The Nature Photography Thread

[adamanteus]

So...Can I come?

[adamanteus]

So, since the reorganisation of Elaphe, is the Aesulapian snake still Elaphe longissima? Or do I need to look up the new scientific name?

[Stefan-A]

So, since the reorganisation of Elaphe, is the Aesulapian snake still Elaphe longissima? Or do I need to look up the new scientific name?
Zamenis longissimus

[Thamnophis]

In the Netherlands all reptiles and amphibians are strong protected.
When you disturb them you risk a jailtime of 3 months.
And pointing at them is almost a disturbance!
So you better not catch snakes etc. in the Netherlands.

[adamanteus]

Zamenis longissimus

Thanks for that Stefan. (Saved me looking it up:rolleyes:).

[Cazador]

As we approach the 260th post in this thread, which has become the most prolific thread on the forum, I was wondering who posed the initial idea? It turns out that it started simply with a nice photo of a caterpillar. Nice job, Stefan ;).

Rick

[adamanteus]

Ditto. Nice topic Stefan, my hat is off to you (and your brilliant photographs).

[Josh]

i will have a bunch in tomorrow because im goin hiking

[abcat1993]

Well, mine are in my Mexico thread so I may or may not post them again.

[Stefan-A]

Rick, James (and Rick James ;) ), thanks.


As we approach the 260th post in this thread, which has become the most prolific thread on the forum, I was wondering who posed the initial idea? It turns out that it started simply with a nice photo of a caterpillar. Nice job, Stefan ;).

Rick
Actually it started with a PM from me to Boots, asking permission to start this thread. :) Remember to thank him, too.

[Thamnophis]

An update on the young blackbirds in our garden.
They grow like crazy.
One of the young is kicked out of the nest. There was not enough room for three.
We found it dead on the ground. A cat was happy with it.

Here's mom on the nest...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/177/456346283_c5373af16e_o.jpg

[Thamnophis]

Here there were still three young blackbirds...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/214/456346289_69ace334bc_o.jpg

[Thamnophis]

Mom shouting at me because she thought I was to close to her kids. She even tried to attack me... Hitchcock - Birds :eek:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/211/456346293_1bd86e40c1_o.jpg

[Thamnophis]

This what they look now. Won't be long or they are going to try to fly...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/456346301_740954d6d0_o.jpg

[Thamnophis]

Mom blackbird still doesn't trust me... :rolleyes:

Coming weekend I will try to make new pics. The weather should be fine... :D

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/241/456346303_9f2b7fb416_o.jpg

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set4Image4.jpg

Not a good picture, but the recent squirrel stories drove me to it. ;)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set4Image2.jpg

No it's not blurry, the moth is just vibrating its wings. Rick probably knows better than me why they do it, but the explanation I've been given is that they need to do it to keep the muscles warm.


http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set4Image3.jpg

Cygnus olor.


Thamnophis, excellent photos!

[reptileparadise]

Yeah, as far as I know, they do that do create heat.
Awesome squirrel pic!

[Cazador]

the explanation I've been given is that they need to do it to keep the muscles warm.


You're exactly right, Stefan. It's like shivering. The muscular contractions produce heat, and for an ectotherm, this can be a real advantage on cool mornings/days. The added warmth allows them to fly when they normally couldn't. Nice picture.

[Stefan-A]

More..

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set4Image1.jpg

Life on the shooting range. :)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set4Image6.jpg

[Cazador]

Wow, Stefan. I love that frosty tree.

Rick

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set4Image7.jpg

This one if for James and his spider identification skills when he shows up.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set4Image8.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set4Image5.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set4Image9.jpg

Z. vivipara again. Took this picture about 5-6 hours ago. The only reptile I saw today.
Definitely didn't trust me, but I could get pretty close as long as I stayed low.

[Snaky]

It's not really nature as it is in our garden. But I wanted to share it. My parents live in the fruit area of Belgium, Haspengouw. But even in our area this tree is one of a kind. Why? Because it's a high tree ( hoogstam in Dutch ). Nowadays you only have low trees.:(

Who recognizes the fruit:p?
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/197_9738_klein.JPG

[adamanteus]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set4Image7.jpg

This one if for James and his spider identification skills when he shows up.


That's a hard one Stefan. It appears to be a baby, and so bears little or no resemblance to it's adult form yet. From the picture it seems to be a six eyed spider, (rather than the more usual eight) which would place it in the OOnopidae, Dysderidae, Segestriidae or Scytodidae. The general body form would appear to rule out the first three families, which leaves only Scytodidae. So my guess is Scytodes thoracica.

[reptileparadise]

Who recognizes the fruit
I would say plum (pruim)

[Stefan-A]

I'll pull an answer out of my *** and say cherry. :p

[Thamnophis]

I also think it is cherry.

[Thamnophis]

Update of the blackbirdsnest.

This will be the last one, because the two remaining young have left the nest and flew away (or are eaten by cats).

Dad is feeding his young...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/241/459887393_798616797c_o.jpg

[Thamnophis]

Almost ready to leave the nest...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/179/459887395_93016e8c01_o.jpg

[adamanteus]

I'm with Stefan and Fons......Cherry (morello?)

