The Nature Photography Thread

[adamanteus]

Any idea what it is? I mean, obviously it's a lizard... you know what I mean!:D:rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

Any idea what it is?

Any idea what it is?
This is getting creepy. Stop stealing my thoughts! :D

[el lobo]

Haha...that skeleton looks awesome! I dig!

[reptileparadise]

....whoops...
Anyone seeing something?
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/Natuur/bloemmooiSmall.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/Natuur/bloemvlijmscherpSmall.jpg

[count dewclaw]

You mean besides the pretty flowers?

[reptileparadise]

I treated myself with a new camera! Nikon D60 :D Yeah!

[count dewclaw]

Congrats! New toys are always so much fun!

[reptileparadise]

Defenitly!
Only a 18-55 kitlense now, but that will change before my internship...( Going down under!!!)

[Sid]

The skeleton is probably a Green Anole. I find them dead under rocks a little routinely just after winter. That's just an educated guess.

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Just a few successive shots of what kept us wake Saturday night...

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

and still going... ZAP! POW!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

... Oooh! Ahhhh!

[reptileparadise]

really cool pictures!

[gregmonsta]

Love the lightning!!!

[adamanteus]

Excellent lightning photos, Steven!

[drache]

very cool shot, Steven

[anji1971]

Awesome! I absolutely love storms. The bigger the better!:cool:

[infernalis]

Awesome lightning shots Steven

[Lori P]

Great lightening shots... but right now I never want to see lightning again... LOL!! My head is still ringing from that unbelievable sound-- like a cosmic CLAP-- when it hit our house the other night. Lightning BAD!!!! :-)

[reptileparadise]

Damn! Everything still working?
We had it once as well...The sound is just...wow...Amazing! I'm very respectfull towards lightning since then...

[Lori P]

No, it killed the power (blew a fuse in the transformer up the road and knocked out the neighbor's too, oops) and killed our internet satellite dish and the modem, the phone lines, hubby's computer, and my sanity. lol

[count dewclaw]

Those are great lightening shots.

Now for something less frightening:

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

This little "guy" was scared out of the brush by the lawnmower.

[Stefan-A]

Aww, a feeder. ;)

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

im glad ur house didnt catch on fire

No, it killed the power (blew a fuse in the transformer up the road and knocked out the neighbor's too, oops) and killed our internet satellite dish and the modem, the phone lines, hubby's computer, and my sanity. lol

[count dewclaw]

Aww, a feeder. ;)

Well, um yes, I hadn't thought of that, but I suppose it could be...I don't have anything big enough to eat it though....well the beagle might like to catch it...:rolleyes:

[reptileparadise]

I don't have anything big enough to eat it

so...how big are you? Do you know how to make steak?

[count dewclaw]

so...how big are you? Do you know how to make steak?

lol...that little thing isn't worth the trouble...we have Rex rabbits in the barn that my daughter raises for 4H, we eat the ones that aren't good enough for breeding or showing...:D

[Stefan-A]

So I went through my photo albums and found a couple of old nature photos, primarily from the Reagan era. ;) The photos would look slightly better if I had a scanner.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/prelife/canucks.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/prelife/froggie1.jpg

Find the frog..

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/prelife/froggie2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/prelife/froggiepond1.jpg

Picture taken in Portugal in January or February 1991. There were hundreds of frogs in that little pond, never managed to take a photos of them, though.

[count dewclaw]

I was playing with the camera again today...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/bumblebee.JPG

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

[Snake lover 3-25]

very nice pics!!!!:D:D

[adamanteus]

Wow! Really nice pictures, LeAnn.

[count dewclaw]

Thanks, I was having so much fun I forgot about my daughter's physical therapy appointment :o :eek:. Oops! I was able to reschedule, but it was embarassing.

[anji1971]

Those are great pics, LeAnn! :)

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Do you know what kind of frog it was you found in Portugal? Cool leg banding!
So I went through my photo albums and found a couple of old nature photos, primarily from the Reagan era. ;) The photos would look slightly better if I had a scanner.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/prelife/canucks.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/prelife/froggie1.jpg

Find the frog..

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/prelife/froggie2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/prelife/froggiepond1.jpg

Picture taken in Portugal in January or February 1991. There were hundreds of frogs in that little pond, never managed to take a photos of them, though.

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

oops! Gotta get those "quotes" right...

[Stefan-A]

Only that last photo was taken in Portugal, the frog in my hand was found in our back yard. :)

[Snaky]

Some pictures from during my holiday. We hiked a lot in the dune reserves near Koksijde ( Belgian coast, close to the French border ). Hope you like them.

