The Nature Photography Thread

[drache]

frog swimming
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1233/826407001_24c5e45e1f_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1233/826407001_24c5e45e1f_b.jpg)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1105/826504199_159ffd3146_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1105/826504199_159ffd3146_b.jpg)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/826684693_1daed3dc76_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/826684693_1daed3dc76_b.jpg)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1398/826504113_64048c153c_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1398/826504113_64048c153c_b.jpg)

sorry about all the frog pics
I have a bunch more too
they were just so cute and cooperative

[drache]

bugs too

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1082/826407359_1e8bdf382b_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1082/826407359_1e8bdf382b_b.jpg)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1031/826684765_1e00d80df6_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1031/826684765_1e00d80df6_b.jpg)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1289/826685007_5885d7208f_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1289/826685007_5885d7208f_b.jpg)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1420/827813446_f4057a58ff_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1420/827813446_f4057a58ff_b.jpg)
a little variety of species there

[Stefan-A]

Wow, excellent photos. :)

Especially like this one:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1171/826503891_a808c10142_b.jpg

[drache]

this is where the frogs live:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1152/827025117_3e6e484340_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1152/827025117_3e6e484340_b.jpg)

being that there was such a ready food supply and fantastic "housing" I had to poke around a bit more
and I found what I was yearning for

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1240/826407055_42a05279be_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1240/826407055_42a05279be_b.jpg)

the body was behind a spider web, that's wy it's a bit fuzzy looking

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1404/826503567_8215e144dd_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1404/826503567_8215e144dd_b.jpg)

I have to confess, at that moment I was a bit lonely and missing my wonderful forum and I actually sat down and cried a little and talked to the snake

[Lulu Bennett]

awww rhea they are some fantastic pics there hun. i have noticed that snakes are good listeners. the number of times i have sat and cried chatting to my snakes lol mainly when i put my foot through their spare feeding viv OOPS! :(

[drache]

the frog that did the swimming - I swear he kinda got what I wanted from him, because the others would just disappear
this one I took a lot of pics of when he was sitting and then I asked him to swim for me and gave him a little nudge and he did all this posing in the water for me
maybe he was hoping for a movie contract

[Lulu Bennett]

should have brought him back with you, signed him up on a modling contract :p

[GarterGuy]

Great pics Rhea, really like the one of where the frogs just poking out of the water after swimming and really good garter close up too.

Roy

[stonyloam]

"a little variety of species there"


Nice Rhea! Looks like you got a green frog (Rana clamitans) probably a young one, got no clue on the moth, a daddy longlegs (harvestmen) not a spider but related (Opiliones) non venomous, of course a dragonfly and a six spotted green tiger beetle (cicindela sexguttata). :D

[Sid]

Those are great Rhea. Thanks for sharing:) .

Sid

[adamanteus]

Lovely pictures Rhea. I especially like the Garter Snake shots.

[Gijs & Sabine]

Some grasshopper in the garten of my parents.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q85/gijssabine/P6280435.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q85/gijssabine/P6280439.jpg

[adamanteus]

Lovely photo. In the UK we call this a "Katydid". Grasshoppers are different here (I don't have a picture).

[Gijs & Sabine]

Thanks James, I hope I'll remember. The dictionary told me grasshopper :D

[adamanteus]

Perhaps "Katydid" is only a UK name. Like we call Natrix natrix helvetica a Grass Snake, while you call it a Ringed Snake. Different countries, different names!

[KITKAT]

On this side of the pond, we have different types of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids... and the katydids are so named because their song sounds like they are saying, "katydid, katydid" or "katy-she-did, katy-she-did-she-did"!

Tree Cricket Pictures and Songs (http://www.bentler.us/eastern-washington/insects/tree-crickets.aspx)

common true katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) (http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/141a.htm)

Both of the above links include some photos and wav recordings of grasshopper and katydid songs. Enjoy!

[reptileparadise]

We call this animal a *free translation...* Treegrasshopper, Meconema thalassinum

They look a lot like the Tettigonia viridissima

few new pics coming in a second or so...

[reptileparadise]

I believe these are called daddy longlegs? Pholcus phalangioides
I never knew the had such an evil look!
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF1916Small.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF1918Small.jpg

And a fly, dont know which one...
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF1919Small.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Could be, but there are a lot "daddy longlegs" :)

Daddy longlegs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddy_longlegs)

[adamanteus]

In the UK we call several things "Daddy-Longlegs"........Pholcus, Harvestmen, and Crane-Flies. Another reason why I prefer scientific names.:rolleyes:

[Gijs & Sabine]

On this side of the pond, we have different types of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids... and the katydids are so named because their song sounds like they are saying, "katydid, katydid" or "katy-she-did, katy-she-did-she-did"!

Tree Cricket Pictures and Songs (http://www.bentler.us/eastern-washington/insects/tree-crickets.aspx)

common true katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) (http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/141a.htm)

Both of the above links include some photos and wav recordings of grasshopper and katydid songs. Enjoy!