[Thamnophis]

The last shot of the two siblings...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/236/459887397_aca81dcee5_o.jpg

[Thamnophis]

A Brown frog in the garden... Rana esculenta.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/459887399_0a22f2c7bd_o.jpg

[Thamnophis]

Tabanus species in the garden (last year)...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/23063875_6a3b900e63_o.jpg

[Thamnophis]

A common toad, Bufo bufo bufo in our garden...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/23066276_dde0d6ed92_o.jpg

[adamanteus]

Wow! Fons, that Tabanus is some photograph!

[Thamnophis]

Wow! Fons, that Tabanus is some photograph!

Thanks. I like it too.

Made with my "old" camera, a Sony Cybershot DSC 707.

Great camera with a brilliant lens. A shame it is broken and far to expensive to repair.

[adamanteus]

I've enjoyed following the blackbird's development. Let's hope they flew and weren't taken by a cat.

[Stefan-A]

Really brilliant photos you have there, Fons. :)

Especially that Tabanus.

[Snaky]

Very nice picture's Fons!

And all the one's that guessed cherry are correct:)
By far the nicest blossom of all in my eyes. I'm hoping more people will plant some new high cherry trees, it's a marvelous sight.

[Cazador]

What more can I say but, "Wow Fons!!!"

Rick

[stonyloam]

This thread has inspired e to try to improve my close up photography. I went out to try to get some bee photos, but it was cool and they were not very active. I had to lure a few out with a little honey.

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

[stonyloam]

We got a little ice storm followed by snow this January, so I went out with my camera.

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

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/ice_and_snow1.jpg

My backyard, yeh I’m pretty lucky.

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

[adamanteus]

The snow pictures are beautiful Terry, if that's your back yard you really are lucky!

[abcat1993]

Unfortunately, I know a lot of people who'd cut down everything in that back yard and add a pool and other junk. Personally, I'd rather have a yard filled with snakes than a pool (well, maybe not).

[stonyloam]

Abcat1993 (if that’s when you were born, I have socks older than that): Technically, that’s my side yard, it is mostly wetlands, and I do have a pool and a yard full of snakes (they live under the solar heater and concrete walkway around the pool and of course in the house). The best of all worlds!
:)

[adamanteus]

Where I live, that amount of land would have been bought up and built on. "Six prestige homes for the discerning buyer"! You're a lucky guy Terry!

[abcat1993]

You know, after seeing my friends pool, I might want to reconsider that last statement... :p

[drache]

okay
I know it's not exactly nature
and - bug experts
what the heck is it anyway?
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//525/IMG_0683_2.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//525/IMG_0679_2.jpg
and is it related to super worms?

[adamanteus]

Hi Rhea, First, I don't know what "Super Worms" are! I'm not big on beetles, I'm more a spider man, but it looks quite like what we in the UK would call a "Devil's Coach Horse" or "Rove Beetle".

[KITKAT]

Super worms are mealworms that are fed food containing steroids to make them larger. They are a favorite of the Bearded Dragon, for one of many herps that will eat them.

I don't like to feed them because of the steroids, frankly.

The beetle posted below looks something like a mealworm beetle, so depending on size, could be a super worm if they are being kept in the house. However, there are several native beetles with that general appearance also, so identification might depend in part on where you live, the size of the beetle, etc.

Was this beetle found in the house, or in the super worm colony?

I also note that the wings and carapace look poorly or incompletely formed... and that is something I have seen many times in mealworm and super worm colonies.:rolleyes:

[adamanteus]

Super worms are mealworms that are fed food containing steroids to make them larger.

Oh them. In the UK we just call them Giant Mealworms!

[abcat1993]

Sounds like something from a 60s horror movie. "Attack of the Giant Mealworms". Although "Superworm" sounds pretty good too.

[drache]

I had no idea that they're meal worms on steroids
some beardie people swear by them
I prefer to feed my beardie other prey and throw these in for variety
they're the only prey, besides butter worms, my plated lizards will eat
and they're easy to keep
well, perhaps I ought to feed them off more quickly though
I don't think beetles are that good to eat for lizards, are they?

[stonyloam]

When my brother and I were kids we raised mealworms (pretty easy just put some cattle feed under some cardboard and they find it) and we used to take them out and toss them to the bats that would feed around the yard light. Yeah life was pretty exciting on the farm.

[abcat1993]

No, Rhea, they generally aren't. Most things with really hard shells are not good for lizards as far as I know. You aren't even supposed to feed mealworms to anoles.

[GarterGuy]

Super worms are mealworms that are fed food containing steroids to make them larger. They are a favorite of the Bearded Dragon, for one of many herps that will eat them.


Ummmm.....actually what is commonly sold as superworms are Zophobas morio (a tropical Tenebrionid beetle). They do sell extra large mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) that are given a steroid to prevent them from turning into beetles and using that energy instead to grow larger (although I have had some metamorphose..and the beetles aren't any bigger). My leopard gecko, blue tongue skink and tarantulas love the superworms.
That beetle does look a lot like a poorly metamorphosed adult mealworm or other Tenebrionid beetle.
Roy

[drache]

the ones I get seem different from meal worms to me - more active and vigorous for one
of course if they're on the right kinds of steroids . . .
these are more like meal worms on, uh, caffeine

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set5Image1.jpg


http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set5Image2.jpg

[LeapinLeo]

those are cool seagulls. What are they sitting on?

[Stefan-A]

That's a man-made seagull "nest". Just a pole a few meters out in the water, with a platform. Keeps them from building nests where you don't want them to (in your boat, on the pier) and it provides them with a place that is safe from predators (at least those that can't fly).

