
i am surprised the moderator didn't ARSEk you to can it :D

[ConcinusMan]

Got good laugh out of that comment Steve.^^^ Told my brother what you said and he ROTFL too!

[ConcinusMan]

This is encouraging. From my backyard yesterday...

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/3307/1002large.jpg

Bulbs blooming under the protection of an Alberta Spruce tree. Like the spruce, they stay very small.

I never did know what kind of flowers these are. I do know they look like tiny daffodils and they are the first thing to bloom around here. The actual daffodils and tulips are still in bud. These little yellow flowers will come up and bloom through snow cover if necessary. They don't seem to care what the temperature is like. They only go by the calendar and they are telling me winter is over.

[CelestiHel]

How to Overcome the Fear of Spiders - wikiHow (http://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-the-Fear-of-Spiders)

Why does the answer always have to be exposure therapy. Can't they just make a pill! lol. I love spiders but am absolutely terrified by wasps/hornets/yellow jackets. Not as much of honey/bumble bees, but that's because they're cute and purposeful. There isn't a thing that wasps can do that can't be done by frogs or bats or any number of more adorable predators ;P

[CelestiHel]

I thought folks might be interested in this article from the BBC News about declining herp populations in the UK:

Adders, toads and lizards are disappearing from UK (http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9405000/9405801.stm)

I participate in our herp surveying whenever possible. It's so easy to help, especially if your out there looking under logs and taking pictures anyway. I find that The Vermont Reptile & Amphibian Atlas (http://community.middlebury.edu/%7Eherpatlas/) and the New York Herp Atlas Project (http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7140.html) are fun for planning herp trips.

Does every state have something like that?

[ConcinusMan]

There are world-wide herping clubs you can join that usually organize herping trips for various States or regions. The members are usually naturalists and photographers with a wide interest in nature, not just herps.

Field Herp Forum • Index page (http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/)

[ConcinusMan]

Why does the answer always have to be exposure therapy. Because it works.:cool:

[kibakiba]

Not for me, I'm "exposed" to them on a daily and nightly basis and they still make me cry. Not everyone reacts the same way to therapies, sometimes it doesn't work and sometimes it does. That's one thing I've learned since starting therapy 2 years ago. I'll try things my therapist suggests, tell her if they work or not and she fits a plan based on what does or doesn't work. You can't really say one therapy will work for everyone.

[CelestiHel]

Because it works.:cool:

Sure, it works, but it takes sooooo long ;P I've been working up exposure therapy to those nasty critters for going on a decade. I can't say that it hasn't worked, it just hasn't worked very well ;P Oh well, I'm young, I've got a whole life left to figure it out!

[ConcinusMan]

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/76/dsc00139large.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6886/dsc00141large.jpg

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4540/dsc00083large.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/3307/dsc00164large.jpg

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/774/dsc00082large.jpg

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/7822/dsc00143large.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/76/dsc00139large.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6886/dsc00141large.jpg

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4540/dsc00083large.jpg

Quoted because I wanted them all on the same page. I hate it when that happens.

[Stefan-A]

Quoted because I wanted them all on the same page. I hate it when that happens.
lol wut

[ConcinusMan]

Nevermind, just saying there was a reason I quoted myself there.

[Stefan-A]

Nevermind, just saying there was a reason I quoted myself there.
Are you sure?

[ConcinusMan]

Certainly.

[Stefan-A]

I'm not so sure.

[ConcinusMan]

That's OK. It doesn't require you to be sure.

[Stefan-A]

Actually, it does.

[ConcinusMan]

OK, I will explain. In the default display mode, the fungi pics ended up on a different page than the other pics I posted. I didnt want that to happen so the quick fix was to quote myself.

[Stefan-A]

And it's important to get all of them on the same page with some specific setting, because...?

[ConcinusMan]

I just wanted them that way. I hate that 3 pic limit per post. Not really sure why it exists in the first place.

Quack!
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3766/dsc00018large.jpg

[infernalis]

I just wanted them that way. I hate that 3 pic limit per post. Not really sure why it exists in the first place.

count how many I just put up...



http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/CRAB.jpg

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/flower.jpg

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/creek.jpg

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/crabs.jpg

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/flood1.jpg

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/flood3.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Well dammit, when did that change? Every time I've tried to post more than 3 in the past, the software tells me I have too many images and that the administrator has limited it to 3. I swear to you, that is what it has always done to me but then again, I haven't bothered to try and post more in quite some time.

[guidofatherof5]

6 has been the limit for as long as I remember.

[ConcinusMan]

Oh:rolleyes: I think It was because it was counting smilies as pictures. I'm just not sure but I swear that several times it kept telling me I had too many, until I got it down to 3.