These were taken during at the Dunes called Houtsaegerduinen & Cabour. Very dense dunes, so not that many pictures. Also not that much fun to walk, because everything is fenced heavily and most of the time it's so dense, you can't see a thing except the trail.
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0303_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0298_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0312_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0305_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0314_klein.JPG

More pictures of other walks will come during the day ;)

[Stefan-A]

Looks very nice. :)

[adamanteus]

Nice pictures, Hans.:)

[Sid]

Great photographs, Hans.

[drache]

lovely photos
now I suddenly want a vacation

[Snaky]

Thanks guys, but actually This one was nicer...
It's the dunes called 'De Westhoek' and it's just on the border of belgium and France. Enjoy the pictures.
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0401_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0409_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0406_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0399_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0400_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0394_klein.JPG

(it's not finished, so please wait...)

[Snaky]

And still in 'De Westhoek':
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0388_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0387_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0382_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0391_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0375_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0381_klein.JPG

(still to come)

[Snaky]

Last post, still 'De Westhoek' :)

http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0377_klein.JPG
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0374_klein.JPG

Apparently, a number of frogs and salamanders can be found there... but of course, saw none. It's more in spring that you'll find some and you'll need to be lucky, since most of the parc is fenced.

So, hope you enjoyed them:D

[adamanteus]

Very nice, Hans.... Personally, I'd have jumped the fence!

[Snaky]

Very nice, Hans.... Personally, I'd have jumped the fence!
Who said I didn't do that:rolleyes:
But I never went far, because if you're caught, it's an expensive little trip...

[crzy_kevo]

i found this little guy just outside my apartment door
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4306/picture029bi2.jpghttp://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4537/picture028ri7.jpg


its too bad he was too big for george to have a snack

[count dewclaw]

Nice photos, Hans. What species of caterpillar are these?




http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0312_klein.JPG

[Snaky]

I'm really not an expert on this, so can't help you. There where a lot of them there, so it's still a nice population hopefully.

[adamanteus]

I think the are Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae) larvae.

[Snaky]

Looks certainly like it, thanks James.

[reptileparadise]

Thanks James
I've always wondered what these beautifull caterpillars should turn in...I love the moths as well! Such beautifull contrast!

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/sonic1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/sonic2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/sonic3.jpg

Not the sharpest critter in the forest. :D

No, it wasn't stuck.

[count dewclaw]

I think the are Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae) larvae.

Thanks James. Stunning colors on the moth, very pretty.

Stefan - aaww, cute hedgehog.

[Lori P]

Ooooooh!!! Stefan, what a doll--- I want to HUG him!!!!

[adamanteus]

Great series of pics, Stefan. I really like hedgehogs, we get them in the garden some nights.

[Stefan-A]

This is the first one I've seen in our garden in years.

[adamanteus]

We normally hear them before we see them.... chomping away on a slug! Can't hear the TV for them!

[ssssnakeluvr]

nice photos!! here's a couple of some ornate tree lizards my daughter Nikki caught while on a camping trip.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/lizard_1.jpg
female
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/lizard_2.jpg
male
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/lizard_3.jpg

[anji1971]

Great shots, Stefan! We don't have those here that I know of.........very cute!

Don, those are nice looking lizards!

[Lori P]

Here'e a bunch of pics from this month that I just haven't taken time to post:

HUGE beetle!!!
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/great_big_beetle.jpg

Pretty moth...
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/moth_6_15_08_crop.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/moth_6_15_08_crop_2.jpg

Usually all we see are the green tree frogs, but this guy has been hanging out on the front door.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/froggy_on_door.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/rainbow_6_19_08_resize.jpg

[Lori P]

Found these two froggies under a water tub...

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

And this spider was under there with them. I thought it looked funny, and when I looked at the pic close up... too cool!!!!!! She's covered in babies!!!
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Spider_and_babies.jpg

Jasper found this guy... what kind of turtle is he?? He was BIG and quite heavy!!
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/turtle_6_15_08_005.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/turtle_6_15_08_resize.jpg

[anji1971]

Holy crap, that's SOME turtle!!!:eek::cool:

Nice pictures, Lori.
Love the toads, the spider,not so much, although it is kinda cool how she carries her kids around like that!

[infernalis]

I like toads too:D

http://www.reformedsniper.net/sn/choad.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Great shots, Stefan! We don't have those here that I know of.........very cute!

Don, those are nice looking lizards!
You don't. :) There are no native species on your continent. But there are of them in Europe, Asia, Africa.. I think Australia or New Zealand have introduced ones.



Great photos, Lori. :)

[Lori P]

WOW check these gorgeous butterflies out-- they have transparent wings!!

http://f421.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=1%5f160471%5fAOxWv9EAAKcYSGVGrQGx3z9A wx8&pid=2.4&fid=Inbox&inline=1

http://f421.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=1%5f160471%5fAOxWv9EAAKcYSGVGrQGx3z9A wx8&pid=2.6&fid=Inbox&inline=1

[Stefan-A]

WOW check these gorgeous butterflies out
I would, but judging by the url, your links point towards a yahoo mail account.