It's the same ritual every year. When we get to our summer cottage for the first time each spring (need to wait for the ice to break up first), the same couple (we assume) is already waiting for us to put their old nest back. We've done it the same way every year for over a decade (in another spot for about two) and it works perfectly.

[Sid]

Really cool shot of the gulls Stephan.:D

Sid

[Gyre]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//524/medium/DSCF10002.jpg

You have no idea how many squirrels I had to mug to get this shot...

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set5Image3.jpg


Can you name the fec.. species, Rick? ;)

[Cazador]

Can you name the fec.. species, Rick? ;)

Alces alces... deposited the previous summer :D.


You have no idea how many squirrels I had to mug to get this shot...

Hannah, you're nuts! :D

Rick

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/set5Image4.jpg


And this? :D About a 1/4 in size compared to genuine fresh Alces alces.

[Cazador]

Those are either Alces alces deposited in the winter, or they're chocolate eggs deposited by the Easter bunny ;). Only the taste will tell for sure :eek:.

Rick

[Stefan-A]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure they are from the arse of a Odocoileus virginianus.

[Cazador]

It sure could be. The only difference is scale. Do you have whitetail in Finland?

Rick

[Stefan-A]

We do. Finns that had emigrated to Minnesota sent one male and 5 females here in the 1934, the deer (only 1.3 survived the trip) and their offspring (born 1937) were released in 1938. We have about 30 000 of them now. :)

Today's history lesson. ;)

[adamanteus]

White-lipped banded snail. Cepaea hortensis. (And juvenile female Homo sapiens in background!)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//538/medium/Snail.jpg

[Cazador]

That picture is priceless! Talk about being able to apreciate the small things in life!

Rick

[adamanteus]

That picture is priceless! Talk about being able to apreciate the small things in life! Rick

I know! She's only three and a half years old, but she knows that snail slime is called mucous, and that they breath through a hole in their neck. She knows about 15 to 20 scientific names (mainly spiders). Bless her.

[Cazador]

Atta boy, James. They're never too young to start learning about the fascinating world around them :).

Rick

[adamanteus]

Atta boy, James. They're never too young to start learning about the fascinating world around them :). Rick

It's easy, Rick. She asks all the right questions, all I have to do is give the answer. She has a remarkable ability for retaining information. Bit of a prodigy! I'm hoping she's the next generation Doug Rossman!

[Gyre]

Hannah, you're nuts! :D

Rick

No news to me. :p I just hope no one's allergic.

[Gijs & Sabine]

I'm not sure what it is, but it looks nice.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q85/gijssabine/P1010287Small.jpg

[adamanteus]

Looks like some kind of Caddis Fly?

[stonyloam]

It looks like what we call a mayfly (order Ephemeroptera). I think caddis flies fold their wings flat down onto their bodies.

[adamanteus]

I stand corrected Terry! I know very little about flies....Spider food!

[stonyloam]

James: Not enough legs huh?:) The spiders will be eating really well in about a month when mayflies hatch by the millions around here.

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/deadvipera1.jpg

A picture from last summer. Unfortunately, this specimen didn't survive contact with humans

[GarterGuy]

Awww...that's reallly a shame. :( Good looking snake. Did you keep it? I know I'd actually like to get a DOR timber rattle snake to have it mounted. Got to get my venomous license first though, but if I do find one, I'd like to be able to preserve it if I can.
Roy

[Stefan-A]

It was killed since it was repeatedly observed less than a meter away from a path the kids run along like 50 times a day and we were unable to catch it alive. A great personal failure on my part. My relatives are very scared of snakes, especially adders and especially since you can't really expect 4-year-olds to watch out for snakes.

A real shame indeed, beatiful dark bluish grey coloring, even my sister's son thought it was beautiful. :) We gave it a proper burial. Never really got the idea of having animals mounted, it's not like it's a hunting trophy and even then it's largely symbolic, you don't generally keep the entire animal, just the tusks, the skull, the antlers or horns.

I'd love to have a V. berus just like that one, but wildcaught are a pain in the arse to keep and captive bred ones are rare. And I still don't know what kind of permits are required for keeping native species. I just wonder how big the difference is between captive bred and captive born ones.

[adamanteus]

I've never had captive bred or captive born Vipera berus, only wild caught, and in my experience they are very difficult to feed.

[Stefan-A]

I know, I think we've had the berus discussion before. :)

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/zootoca-may7.jpg

Zootoca vivipara

As stated in the other thread, the results of yesterday's university-sponsored bird watching trip. :)

[adamanteus]

Deja vu!:D Nice photo Stefan!

[Stefan-A]

"Nice photo" is the deja vu here, James. ;)

[Thamnophis]

Stefan, that is a very pretty Zootoca! Those white spots are priceless...

[Stefan-A]

Thanks. I wish I'd gone down to its level, but I had something like 20 people behind me hurrying to get to the next bird watching tower. :)

[Thamnophis]

Mmmmm, those ***** birdwatchers... :D

[Stefan-A]

We made another trip today. Didn't find anything interesting, saw a white-tailed deer and of course birds. :rolleyes: The weather wasn't the best possible either. Had it been sunny, we might have seen grass snakes and the terrain (but not the general location) looked perfect for Anguis fragilis, but couldn't start flipping any logs or rocks.