Thanx for sharing, Kitkat :) Very interesting, especially all the differend songs.

[Elliot]

Anyone able to ID these skinks?

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/skink1.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/skink2.JPG

This is an adult btw.

[GarterGuy]

Looks like a Ground skink....Scincella lateralis. I've found them before in Fla. and they are native to you neck of the woods too. Looks like he's missing a good bit of his tail though.

Roy

[Elliot]

Looks like a Ground skink....Scincella lateralis. I've found them before in Fla. and they are native to you neck of the woods too. Looks like he's missing a good bit of his tail though.

Roy


Yeah he must have dropped it sometime ago. They're thick here.

[adamanteus]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//538/medium/Grasshopper_1.jpg

Grasshopper.

[adamanteus]

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

Speckled Wood Butterfly.

[adamanteus]

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

Bumble Bee on Hebe.

[adamanteus]

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

Tortoiseshell Butterfly.

[adamanteus]

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

Ugly Fly!

[Elliot]

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

Ugly Fly!

lol it has weird eyes

[Stefan-A]

Excellent photos, James. :)

I only have plant and scenery photos left. Might get a few animal pictures this weekend.

[adamanteus]

Thankyou Stefan, I've asked Santa for a digital SLR for Christmas. So things should improve after that.:)

[Stefan-A]

Thankyou Stefan, I've asked Santa for a digital SLR for Christmas. So things should improve after that.:)
I don't trust Santa, so I entered a photo contest where you can win a Canon EOS D400. :D I think there were 7000 submitted photos when the contest closed, so my chances aren't great.

[adamanteus]

I think there were 7000 submitted photos when the contest closed, so my chances aren't great.

I must disagree with you there, Stefan...I think your chances are superb! What was the subject of your competition entry?

[Stefan-A]

I must disagree with you there, Stefan...I think your chances are superb! What was the subject of your competition entry?
The theme of the contest was, roughly translated, "Nature, outdoors and summer." Entered three or was it four animal photos. I think I've posted them all in this thread at some point.

It was organized by a TV channel and the reason I know I won't win, is that I don't think they can actually give them a fair chance. With 7000 photos, it would take them something like 19 hours to look through them all at a speed of 10 seconds / photo. Three work days. And if they resize the pictures they'll lose a lot of quality and details, especially in macro shots.

Well, there's always WWF's photo contest that offers the same prize. ;) Theme: "Save the Baltic Sea".

[Elliot]

Our "pet" whitetail deer(sorry for the bad quality I have no zoom)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/deer1.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/deer2.JPG

Grasshopper on the gas tank of my bike

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

This isn't really nature but I took a pic of one of the bell peppers that I'm growing

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/pepper1.JPG

[Elliot]

Baby Green Anole!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/anole_1.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/anole_2.JPG

[Lulu Bennett]

wow they are cool. so cute!

[drache]

that grasshopper looks unreal
so ornate

[Stefan-A]

Definitely not the best pictures I've ever taken, but anyway...

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/435fd1.jpg

No idea.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/435fd2.jpg

Geotrupes stercorarius

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/435fd3.jpg

The same Geotrupes stercorarius

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/435fd4.jpg

Ants and aphids, part II.

[adamanteus]

Stefan, I think it's an Eros Blue, Polyommatus eros. I could be wrong though, I'm not so good on butterflies.

[Stefan-A]

Looks about right.

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/435fd5.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/435fd6.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/435fd7.jpg

[drache]

I never knew I could like bug photos so much

[Lee]

I like the pictures of F. rufa hehe

[Snaky]

Some very nice pic's where taken while I was gone :)

BTW: >2700 new posts:eek:

[Elliot]

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

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/moth1.JPG

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

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

[Stefan-A]

Very nice ones, Elliot. :)

What species is that "butterfly" in the last picture? ;)

[Elliot]

It's a luna moth, Actias luna.. (I think that's the right scientific name)

[Stefan-A]

I meant the toad. :D

[Elliot]

Oops, lol must have been talking to James too much!

[Elliot]

Well the toad is a bufo valliceps, just in case. :D

[drache]

I liked them both
awesome pics, Elliot

[Stefan-A]

I have now officially taken over 5000 photos with my current camera. :)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/5k1.jpg


http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/5k2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/5k3.jpg

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/5k4.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/5k5.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/5k6.jpg

[adamanteus]

Congratulations, Stefan! I like the Araneus diadematus, it's not that often you see photographs of a male. Was he wandering or in a female's web?

[Stefan-A]

Scared him out of the web by assaulting him with my Panasonic. :) There was a female on the outside edge of the web, but this guy was right in the middle of it.