[Lori P]

Erm. Ok. I tried to copy and past them from an email. Let me go try something else. (Wait right there, don't move) LOL

[Lori P]

Let's see if these work...

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

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/transparent_butterfly_2.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/transparent_butterfly_3.jpg

I'd never seen these before. Just stunning!!!

[reptileparadise]

WoW!
those are incredible!

[anji1971]

WOW!! :eek::cool::eek:
Those butterflies are incredible............did it say what they're called?

[Lori P]

The email I got said they were "glasswing butterflies" from Central America and they range from Mexico to Panama. I haven't done any research yet to find out more. Stunning huh?

[anji1971]

Stunning indeed!:cool:
We'll be visiting a couple of butterfly conservatories this summer (on our new,condensed vacation plan!) and I'm going to look for those. If I don't find them, I'll definitely put in a suggestion.:)

[ssssnakeluvr]

got a call on 2 injured birds today....they were fledglings, just learning to fly, so I took some photos.....

one sitting on a chair on their patio, the other in the bushes...and not happy!!

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ssssnakeluvr/hawk003.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ssssnakeluvr/hawk001.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ssssnakeluvr/hawk002.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ssssnakeluvr/hawk004.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ssssnakeluvr/hawk005.jpg

[count dewclaw]

Sweet fledgelings, what species?

[ssssnakeluvr]

I'm not sure....the guy said they are pergrines...not sure about that...we have a number of hawk species here.

[drache]

wow
those butterflies are amazing

Don
what will happen to those poor bird kids?

[Lori P]

Awww, Don, do you rehab them then? Will they be ok? I looooooooove this pic!!!!!!:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ssssnakeluvr/hawk004.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Very nice photos, Lori and Don. :)

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-06-29-askjames.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-06-29-geotrupes.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-06-29-swan-1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-06-29-swan-2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-06-29-swan-3.jpg

100% wild.

[anji1971]

Don, the birds are sweet little things, even the one with the attitude!
Hope they'll be okay.

Stefan, more nice pics! The swans are beautiful!

[adamanteus]

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

A huge and ancient Oak... the picture doesn't do it justice, it was truly magnificent!

[anji1971]

Wow, I'd have loved to be able to stand next to that tree!
How impressive.........:cool:

[Stefan-A]

It's back.. :D

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-01-arr1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-01-arr2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-01-arr3.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-01-arr4.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-01-arr5.jpg

[Garter_Gertie]

That's a REAL LIVE IN THE WILD HEDGEHOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Right next to a 'hedge' (fence)! How cool! I've always wondered about hedgehogs. THANKS!!!

[Lori P]

Oh, he is the cutest little guy!!! I just want to snuggle him to bits!!!!

(The hedgehog, I mean. Not Stefan.) (Well, maybe Stefan too.) LOL!!

[adamanteus]

That's really 'priddy', Stefan.:D

[crzy_kevo]

i love hedgehogs

[Zephyr]

Reminds me of Weebl's stuff: BOOM HEDGEHOG. XD

[infernalis]

Last night I had to run to the store, as I began to sit in the truck, I looked up and saw this, immediatly grabbed the camera and figured this would be appreciated...

http://www.danceswithreptiles.com/1nature/sunset.jpg

[count dewclaw]

Beautiful shot! Sunsets are so hard to capture in pictures.

[Snaky]

Very nice picture.
Also nice pictures of the hedgehog, Stefan :).

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/setsun1.jpg

One from 2003.

[infernalis]

Very nice as alway Stefan, great photos...

On the same theme, last fall in november this wound up on my memory card.

http://www.danceswithreptiles.com/radix/sunset.JPG

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/setsun2.jpg

[infernalis]

If I can ever leave home again, I'd like to see that one with my own eyes Stefan:D

Very Nice indeed, I'm out of sunsets now......

[Stefan-A]

I'm not, but the rest are nothing compared to these. :)

[anji1971]

After all those fabulous sunsets, these are going to seem rather run-of-the-mill...........:rolleyes:

We went on a nature walk yesterday! Found a few things.........
Pretty berries:
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July1-2008_030.jpg

Damselfly:
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July1-2008_031.jpg

Butterfly:
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July1-2008_046.jpg

Fly on flowers:
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July1-2008_047.jpg

[anji1971]

Some colourful snails:
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July1-2008_035.jpg

Friends stick together!!
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July1-2008_038.jpg

Found a froggy..........
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July1-2008_042.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July1-2008_044.jpg

[adamanteus]

Lovely photos, Anji.:)

[Lori P]

Loved the sunsets!!!! And Anji, the "friends stick together" pic is perfect!! :-)

[anji1971]

Lori, isn't that the cutest pic? It was so funny how they all came out of their shells and crawled piggy-back onto each other like that!