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/zootoca-may13.jpg

Yet another Zootoca vivipara. :)

[adamanteus]

I haven't seen Zootoca vivipara in the wild for ages, but then I haven't really been looking! I think they are very localized in the UK.

[Stefan-A]

I'm always looking. It's one of the five reptile species we have, and of the three that I'd consider common. Compared to the other species, it's by far the most common.

Makes me want to start keeping lacertids. :D

[adamanteus]

I've kept a few Lacertids in the past, but not many. Zootoca vivipara was the first reptile I ever bred....back in 1970!:eek:

[Stefan-A]

It's illegal to do it here, so I've never tried.

Had a skink once, though. Tried to get my hands on a pair (or more) of the same species (Eumeces chinensis) a couple of years back, but it was hopeless. Couldn't even get five-lined skinks, my second choice.

[adamanteus]

I don't know Eumeces chinensis, did it used to have a different name? I've kept a few skink species, never bred any though.

[Stefan-A]

I have no idea, it was originally sold simply as "Chinese skink". Didn't even figure out the scientific name until Google came out with their image search function.

[adamanteus]

I've never really paid much attention to skinks, I don't know why, they just don't "float my boat".

[Stefan-A]

They like digging waaay too much. ;) You'll see them only when they come out from under the substrate to either catch prey or to drink.

[drache]

is that true for all skinks?
Mikhaila wants a blue tongued skink

[Stefan-A]

No, not for all. I exaggerated a bit and I was comparing them mainly to the lacertids I've come in contact with. There are skinks that have adapted to live in every layer, from the soil to the tree tops. I've never kept blue-tongued skinks, but I'm fairly certain it doesn't apply to them. Not that a skink that size could even be given the chance to burrow in a normal terrarium.

[reptileparadise]

blackbirds
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF1324Small.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF1353Small.jpg

[mikm]

AWESOME !!!

thanks so much for sharing !!!

[Stefan-A]

Made an unscheduled midnight herping trip just around the corner. Saw a strangely familiar silhouette by my car, so I ran inside and grabbed my camera.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/midnight16-17may-1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/midnight16-17may-2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/midnight16-17may-3.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/midnight16-17may-4.jpg

Bufo bufo, Common (European) toad.

[adamanteus]

I love Bufo bufo. It's one of my favourite creatures of all. I have them on my allotment, and it always makes my day when I see one ambling around. Bless! Nice pictures by the way, Stefan (deja vu...again!)

[Stefan-A]

I never saw a single one of them in my home town, but here, 150km west, there seems to be a lot of them. I saw plenty of them last autumn on my nightly walks and I've been waiting for them to come out again. It's a small town, population around 15,000 and there are plenty of gardens and parks. Plenty of food for these little guys.

My favorite amphibian. :) The temperature outside is only 5 degrees Celsius and it was pretty slow moving, even for a toad.

[adamanteus]

Where's your home town, Stefan?

[Stefan-A]

Born here: Porvoo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porvoo)

Study here: Ekenäs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammisaari)

[Snaky]

Top quality pictures again Stefan!

[adamanteus]

From the photos your country looks very pretty. Porvoo especially so. I won't post pictures of my home town...I don't want to depress you!

[Stefan-A]

Thanks. :) I would have taken them without the flash, but it was midnight and streetlights don't provide quite enough lighting. ;)

[abcat1993]

Kind of random but I looked up my village and it says there's ~4000 households and ~3000 families. How does that work? I doubt that 1/3 of people here are divorced.

[Stefan-A]

From the photos your country looks very pretty. Porvoo especially so. I won't post pictures of my home town...I don't want to depress you!
The pictures in Wikipedia are awful, makes Porvoo look like some stagnated East Bloc village.

[Stefan-A]

Depends on whether they count couples as families.

[adamanteus]

I thought it looked nice!

[Cazador]

Loved the toad pictures ;). It's been a long time since I've seen any, and as always, your photography is awesome. Thanks again,

Rick

[drache]

I loved looking at the town pictures too
can we start a pictures of your neighborhood thread?
it'd be cool to see where everybody lives and hangs out

[adamanteus]

Good idea Rhea. You can start!:D

[reptileparadise]

Something like a google earth topic?

[adamanteus]

Something like a google earth topic?


I have used Google Earth once or twice to see where some of our members live. Spy in the sky! Photos of the neighbourhood would be interesting though.

[Stefan-A]

So we were out in the woods again this week, learning to identify more plants and a few new birds. I took the opportunity to take a few shots.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/natfot1.jpg

A random Ephemeroptera (mayfly) on a classmate's shoulder.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/natfot2.jpg

James? :D Lycosidae again, right?


http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/natfot3.jpg

Cinclus cinclus (White-throated dipper).

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/natfot4.jpg

Formica rufa

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/natfot5.jpg

A close-up of the previous picture.

[adamanteus]

Fantastic photos again, Stefan. I love the close up of the ants.

[quote=Stefan-A;12796]James? :D Lycosidae again, right?

Yeah, Pardosa amentata.

[Stefan-A]

Fantastic photos again, Stefan. I love the close up of the ants.


James? :D Lycosidae again, right?

Yeah, Pardosa amentata.
Thanks. :o

How can you tell it's a Pardosa amentata?

[adamanteus]

Familiarity, I guess.

[Stefan-A]

No particular signs that tell you it's not one of the other five billion Pardosas? ;)

[adamanteus]

Well, yes there are. But it's like say T. s. sirtalis...you just know it without having to do a scale count or measure the supra-labials. You just recognise the common, familiar species.