[infernalis]

Oh:rolleyes: I think It was because it was counting smilies as pictures. I'm just not sure but I swear that several times it kept telling me I had too many, until I got it down to 3.

You are right, Jason upped the limit about 6-7 months ago. and yes smilies count as images. each smiley is an embedded gif that uses the same "IMG" code as your photos, so they count.

[drache]

I guess one has to choose between photos and cute communication

[BLUESIRTALIS]

16901692[/attac[attach]1694h]

[ConcinusMan]

You are right, Jason upped the limit about 6-7 months ago. and yes smilies count as images. each smiley is an embedded gif that uses the same "IMG" code as your photos, so they count.

Whew! So I'm not losing my mind. Well, at least not about this.:rolleyes:

[Croti]

The winter has gone slowly, and the first holiday was on the road.
I send some photos of the habitats and animals of southern Turkey.
Best regards

(http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1703&stc=1&d=1302212921)

[guidofatherof5]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

[Mommy2many]

Love the photos! Thank you for sharing with us.

[zooplan]

One of our finds at the fieldtrip on Sunday
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/DSCF96331.JPG
It was a wonderful finishing for the EGSA-Membership Meeting with
bright blue sky 21°C Slow Worms, Viviparous Lizards, Grass Snakes and last but not least a nice group of interested herpers;)

[guidofatherof5]

Glad to hear all went well, Udo.;)

[Stefan-A]

So I took a short trip to a place where I thought I might find something worth looking at.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/vipera-berus-april2011-01.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/vipera-berus-april2011-02.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

What kind of snake is it? I can't tell...

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice.
Was that the only herp. you saw?

[Stefan-A]

What kind of snake is it? I can't tell...
Vipera berus, common European adder.


Very nice.
Was that the only herp. you saw?
I heard a lizard scurry away a few steps after leaving that spot and I came across a pair of common buzzards (Buteo buteo) eating another snake at another spot. Tried to catch them on film, but that failed.

[RedSidedSPR]

No wonder I couldn't tell what it was. It was European!! I forgot you live in Finland..
How venomous are they?

[Stefan-A]

No wonder I couldn't tell what it was. It was European!! I forgot you live in Finland..
How venomous are they?
About this venomous:




Scandinavian Journal of Surgery 92: 171–174, 2003

ADDER BITES.
A REPORT OF 68 CASES

J. Grönlund, A. Vuori, S. Nieminen

ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: The adder (Vipera Berus) is the only venomous snake that exists naturally in Scandinavia. The aim of this study is to estimate the severity of adder bites, to form a general picture of symptoms of bites and to find out how effective the present treatment methods of adder bites are.
Material and Methods: 68 true adder bites treated in Turku University Hospital during the years 1995–2000 were reviewed retrospectively.
Results: There were no deaths in this material. A bite caused severe symptoms to 10 % of the patients. The symptoms were moderate in 21 %, mild in 34 % and minor in 35 % of the cases. Children under 10 years were the proportionally biggest age group and severe poisonings were most frequent among small children. Rapidly progressive oedema, gastrointestinal symptoms, hypotension and early leucocytosis were signs of more severe poisonings. Antivenom therapy with specific ovine Fab antivenom proved to be an effective and safe treatment in severe poisonings.
Conclusions: An adder bite may also cause severe symptoms for adults. All patients should be observed at least few hours after the bite and parental fluid therapy should be started at an early stage. In the treatment of severe poisonings an antivenom therapy should be considered. Rapidly progressive symptoms and early leucocytosis may serve as a warning signal for higher probability of severe reactions.

[infernalis]

Nice photos Stefan.

[RedSidedSPR]

Cool. Thanks, man.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Those European Adders are awesome!!!

[RedSidedSPR]

Those European Adders are awesome!!!

Darn right.

[ConcinusMan]

Cool. Thanks, man.

No, their "hot" ;)

[Stefan-A]

Returned to the same spot today.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/vipera-berus-april2011-same.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Nice, again.
What kind of distance? Any other photo info. would be great.

[Stefan-A]

Distance... I'd say about a meter give or take 20 cm.

Filename - IMG_3703.JPG
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CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
SceneCaptureType - Standard

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Normal
Self timer - Off
Quality - Fine
Flash mode - Not fired
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - One-Shot
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Manual
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Low , -32769
ISO Value - 32767
Metering mode - Center weighted averaging
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected -
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Base ISO - 400
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Flash bias - 0 EV
Subject Distance - 1.71
Image Type - Canon EOS 450D
Firmware Version - Firmware Version 1.0.4
Owner Name -
Camera Serial Number - 730208861 (2B8606749)
Camera Temperature - 25 C
Sharpness (EOS 1D) - 0
Directory index (EOS 450D) - 100
File index (EOS 450D) - 3703
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[guidofatherof5]

Great. Thanks.