[stonyloam]

I had just stepped out of the house and this wasp (pompilidea anoplius marginalus) I think, was dragging it’s pray, a small wolf spider (Family Lycosidae) across the walk. The little sucker was pretty fast, but I got a half way decent shot. All ya got to do is look closely and there is all kinds of stuff going on.:D

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

[Stefan-A]

Absolutely true. 4 of my 6 pictures were taken within a 3 meter radius and all of them within 36 hours of each other. :D


I've been trying for years to get a good picture of one of those red and black parasitic wasps (trying to figure out what it's called), but they're just too quick.

Edit: Ammophila sabulosa

[stonyloam]

Stefan this is a Miscophus (I think) wasp just closing off a hole in my solitary wasp house. There is one that it finished in the upper right. It should be packed with little spiders for food. My project is a sucess Yaaaaaa!!:D

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

[Stefan-A]

You sure know how to make homes for wildlife, Terry. :D

[drache]

You sure know how to make homes for wildlife, Terry. :D

you sure do
thanks for that & the great pics

[stonyloam]

Thanks to both of you. It is a lot of fun, and the more unusual the home the better. I checked this evening and the wasp has filled three of the holes (all the same size, the small ones) and is sleeping in one of the open holes awwwwww.. I am going to try to catch her bringing in a spider, but the chances are pretty slim.:( This should work anywhere, from Finland to Brooklyn.;)

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

[drache]

we'll have to try that after we move
Mikhaila has already told me about the ready supply of pill bugs and snails in our new garden
I haven't had enough time to hang out there yet

[Stefan-A]

Thanks to both of you. It is a lot of fun, and the more unusual the home the better. I checked this evening and the wasp has filled three of the holes (all the same size, the small ones) and is sleeping in one of the open holes awwwwww.. I am going to try to catch her bringing in a spider, but the chances are pretty slim.:( This should work anywhere, from Finland to Brooklyn.;)

And in Finland, somebody is going to give it a try. ;) Might be a bit late this year, though. The "experiment" should have started about a month ago. :)

[stonyloam]

Great Stefan! Mine is just the end off of a 2" X 4" (not pressure treated) about 4 inches long. Drill a bunch of holes from about 2mm up to about 8mm, as deep as you can. Don't worry too much about the size, the wasps (or bees) will pick out the size they like (mine like the ones that are about 5mm). I just fastened a loop of wire to the back and hung it on a little nail just outside the door that goes to my deck. good luck!! :D

[stonyloam]

I had a little chuckle this morning, Went out looking for some solitary bee and wasp house designs, and found a bunch of really neat stuff. Guess from what country? You got it the UK.:rolleyes: Guess James is pretty normal after all.:D:D

Beneficial Bug Box, Insect Houses, Boxes for Ladybirds, Lacewings, Bumblebees, Mason Bees and Butterflies (http://www.wildforms.co.uk/html/bug___insect_houses.html)

[drache]

I had a little chuckle this morning, Went out looking for some solitary bee and wasp house designs, and found a bunch of really neat stuff. Guess from what country? You got it the UK.:rolleyes: Guess James is pretty normal after all.:D:D

Beneficial Bug Box, Insect Houses, Boxes for Ladybirds, Lacewings, Bumblebees, Mason Bees and Butterflies (http://www.wildforms.co.uk/html/bug___insect_houses.html)

thanks Terry
that's a great site to look at
can't wait to show it to Mikhaila

[stonyloam]

Stepped out of the house and sitting on the sidewalk was this gray treefrog Hyla versicolor, first one that I have ever seen. Cuit little guy. Big hands. I think that I should just sit and watch my walk. :D

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

[Stefan-A]

Always considered getting one of those fridge magnets. :) But I suppose Hylas aren't very active.

[adamanteus]

I can't take the credit for this one....I didn't take it.

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

Molly found a Shield Bug, she named him "Holly"!:rolleyes: Unfortunately she later "broke" him.

[Elliot]

Broke him? LOL

[adamanteus]

Broke him? LOL

She is only three years old! Bless her!:)

[Stefan-A]

RIP, Holly. :D

[adamanteus]

RIP, Holly. :D

The latest in a long line of deceased Hollys!!:rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

The latest in a long line of deceased Hollys!!:rolleyes:
Maybe it's the name that brings them bad luck? ;)

[adamanteus]

Maybe it's the name that brings them bad luck? ;)

No, I'm pretty sure it's crush injury that does it!:eek:

[Lulu Bennett]

they all get broken ey?? maybe you should consider barring her from owning pets lol or atleast get her a ferret. my cousin has 2 and he bends them into all shapes lol just keep them away from the snakes!!