The fact that all the leg segments are annulated is a good indication of amentata, as is the irregular median band (not of equal width throughout it's length).

[Markus18]

nice photos stefan!
what camera u use for photos like that?
digital camera?how much megapixels?which brand?and zoom?
Markus

[Stefan-A]

Panasonic DMC-FZ5, 5Mpix. Normally no zoom, close-ups with the macro function, sometimes (wild lizards, snakes) with macro + 12x zoom.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz5/)

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/pissodes.jpg

Pissodes sp.

[Sputnik]

Hahahahahahaha- sorry, but hahahahahahaha! That is fantastic! What is it? :D

[adamanteus]

It's a weevil.

[Sputnik]

Thanks, James. Is the thing that made me laugh a nose or a tiny head on a very long neck? ;-)

[adamanteus]

It's a crazy long head, all weevils have it!

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/evilweevil.jpg

And the same evil weevil from a different angle. :)

[Gijs & Sabine]

Last week I did catch a Salticus scenicus. And they're so funny, they really look at you and jump from hand to hand.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q85/gijssabine/P1010232Small-1.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q85/gijssabine/P1010234Small-3.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q85/gijssabine/P1010235Small.jpg

[adamanteus]

I know! It's hard to believe a spider can have such keen eyesight.

[Stefan-A]

Guess they need it to see where to jump.

One of my favorite spiders, by the way. I don't know if we have the same species here, but definitely a relative.

[stonyloam]

It is soooo hot and I am sooooo ugly! Robin Turdus migratorius (5 days)

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

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/lw-1.jpg
http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/lw-2.jpg
http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/lw-3.jpg

The really sad thing is that I should remember this one's name. :D

[Stefan-A]

More insects..

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/lw-4.jpg


http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/lw-5.jpg

And a spider. James?

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/lw-esox-lucius.jpg

And something we found in a stream. A 5 cm pike (Esox lucius).

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/lw-passer-montanus.jpg

Passer montanus, tree sparrow. If they weren't protected, they would provide me with an endless supply of hatchlings. ;) They (4 or 5 pairs) nest in my house.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/lw-rana-temporaria-1.jpg

Rana temporaria.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/lw-rana-temporaria-2.jpg

And another one, found 50 meters from the first one.


I took half of these pictures today. Were supposed to identify plants, but I got bored.

[adamanteus]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/lw-5.jpg

And a spider. James?

Araniella cucurbitina or is it Araniella inconspicua?

[Stefan-A]

How do you tell them apart? By taking them apart?

Don't you have any distribution maps that could possibly exclude one of the possibilities? ;)

[adamanteus]

Maybe if I look them up I could tell you which one it is...Do you really want to know?

[Stefan-A]

I'm sure it's not worth the trouble. :p

[adamanteus]

I can't be bothered looking it up Stefan, but I'm guessing it will be A. cucurbitina, as I believe A. inconspicua is more common in the south.

[Stefan-A]

Yeah, I don't care enough to ask you to do it. I did however do a quick search for the scientific names of both + the Finnish word for spider. Guess which one was the only one to give any results.

Found a Finnish forum dedicated to insect photography. :D Didn't realize there was a demand for such a thing. :D A quick search pretty much confirmed that it's a cucurbitina, but apparently a few species have been found at least once in Finland. Don't know if you care, but they're apparently:

A. alpica
A.cucurbitina
A. displicata
A. opisthographa
A. proxima

[adamanteus]

Thankyou, Stefan, that's interesting. So what is the Finnish word for spider?

[Stefan-A]

Do you really want to know? :D Hope your system knows how to show scands; hämähäkki.

[adamanteus]

Hope your system knows how to show scands; hämähäkki.

Yes, it does....it's my tongue that can't cope!:rolleyes:

[Snaky]

Again, great pics.

I really enjoy all the occasional updates in this thread:)

[CrazyHedgehog]

I love this thread, the pictures are just amazing....

if everyone gave their permission, surely a book could be published.... the proceeds go towards the site upkeep, the photographer gets their name in print....what title though?> 'Nature, as seen by the snake hunter!'

I am selling my house this year, and should have some spare...(well if there is any left after Hamm) but I am seriously considering a DECENT camera that will take this type of photo.... any suggestions greatly appreciated....

[Stefan-A]

Thanks. :)

I'd really like to see a bit more participation from other members, I bet they have a lot of wildlife from their home countries they could show. But then again, people like Terry have really contributed a lot in other threads, so I'm in no position to ask anything. ;)

[Stefan-A]

I love this thread, the pictures are just amazing....

if everyone gave their permission, surely a book could be published.... the proceeds go towards the site upkeep, the photographer gets their name in print....what title though?> 'Nature, as seen by the snake hunter!'

I am selling my house this year, and should have some spare...(well if there is any left after Hamm) but I am seriously considering a DECENT camera that will take this type of photo.... any suggestions greatly appreciated....
I like the idea of making a book like that, but I'm not sure it would sell well enough to make a difference.

Decent cameras.. That would be a system camera. The Canon EOS series, Nikon D40, Olympus had some new model... My camera isn't a decent one, even if it does one type of job decently.

[abcat1993]

I just realized,
THERE'S NO PICTURES OF GARTERS IN THIS THREAD! They are considered natural, right?

[CrazyHedgehog]

this is the OTHER nature phtography.... you know,, the stuff you find when looking for garters! (or for us brits... other snakes!)

[Stefan-A]

Pet garters no, wild garters yes. :)

[abcat1993]

A decent macro shot from my camera of a weed; maybe?
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/abcat1993/Picture038.jpg

A baby chipmunk
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/abcat1993/Picture190.jpg

A bullfrog from my pond
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/abcat1993/Picture173.jpg

Sun
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/abcat1993/Picture032.jpg

[CrazyHedgehog]

Yet again brilliant photography.. . . . .
what camera..
Someone must know somethuing about publishing, yesa, with colour photographs it might be expensive,.. . . . . .but surely worth it... .. ... .

[adamanteus]

Love that picture of the sun, Matt, with the trees in silhouette. Really nice.

[abcat1993]

Yet again brilliant photography.. . . . .
what camera..
Panasonic DMC-TZ1, I wouldn't get it for macro photography as you can't change the lens and it is built for long distance (10X zoom). Also not that cheap ($300) :(

Love that picture of the sun, Matt, with the trees in silhouette. Really nice.
Yeah, until you notice the playset and the other house in the background, but luckily it's washed out enough so that it doesn't stick out.

[Stefan-A]

Now that's what I'm talking about! Excellent pictures, Matt! :)

[GarterGuy]

Great pics Matt.....hate to break it to you though....that's not a baby chipmunk and that's not a bullfrog. The rodent looks like a young field mouse (chipmunks don't have naked tails) and the frog is a green frog (Rana clamitans)....you can tell from the dorsolateral ridge on its back..bull frogs don't have that. Yeh, I know.....I'm a herp geek! LOL:D

Roy

[abcat1993]

Well that's good to know. I'll have to tell my dad that.

[Snaky]

Great pictures :)

I need to buy a camera one day...

[Jayson]

Here is one I took earlier this year

http://www.reptilescanada.com/gallery/data/500/5_line_adult.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Nice photo. :) I assume it's a five-lined skink?

[Jayson]

You assume right :) It is the only lizard found in Ontario Canada and I am lucky enough to live in its home range.

[stonyloam]

Went for a walk back to my favorite swamp, to see what was around, and found this on the way back. Made the whole trip worth it.
Red Sided Flat Millipede (almond millipede) sigmoria aberrans

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

[Stefan-A]

Outstanding. :)

[stonyloam]

One more from the same walk: Stefan, my Wood Frog rana sylvatica sure looks a lot like your rana temporaria.

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

[adamanteus]

That millipede is really pretty. Nothing like that in the UK.

[Stefan-A]

One more from the same walk: Stefan, my Wood Frog rana sylvatica sure looks a lot like your rana temporaria.




It sure does. :)

[stonyloam]

It had more than 6 legs (I counted about 34) so I knew you would like it James.:D

[Stefan-A]

Speaking of which... ;)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/apocnow-1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/apocnow-2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/apocnow-6.jpg

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/apocnow-4.jpg
http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/apocnow-3.jpg
http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/apocnow-5.jpg

[chris87]

very nice pic

[adamanteus]

Stefan, the first one is Clubiona, possibly terrestris. Second one surely everyone knows!:D :rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

:D Apparently, I don't even have to ask you to identify spiders anymore. You do it automatically. ;)

A. diadematus, right? I think I have half a dozen different "morphs" in my archives.

[adamanteus]

That's the one! Spider ID is all part of the service, Stefan!:D

[CrazyHedgehog]

I really think this thread is worth publishing......
it really does have some of the best photos I have seen ever!
(once I have my camera sorted out of course.... .. . .)
Does any one have any ideas.? how to publish? get the forum some funding?

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/mkweek1.jpg

The ususal Rana temporaria. They're finally starting to show up in decent numbers.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/mkweek2.jpg

Cyanistes caeruelus, also known as the Blue tit.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/mkweek3.jpg

Larus canus, the common gull. I don't know if they survived the night, we didn't see them the next day. I shot a large male mink (Mustela vison) in the exact same spot a few hours later. There were three chicks last week, now only two.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/mkweek4.jpg

And finally, the usual random bug.

[adamanteus]

As always, Stefan, great pictures. I'm sure I know what that beetle is, but I just can't think.

[Thamnophis]

Nice pics, as usual.

In a few weeks I go to the Czech republic for ten days, so I hope to make some nice pics overthere.

[stonyloam]

The random bug looks like a click beetle (family Elateridae). I think. :confused: Pick one up by the thorax and find out why.:D

[stonyloam]

I was impressed by the choppers! Giant resin bee (Megachile sculpturalis Smith)

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

[reptileparadise]

damn....those are huge!

[VS7]

A bullfrog from my pond
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/abcat1993/Picture173.jpg




I love this one. I always wanted to have my own pond. How did you get so lucky?

[Stefan-A]

It's been a busy weekend, but I did get the opportunity to take a couple new pictures.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/midsommar1.jpg

James, don't bother. ;)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/midsommar2.jpg

Geotrupes stercorarius

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/midsommar3.jpg

The same one.