[stonyloam]

For anyone interested in how my wasps are doing. Pretty well. They have filled seven of the holes completely. Two different species, nearly identical, except one is black with white stripes and the other slightly larger (uses larger holes) black with yellow stripes. I checked with a flashlight tonight and there were wasps sleeping in holes and this egg hung ready to receive a food supply tomorrow. Great fun! :D Hmmmm.... maybe I should get a job. :eek:

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

[Stefan-A]

Awesome. :)

You could get your own show. :D

[Sputnik]

Wasps???:eek: Are you crazy? I'm allergic to the flaming things. Sorry my animal love stops somewhere. ;)

[stonyloam]

Wasps???:eek: Are you crazy? I'm allergic to the flaming things. Sorry my animal love stops somewhere. ;)

Well that theory has been put forth from time to time.:rolleyes: These guys (gals actually) are very non aggressive and almost never sting people. In fact I spent part of yesterday afternoon killing several hundred (several thousand to go) ground nesting yellow jackets next to the pool. It’s kinda like snakes, there are %$#@%$%$@%$ nasty ones that can do you great harm, and there are the nice ones (like garters). The trick is knowing which is which. :D

[Lulu Bennett]

i really cant stand wasps. we must have had a nest in the loft when we were doing it over for me to move into and i got stung loads of times and since then i cant go near them. i panic. :(

[Stefan-A]

I like wasps better than any of their relatives; bees and ants. :D

[Elliot]

i really cant stand wasps. we must have had a nest in the loft when we were doing it over for me to move into and i got stung loads of times and since then i cant go near them. i panic. :(

Well apparentley some yellow jackets built a nest on our back door, so of course when I opened the door to go outside I got stung. Of course, they faired far worse than I did.:) (sprayed them with wasp killer and lit them up LOL)

[stonyloam]

OK, here is a rule of thumb. Social wasps and bees (yellow jackets, hornets, paper wasps and honeybees bumblebees ect.) that have an established nest with a queen, and workers caring for their young will defend the nest quite vigorously (sting the heck out of you) and if they are around your house I say kill em all (“light em up” lol) :eek:. Solitary (a lone female) wasps and bees only lay an egg on some food that they have provided (paralyzed spider, caterpillar pollen ect.) seal it up and abandon the nest. Mud daubers are a good example. They do not defend the nest at all and so are very non aggressive, and will not attack people. Kinda like snakes and spiders you gotta know which ones to be cautious around. :rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

Great Stefan! Mine is just the end off of a 2" X 4" (not pressure treated) about 4 inches long. Drill a bunch of holes from about 2mm up to about 8mm, as deep as you can. Don't worry too much about the size, the wasps (or bees) will pick out the size they like (mine like the ones that are about 5mm). I just fastened a loop of wire to the back and hung it on a little nail just outside the door that goes to my deck. good luck!! :D
Didn't have any 2x4s, but I did have a branch from a birch, about 3-4" in diameter. :D Holes from 3.8mm upwards to 8mm.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/wassp1.jpg

[stonyloam]

Looks good! good Luck. Looking forward to some good photos. :D

[Snaky]

Another very interesting story, looking forward to updates:)

[reptileparadise]

aaaaa....wasps....they are quite usefull, but I still dont like m...And they can deliver a deadly hug!
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF2089Small.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF2098Small.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF2092Small.jpg

[drache]

wow!
those are amazing pics

[Stefan-A]

Your pictures illustrate why I don't dislike them; They're useful. :)

Excellent pictures, by the way.

[Snaky]

Very nice pictures!

[stonyloam]

Great photos! Yellow jackets are carnivorous, and you will see them in parking lots this time of year eating bugs off of the car bumpers. :eek:

[adamanteus]

Wow! Excellent photos, Sjord!

[adamanteus]

This just flew in the window and tried to carry me off!! :eek:

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//538/medium/Moth2.jpg

[stonyloam]

This beautiful metallic green little gal is a cuckoo wasp Family Chrysididae. It is a parasite and lays its eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps. :( It was hanging around my wasp house waiting for an opportunity. Just happened to catch parasite and host together, not the best photo but I was lucky to get it at all. :D

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

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

[Stefan-A]

Now that's an excellent picture, James. :)

[adamanteus]

Well thankyou, Stefan!:o

[adamanteus]

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

Red Ants eating a worm!

[adamanteus]

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

You can never have too many Araneus diadematus!!

[Lulu Bennett]

eyywwww! james that first pic looks nasty looks nasty! :eek:

[Stefan-A]

But you can have too many of these ;)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/mosq1.jpg

I like the one with the ants and the worm. :)

[reptileparadise]

crazy looking tree...
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF2184Small.jpg

Z. vivipara
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF2202Small.jpg

and a cool dragonfly!
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF2190Small.jpg

by the way, great pics everyone!

[Stefan-A]

That Lacerta (Zootoca nowadays) vivipara looks pretty green. Sure it's not a Podarcis muralis?

Great pictures, by the way. :)

[adamanteus]

That Dragonfly photo is fantastic! Love the tree too...It looks like something from Lord of the Rings.

[Josh]

its alright
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/100_1048.JPG

[Sid]

Really fantastic photos everyone....and very interesting as well:D

Sid

[Stefan-A]

I agree, great job keeping this thread alive. :)

Just a little advance warning: I'm going to start posting scenery and plant photos soon. ;)

[Elliot]

A small frog I caught :rolleyes:

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

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/frog5.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/frog6.JPG

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

(it's easily 16 inches long :eek: )

[Lulu Bennett]

wow that frog is great. huge! but great. it looks as if there is something wrong with its right eye though. have any clue what it was?

oh and everyone, Fantastic pics!!! espesh the tree that is soooo LotR lol

[Elliot]

It was blind in its right eye. Who knows what happened to it.

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/scen1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/scen2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/scen7.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/scen8.jpg

[Stefan-A]

And then a few sunsets. Which are, as always, pretty cheesy.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/scen3.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/scen4.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/scen5.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/scen6.jpg

[Lulu Bennett]

It was blind in its right eye. Who knows what happened to it.

no offence but i wasnt sure if it was down to the photo or i was just seeing things lol :rolleyes:

[Lulu Bennett]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//560/medium/abney_park.jpg
not a very clear pic i know because it was on my naff camera phone lol but it is at abney hall park in Cheadle near me. there is a bird in the shot but i dont have a clue what type as it was a long time ago :rolleyes:

[enigma200316]

Yellow Spotted Salamander-Ambystoma Maculatum
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Giant_Yellow_Spoted_Salamander.jpg

[Thamnophis]

LushLulu, was it this bird? That's a Grey Heron.

http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidlib/assetPictures/020003a001_j2.jpg

[Lulu Bennett]

no defo had shorter legs. if i remember right it was a hawk or something like that...:confused: lol

[Stefan-A]

Circus cyaneus?

[Lulu Bennett]

Circus cyaneus?

its possible i guess but as i said i am not too sure lol sorry :confused:

[Josh]

Yellow Spotted Salamander-Ambystoma Maculatum
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Giant_Yellow_Spoted_Salamander.jpg
I love those things my friend had one ........12 inches long!!!!!:eek:

[enigma200316]

This one was 8 inches......

[Elliot]

We found a salamder outside this morning, but I have no idea what kind it is. Maybe one of you guys can help. :confused:

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Salamander2.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Salamander1.JPG

[enigma200316]

could be a spotted, when it comes to Spotted Salamanders there just like Garters in fact that there are so many diff. species, and sub species....:)

[KITKAT]

That is probably Ambystoma texanum, the Small Mouth Salamander. You can see that it is named for YOUR state! :rolleyes:

Here is some info on the species:

Small-mouth Salamander, Ambystomal texanum (http://www.ohiosalamanders.com/Small-mouth_Salamander.html)


We found a salamder outside this morning, but I have no idea what kind it is. Maybe one of you guys can help. :confused:

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Salamander2.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Salamander1.JPG

[Elliot]

Thanks KITKAT!

[adamanteus]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//538/medium/Speckled_Wood1.jpg

Speckled Wood Butterfly.

[enigma200316]

I'm back from camping already it was unusually cold, but I did manage to see a T. s. Sirtalis and got some pics I'll post soon......:)

[adamanteus]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//537/medium/Passion_Flower.jpg

Blue Passion Flower. (Passiflora caerulea).

[adamanteus]

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

A rather dusty looking bee on Sedum flower.

[adamanteus]

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

Hoverfly on Hosta leaf.

[enigma200316]

Here are the pics of the T.s.Sirtalis when I was camping.....:D http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Wild_T_s_s_.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Wild_T_s_s_1.jpg

[enigma200316]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Wild_T_s_s_2.jpg
It looked like a Female and looked possibly gravid, she was getting ready to shed it looked, but I was unable to catch her
because under her is a stream and when I mad my move she was just to fast........gotta start eating my wheaties I guess..hahaha!!!!!!

[adamanteus]

Good job catching those photos, Justin!;)

[enigma200316]

Thanks James...I'm guessing she was hunting there it was around 5:00pm eastern time...no pun intended.....:D

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/ffq1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/ffq2.jpg

Sphinx pinastri?

[enigma200316]

Good pics Stefan........:D

[stonyloam]

Having absolutely nothing better to do this morning, I went out to see if there was anything interesting in the pool filter (I know I need a life). There was! Feel kinda bad about the giant water bug (Lethocerus americanus?).

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/pool2.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Thanks, Justin. :)



Terry, nice picture. :)
I checked the wasp house, by the way. Something has definitely moved in, but I couldn't make out what it was. At least one of the inhabitants was an earwig, though :D

[reptileparadise]

Nice catch Terry! You can almost make a nice meal out of them!

[enigma200316]

thats an interesting thought!!!!!!!:rolleyes:

[reptileparadise]

A very nice shine on the itsy bitsy spider
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/DSCF2351Small.jpg

[Sputnik]

I took this in January...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/MrsSputnik/januaryvarious003.jpg

[adamanteus]

That's a lovely photo, Esther.
@Sjoerd. Is that a young Tegenaria picta?