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/midsommar4.jpg

Hirundo rustica

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/midsommar5.jpg

The usual R. temporaria. This one was a sneaky little bugger. ;)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/midsommar6.jpg

[adamanteus]

[quote=Stefan-A;15389]
http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/midsommar1.jpg

James, don't bother. ;)

Xysticus (probably) cristatus.......I can't help it!!:eek:

[Lee]

I can't ID jumpers to save my life, lycosa however I used to be pretty efficient at.. Nice looking spider ;*)

[adamanteus]

It's not a jumper, Lee, it's a crab spider.

[Lee]

Looked too quick didn't even see ha, pattern on the abdoment screamed jumper to me idk jumped on it to fast I guess. ;)

[adamanteus]

Looked too quick didn't even see ha, pattern on the abdoment screamed jumper to me idk jumped on it to fast I guess. ;)

I do that all the time! It's colourful enough to be a jumper!:)

[Sid]

Another trip to North Carolina and a few photos:
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//558/medium/100_1637.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//558/medium/100_16771.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//558/medium/100_1685.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//558/medium/100_1691.JPG

[Sid]

Here's a few more:
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//558/medium/100_1602.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//558/medium/100_1626.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//558/medium/100_1634.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//558/medium/100_1635.JPG

[Stefan-A]

Very nice pictures, Sid. :)

[Sid]

Very nice pictures, Sid. :)

Thanks Stefan. From you thats a real compliment.

Some did come out pretty good. Some were 50 to 100 yards away, so I'm not too disappointed with the quality.

Sid

[drache]

saw a beelike insect in the park

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1249/654596799_6dbcd40f5a_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1323/654596469_fc4892f04e_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/654596397_f092399507_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1333/654597211_494c80ebb1_b.jpg

[stonyloam]

Just a plane old (the wings are kind of frazzled) honey bee (apis mellifera) sucking on a white clover blossom (trifolium repens) of four leaf clover fame. Nice photos, looks like you have gotten the hang of the digital thing.:D

[KITKAT]

Except these days, with the beekeepers having trouble with colony crash, the plain ole honeybee is getting harder to find outdoors these days!

An interesting fact... the (few) people who have ORGANIC fields full of flowering plants to feed their bees are not suffering colony crash.

[stonyloam]

KK: Rhea sure has it right “.. one damn thing after another”. My poor bees are totally stressed out with mites and hard winters and now a dry summer.:( I am down to 1 hive from 3. Hoping to get a queen and make a split to get at least back to 2. Love to watch them, unless they are po’d.:eek:

[Stefan-A]

Good photos, Rhea. :)



"It's not true that life is one damn thing after another--it's one damned thing over and over."
~Edna St. Vincent Millay

[drache]

"It's not true that life is one damn thing after another--it's one damned thing over and over."
~Edna St. Vincent Millay

in my case it's every damn thing all at once

but the park is full of these little honeybees enjoying the clover
I hope yours recover and multiply, Terry
how often do they make new queens?

[stonyloam]

Queens can live a couple of years, but usually when the colony gets to a certain size the queen along with about ½ of the workers will leave (swarm) to try to establish a new colony some distance away. Before they do that they will make some new queens that hatch after the old queen leaves. This leaves the established colony with a new strong queen to carry on. I may take a look inside today, if I do I’ll try to get some pix.

[stonyloam]

Rhea seemed interested in some bee stuff, so I took my camera with me when I dug into my hive this afternoon. I smoked them up good and dove in. It looked pretty good in the top hive body found lots of capped brood. Young bees getting ready to hatch. Nice solid pattern indicates a good queen.

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


Found three just in the process of chewing their way out.

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

This is the larva before it is capped. There are all stages here from eggs (just above the bee) to one in the center bottom that is just starting to be capped. There is a story about one beginner beekeeper that made a frantic call to the county bee examiner because he opened up his hive and it was full of maggots. Don’t know if it’s true but it is a good story lol. The liquid in the cells is honey with just a little royal jelly for food.

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

At last what I was looking for … A queen cell. They are a lot bigger to allow the young queen to grow. She is a worker that is fed royal jelly to allow her to develop sexually. This one is empty so they have not reached the trigger population for swarming yet. Will have to keep an eye on them.


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

Didn’t find the queen, but eggs show she is healthy. Only got stung once, my fault pinched one. Always feel bad about killing one. I hope you find this at least mildly interesting.

[Stefan-A]

Very nice close-ups, Terry. :) And indeed interesting.

[drache]

these are wonderful, Terry
thanks a ton
do you know what affect the colour of the bees?
the ones I saw in the park were a very dark yellow like honey
yours seem a bit paler
and the ones I remember from Germany were striped
are these subspecies?

[stonyloam]

Not subspecies, just different genetic traits. There a bunch of different strains Italians (light color), Caucasians (I think that's how you spell it are dark, almost black) are a couple. They all have the color characteristics of the queen. African (killer) bees are a subspecies.

[Stefan-A]

African (killer) bees are a subspecies.

You know more about bees than I do, but aren't they a hybrid?

[adamanteus]

Excellent stuff Terry, great photos too. Thanks.

[Snaky]

Very interesting and fun to read, thanks for sharing it:)

[abcat1993]

I love this one. I always wanted to have my own pond. How did you get so lucky?

My dad dug a hole in the ground in my back yard, put some rubber material down, put rocks around it, filled it with water and put plants and animals in. Also, this is something like 10 years after he made it, and it didn't look as good when it was first started, although it was a heck of a lot clearer.