[Lulu Bennett]

wow esther that is a fantastic pic hun congrats on that one

[Stefan-A]

VERY nice picture, Esther. :)

[enigma200316]

I'm not surprised at how big this thread has become.......
what surprises me is all the great photos that have came from it....
Very nice job everyone and keep them coming......:D

[drache]

very cool pic, Esther

[reptileparadise]

@Sjoerd. Is that a young Tegenaria picta

Don't know...found this on the piece of slate I used for the photocontest!

[drache]

found this in my garden
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1267/1140916841_4a538ad962_b.jpg[/URL]

and this on the repcal
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1423/1141782716_0d19c3c6cd_b.jpg[URL="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1423/1141782716_0d19c3c6cd_b.jpg"] (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1267/1140916841_4a538ad962_b.jpg)

oh, right - scale

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1249/1141769758_f70ec0190d_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1249/1141769758_f70ec0190d_b.jpg)

I was going to try to feed it to my baby that hasn't eaten yet, but I accidentally smushed it
not much meat on it anyway

[Elliot]

Nice pictures. I use the same vitamins lol :rolleyes:

[enigma200316]

Great pics Rhea, really liked the Bee.....kool

[Stefan-A]

Really nice bee, Rhea. :)

[Stefan-A]

Another busy weekend..

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/late807-1.jpg

What species live in tunnels like that, James?

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/late807-2.jpg

I guess we all know what this is. ;)

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/late807-3.jpg

Did a bit of trapping this weekend. Mustela vison, invasive species. Last year's pup, judging by the size.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/late807-4.jpg

A fraction of a second before it bit my camera.

[Edcase]

Wow i love the bee pic. Didnt like the spider one so much though Stefan lol:D . Im a wimp when it comes to spiders:p

[Stefan-A]

Yeah, I sometimes feel a bit weird for not being a wimp around certain animals that have that effect on most people. :D

[adamanteus]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/late807-1.jpg

What species live in tunnels like that, James?.

That would be Amourobius, Stefan. The one that caused all that damage to my finger (in the thread "Bite!")

[adamanteus]

Second thoughts, Stefan....were there just single threads radiating out from that silk collar?

[enigma200316]

I think thats a funnel web Spider web, what exact species I'm not sure..:confused:
anyway great pics Stefan.......:D

[Stefan-A]

Ah, yes. I remember posting a picture of one a long time ago. Have to get my hands on the inhabitant. ;)

[adamanteus]

No Funnel Webs in Europe, Justin.:)

[enigma200316]

so thats what happen in that pic, nice......lucky that was all it did:eek:

[enigma200316]

well isn't that a shame....lol:D

[Stefan-A]

No wait, that one was a Segestria.

[adamanteus]

No wait, that one was a Segestria.

That's what I was thinking when I asked about the radiating threads. (permalink 659)

[Stefan-A]

Segestria have been found on the walls of that same house before, so that's probably the #1 suspect.

[adamanteus]

I'd like to see Segestria florentina again. We see S.senoculata here all the time, but S. florentina is a more southern species. Very impressive spider, not seen it for a few years.

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/greatsuccess1.jpg

Not the greatest picture and I can't get a good look what's inside the other holes, but this one has been closed. :) Something is going on in most of them and one of the bigger holes does indeed house an earwig.

[Elliot]

That's cool Stefan, I'd do something like that but we already have too many wasps here!:eek:

[Stefan-A]

Most of our wasps disappeared a few weeks ago, they suspect some kind of disease killed them. Apparently a few have survived.

[Elliot]

I wouldn't mind if that happened here, I'm sick of getting chased by a horde of wasps everytime I go outside lol

[Josh]

i hate wasps i got stung on the eyelid once.

[Elliot]

i hate wasps i got stung on the eyelid once.

Ouch. Sucks for you.

[enigma200316]

I got stung in the corner of the eye by a white fasted hornet once, man that hurt!!!:eek:

[drache]

I prefer wasps to mosquitoes
wasps only go after you when you piss them off
mosquitoes pursue you as food

[Elliot]

I prefer wasps to mosquitoes
wasps only go after you when you piss them off
mosquitoes pursue you as food

Well here they both go after you it seems like.:rolleyes:

[adamanteus]

I once got stung by a wasp on the back of the neck, while I was up a ladder! I squashed it between my fingers, carried down the ladder, beat it into the ground with a hammer and burned it with a blow-torch. Guess it won't be stinging me again!

[Lulu Bennett]

PMSL!! james have you ever thought of therapy or anger management lol nasty bugger! :D

[Stefan-A]

Got stung by a bee once. Don't know what kind, but it was grey and hairy and had its nest underground. Stung me in my middle finger. :D For some odd reason I haven't had a problem with wasps. Ever.


Bifurcated one wasp with a tennis racquet this summer, though..

[adamanteus]

PMSL!! james have you ever thought of therapy or anger management lol nasty bugger! :D

Hey, he started it!:D

[Lulu Bennett]

Hey, he started it!:D
but you are bugger than him! lol to be totally honest i would have done the same if i had the equiptment at hand lol if not then i would just have dicected the lil bugger whilst still buzzing and tried open heart surgery. doubt i would have been succesful though lol :D

[enigma200316]

something that small can pack quite a punch though.......:eek:

[reptileparadise]

This one is for James...I believe Argiope bruennichi (?)
There were some males as well, didn't get any good shots of them unfortunatly
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/wielwebspingeheelSmall.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/wielwebspinkopSmall.jpg

[adamanteus]

Spot on, Sjoerd! My daughters' favourite spider, although she's only ever seen it in photos (we don't get them this far north). Can you give one to one of our English members at the Hamm show? Then I can get it for my Molly?

Fantastic photos by the way!

[stonyloam]

"one of the bigger holes does indeed house an earwig"

Eueeee,:eek: don't they like crawl into your ear, and like burrow into your brain, and like eat it, and like make you all stupid like...

[reptileparadise]

Sure James, I can take one (or maybe two...lots of males around ;) )for you!

[adamanteus]

Thankyou. I'll tell Molly, she'll be so excited!:D

[CrazyHedgehog]

Can you give one to one of our English members at the Hamm show? !

are you mad? can't cope with spiders or ants!! you expect us to fetch you one back?

[adamanteus]

Really, Inge? Is it a problem for you? They're only like a Garden Spider...nothing too shocking!:o

[reptileparadise]

o dear....well...you guys fight it out...

[CrazyHedgehog]

garden spiders are the worst!! better be in a sealed box...

[KITKAT]

"one of the bigger holes does indeed house an earwig"

Eueeee,:eek: don't they like crawl into your ear, and like burrow into your brain, and like eat it, and like make you all stupid like...

In a word... NO. You have watched Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan too many times!:D

[Stefan-A]

So, it's once again time for the weekly nature photos..

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/puweek1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/puweek2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/puweek3.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/puweek4.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/puweek5.jpg

My first and probably last snake this summer. N. n. natrix, very typical coloration around these parts. Damn camera focused on the grass in the foreground instead of the snake, but it still works as a background picture on my desktop. It let me get very close before starting to move away hissing. That last picture is taken about 10-15 cm from the snake, which I guess was around 60-70 cm long. Hard to tell.

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/puweek7.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/puweek8.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/puweek9.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/puweek10.jpg

And a few insects. :)

[drache]

really nice natrix shots
and I like that crab-like insect with the red legs

[zooplan]

@Drache,
it looks like a kind of bug.
I like the natrix too,but did not imagine that they are native so far to the north.

[Stefan-A]

I think Natrix natrix can be found in at least the southern half of Finland.

[adamanteus]

Excellent photos again, Stefan.
Rhea, the "crab-like" thing is a Shield Bug.

[drache]

thanks, James
looks like a great candidate for being named Holly and sustaining a crush injury

[enigma200316]

Great photos Stefan!!
Thanks for sharing them.....

[Stefan-A]

Thanks, all of you. :) I just wish I had more herp pictures to share.

[enigma200316]

heres a nice pic...:Dhttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Fred_22.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Cervus canadensis? :D

[Josh]

.
heres a nice pic...:Dhttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Fred_22.jpg
nice....

[Lulu Bennett]

cool. is that on your lawn?

[enigma200316]

No, thats a few miles away from my house, but there are a lot of houses in that area and the Elk just go up to them like they aren't even there...:)
this one is like the town mascot, he's been there since he was a baby(15yrs) his name is Fred he's a 10X8 with a 36 inch spread between antlers..... Yes Stefan your right....:)

[Lulu Bennett]

lol wow i want one over here. all you get here is rats squirals and stray cats lol

[enigma200316]

hahaha!!!
yeah thats funny we have are share of all them too....:D

[Lulu Bennett]

we do have the odd fox here too though. pretty cool and very beautiful creature lol

[enigma200316]

its pretty neat to have such a large animal that close, they are the second largest dear, the Moose is the largest.....but by the pic you can see how big they are and I was only maybe 20-30 Feet away from him..:eek:
yeah where I live is more in the woods so to speak and you'd think I'd see a lot more wild life,but you really don't see it unless you go look for it...:)

[Lulu Bennett]

it looks pretty big considering its nearly as high as the ground floor roof lol but its very cute lol

[enigma200316]

they will be coming into the rutt(mating) within a week or so, then there
will be all kinds of action going on,Fighting,mating, groups of 20 to 40 Elk running around.......:D:D

[adamanteus]

There will be all kinds of action going on, fighting, mating, groups of 20 to 40 Elk running around.......:D:D

Typical Saturday night out in Manchester!:D

[enigma200316]

I bet.....:rolleyes:
But its not as interesting watching to people fight as it is two Elk....:)
now for the mating ya know thats a diff. story........:eek:

[Lulu Bennett]

Typical Saturday night out in Manchester!:D
lol i ahree. a night out in town and u will see 'mating' and fighting butnot quite as cool as an elk lol