[stonyloam]

Stefan: The common European honeybee is Apis mellifera mellifera (I think), and the African honeybee is a m scutellata. You are right, in that the African bees have been hybridized with the Europeans, however the nasty traits seem to be dominant, so we say the “killer” bees are colonies have been “Africanized”. It is interesting that each hive can have its own personality. I have had some really mean ones, and some very non-aggressive ones. Depends on the queen

[adamanteus]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//538/medium/Tegenaria_domestica.jpg

Tegenaria domestica.

[Stefan-A]

Nice shot, James. :)

Haven't posted any pics in a couple of weeks, but here goes..

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/2wkpause1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/2wkpause5.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/2wkpause2.jpg

They mostly come out at night.. mostly.

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/2wkpause4.jpg


http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/2wkpause3.jpg

find the Motacilla alba. ;)


What a coincidence, by the way. Left on friday, returned half an hour ago. During that time, all three of my snakes had gone into the blue phase.

[adamanteus]

find the Motacilla alba. ;)

If I knew what Motacilla alba was, I'd look for it!:rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

If I knew what Motacilla alba was, I'd look for it!:rolleyes:
Use The Google. ;)

[adamanteus]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//538/medium/Bee_in_flight.jpg

Bee in flight.

[adamanteus]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//538/medium/Slug.jpg

Slug. (Not in flight!)

[adamanteus]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//538/medium/Nigella.jpg

Nigella. "Love-in-a-mist".

[Stefan-A]

Nice photos again, James. :) Why no spiders? ;)

[adamanteus]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//538/medium/Pardosa.jpg

Seven legged Pardosa amentata. Just for you, Stefan!

[adamanteus]

Use The Google. ;)

Right, got it. Is it hiding behind that little black and white bird in the centre of the picture?;) :D

[Stefan-A]

It might be. ;)

Thanks for the Pardosa, by the way. :D

[ssssnakeluvr]

here's a nature shot...bug type....ant lion

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/medium/antlion_1.jpg

[Steve C]

Butterflys
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/Steve64/Bugs%20and%20insects/000_6694.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/Steve64/Bugs%20and%20insects/000_6691.jpg
Araneus marmoreus (marbled spider)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/Steve64/Bugs%20and%20insects/000_1026.jpg
Eyed click Beetle
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/Steve64/Bugs%20and%20insects/000_4616.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Very nice pictures from both of you. :)

[Elliot]

Any one want to tell me what kind of spider this is? ;)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/spider1.JPG

Two "stick bugs" mating

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/stickbugs.JPG

[stonyloam]

This is pretty risky with James around, but Garden orb spider Argiope aurantia :rolleyes:

[Elliot]

This is pretty risky with James around, but Garden orb spider Argiope aurantia :rolleyes:


We have lots of different kinds of spiders here so I can make sure everyone's identification skills are sharp! ;)

[adamanteus]

This is pretty risky with James around, but Garden orb spider Argiope aurantia :rolleyes:


If it was in Europe I'd say Argiope bruennichi, but as it's in the US I guess you're right. I only do British and European spiders.:)

[Elliot]

If it was in Europe I'd say Argiope bruennichi, but as it's in the US I guess you're right. I only do British and European spiders.:)

I guess Terry can be our American spider specialist then. :)

[stonyloam]

"I guess Terry can be our American spider specialist then."

HA! I don't think so!:eek: That just happened to be one of about 3 spiders that I am able to identify well enough to look up the Latin name.:D

[adamanteus]

Terry, do you have A. bruennichi in the US too?

[Elliot]

"I guess Terry can be our American spider specialist then."

HA! I don't think so!:eek: That just happened to be one of about 3 spiders that I am able to identify well enough to look up the Latin name.:D

I looked up the Latin name, and it says they're venomous! :eek:

[adamanteus]

I looked up the Latin name, and it says they're venomous! :eek:

All (nearly all) spiders are venomous, but not dangerously so. Argiope is no threat to humans.:)

[Elliot]

All (nearly all) spiders are venomous, but not dangerously so. Argiope is no threat to humans.:)

I steer clear of big spiders, or really spiders in general anyway. :D

[stonyloam]

You are really making me work now James.:confused: I looked up a photo of A. bruennichi, and said to myself "I have seen them". So I did a little more research and it appears that the spiders that I have seen around here are in fact the banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata. A. bruennichi, as far as I can tell does not live in the U.S.

[adamanteus]

Thanks, Terry. I'll look up A. trifasciata and extend my knowledge a little.....I've never heard of that one.:o

[stonyloam]

quote:
Thanks, Terry. I'll look up A. trifasciata and extend my knowledge a little.....I've never heard of that one.

It looks like they could easily be mistaken one for the other.:confused:

[adamanteus]

quote:
Thanks, Terry. I'll look up A. trifasciata and extend my knowledge a little.....I've never heard of that one.

It looks like they could easily be mistaken one for the other.:confused:

Quite easy for us Europeans as we only have A. bruennichi!

[reptileparadise]

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF1825Small.jpg

[adamanteus]

Excellent photo, Sjoerd!

[Stefan-A]

Very nice close-up! :)

[drache]

frogs sitting
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/826406983_67b5fae5cf_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/826406983_67b5fae5cf_b.jpg)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/826407105_bb8f4b2054_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/826407105_bb8f4b2054_b.jpg)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1171/826503891_a808c10142_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1171/826503891_a808c10142_b.jpg)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1374/826407143_d1d66e42c0_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1374/826407143_d1d66e42c0_b.jpg)