[drache]

here's some pics I took in Ithaca

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1056/1280074403_bdda189b07_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1056/1280074403_bdda189b07_b.jpg)

some lovely tree fungi

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1377/1281003512_256bb192dd_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1377/1281003512_256bb192dd_b.jpg)

one for James
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1283/1280057887_914ba4cae4_b.jpg

[enigma200316]

once again awsome pics Rhea.....:D..Thanks for sharing.....hope you all had lots of fun......:)

[drache]

many thanks for the compliments
I took a ton - these are the ones that turned out well

[Stefan-A]

Well, they look great, Rhea. :)

[adamanteus]

It's a Lycosid, Rhea, but as it's North American, I wouldn't want to guess the species.

[drache]

It's a Lycosid, Rhea, but as it's North American, I wouldn't want to guess the species.
it's really beautiful

[ssssnakeluvr]

finally, I was able to get some photos of my cat faced spiders...araneus gemmoides..... got a large female and a femle one molt before adult size with 2 males courting her...

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

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/female_gemmoides.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/medium/female_and_2_males.jpg

[drache]

really cool pictures, Don
thanks

[adamanteus]

Nice pictures, Don. That's not a species we get over here. It's always interesting to see foreign spiders.

[ssssnakeluvr]

they are my favorite....had a house when I was growing up, big vine covering the front porch, dozens of them there...lots of orange ones, black and white one, and my favorite one...black and pink...she died suddenly one summer. she came out of her hiding spot into the web, but her safety drag line snapped and she fell abouit 8 ft onto the porch, she crawled about 2 inches before dieing.....:(

[drache]

look at what I found in my backyard

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1320/1294177199_2e94dd0a91_b.jpg

he was easy to spot
not just because he's big (2"/5cm)
but because I first saw this side of him

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1330/1295035618_1298a17a01_b.jpg

he was hanging in a spider web and I'm assuming that this is not the natural colour of his underside

he held still nicely for the camera though
and I think Mikhaila's science teacher might like him

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1153/1294160959_384df3232d_b.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Nice.. cicada? :)

[adamanteus]

Nice.. cicada? :)

That's what I thought. Non of them over here!:rolleyes:

[drache]

oh
so that's what's making the racket in the trees

[adamanteus]

I guess so!:D

[drache]

very cool
i always imagined them to look more like flying grasshoppers
I'm not sure why
the cicada we use in chinese medicine looks nothing like a grasshopper
but it looks a bit more like beetle than this one

[Stefan-A]

That's what I thought. Non of them over here!:rolleyes:
We have one species, Cicadetta montana, but it's only found in an area about 1ha in size. And I've been there once (school trip this spring), but didn't see any of them. Actually, I think they are native to Great Britain, too. Edit: They're found here: New Forest - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Forest)

Rhea, I think they're more closely related to beetles than to true grasshoppers, but I could be wrong.

[Stefan-A]

No, I was wrong. They are more closely related to aphids and shield bugs than to grasshoppers or beetles.

[KITKAT]

That is the summer, or annual cicada... a bit different from the 17 year cicada.

And yes, that is the natural color underneath... they are kind of coated with a dusty white.

[ssssnakeluvr]

forgot to upload this one...the female gemmoides in her little nest...

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

[Stefan-A]

A few older pictures. No wildlife.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/oldImage1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/oldImage2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/oldImage6.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/oldImage7.jpg

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/oldImage10.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/oldImage13.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/oldImage4.jpg

[enigma200316]

very nice pics Stephan................:)

[drache]

very nice pictures, Stefan

[adamanteus]

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

A wasp in the garden.

[adamanteus]

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

Argiope bruennichi (supplied by Sjoerd) in my garden.

[reptileparadise]

Very nice pictures James!

When I went to catch the Argiope, there also was a Araneus diadematus that was freaking huge! I would estimate it to be twice my thumbnail! I'm going back soon, to see if she's still there...she was awesome!

[Stefan-A]

Very nice pictures. :) New camera, James?

[adamanteus]

:) New camera, James?

No, same bag of sh1te I've been using all year. We'll see what Santa Claus brings!;)

[Elliot]

No, same bag of sh1te I've been using all year. We'll see what Santa Claus brings!;)

I can promise you it's better than mine.:)

[reptileparadise]

This one is for James...a beautifull spider!
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/GreenspiderforJamesSmall.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/GreenspiderforJames1Small.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/GreenspiderforJames2Small.jpg

[Stefan-A]

That's a nice one. :)

[zooplan]

nice spider
very green
intresting habitat too,LOL
nature was allways somthing like woods or madow to me:rolleyes:

[drache]

nature crops up everywhere
I live right in a big city and when I take my lizard out to the porch, I have to keep an eye out for the red tailed hawks
and at night the raccoons root through our compost
I've been wanting to get a pic of the wild geese that fly across our house every dawn and dusk, honking loudly