[Lori P]

I found another one of these guys last night while digging for worms. Sooooo cute!!!!! :-)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/worm_snake_002_resize.jpg

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

[anji1971]

Nice find!
They have unique little faces, don't they?? Very sweet!:)

[Snake lover 3-25]

awwwww cute!!! i love his eyes!!!:D

[CrazyHedgehog]

Great photos yet again...
But Stefan I love the Hedgehog!!!!:D

[count dewclaw]

Was up early today, walking the dog...

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

(looks blurry posted here...it was focused)

[reptileparadise]

Awesome!

Its a common 'problem' that these pictures look a bit blurry...Its just a little wonder of nature :D

[Garter_Gertie]

What a photo, LeAnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some these photos, like this one, rival professional's. Great pic!

[reptileparadise]

Zoo visit from yesterday...
Here are some of the reptiles. I've got some of other animals as well, but I have taken almost 700 pictures and I don't want to bore you with all of them :p

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Paradisio/DSC_0447Small-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Paradisio/DSC_0122Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Paradisio/DSC_0333Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Paradisio/DSC_0480Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Paradisio/DSC_0493Small.jpg

[reptileparadise]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Paradisio/DSC_0514Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Paradisio/DSC_0524Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Paradisio/DSC_0786Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Paradisio/DSC_0812Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Paradisio/DSC_0920Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Paradisio/DSC_0868Small.jpg

[Snaky]

Very nice, Lean and Sjoerd :)

[count dewclaw]

Great shots, Sjoerd! I love the "green guy".

[drache]

fantastic photos
I love the turtle close-up

[Garter_Gertie]

I like the prairie dog!

[anji1971]

Great shots, Sjoerd! I love the "green guy".

Hey, that's what I was gonna say!!! :D
And LeAnn, your spiderweb pic is amazing!

[drache]

we went for a little walk today

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2636981535_22f149d8ef_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2636972361_0041f8e035_b.jpg

there was coll fungus

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2636966695_63ec87d460_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2637795130_a66801f97d_b.jpg

there were cool bugs too - many too fast to catch images of
but this one's nice

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2637800664_c70ecef262_b.jpg

this was a popular plant

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2637802812_250d5c9d2c_b.jpg

there's one more coming

[drache]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/2637804940_0a0916f48c_b.jpg

[anji1971]

Beautiful place to walk...........:cool:
That plant is Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known as 'Butterfly weed'. I have a bright orange version growing in my garden, but I'd love to find some in that shade of pink. Very pretty!

[Stefan-A]

Not the best herping trip, not a single reptile in the first spot. Fortunately I decided to visit my backup spot. Saw plenty of Zootoca vivipara and one tiny Natrix natrix, which I didn't manage to take pictures of. I didn't see it until it was already running away and the melanistic Zootocas that I've often found in there were nowhere to be seen. Anyway, here are a few pictures.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-3.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-4.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-5.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-6.jpg

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-7.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-8.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-9.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-10.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-11.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-12.jpg

[Sid]

Those are great shots, Stefan.

[adamanteus]

Gravid, or what?:D

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-10.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Gravid, or what?:D



About as gravid as this one:

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-05/2008-07-05-9.jpg

:D

[anji1971]

Nice pictures!
Sounds like you see a lot more variety than I've been managing to find lately!

[Lori P]

Here's a huge, wicked looking beetle that I found dead in my BEDROOM... :eek:!!

Anyone know what he is??

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/an_evil_beetle_001.jpg

I believe that's his little tongue sticking out!! I think he was on his way to eating me in my sleep when he died!!!!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/an_evil_beetle_002.jpg

[Lori P]

Hubby just said he got a taste of me, and that's why he died. Hubby is now whining that I shouldn't hit him so hard. Hmmpph. LOL

Oh, and Stefan, great pics!!! Love the fat little ones... this morning when digging for worms I found a skink under a piece of wood laying eggs!!!!!! But I didn't want to disturb her more so I haven't gone back with the camera. Maybe later.

[Garter_Gertie]

Scarb Beetle?

(If correct, does that me I get him? LOL!!!)

[adamanteus]

I think it's a Lesser Stag Beetle.

[Garter_Gertie]

Stag Beetle! Forgot that one. Yup - the 'horns.' Bet YOU get the beetle, James!

[drache]

very nice lizards
and that beetle is impressive

it was a bit dark to see and focus, but I got some . . .

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2640120943_ee96941480_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2640124067_38fd5b8c48_b.jpg

they turn my compost
but it's a bit of an uneasy relationship

[Stefan-A]

Excellent. :D

[Lori P]

Oooooh!!! City raccoons. LOL Nice pics Rhea!

[Lori P]

You can't really tell from the pic, but I thought this was sooooo sweet: I found this on the ground the other day-- a tiny little bird's nest made completely from horse hair!!!! (Mane and tail hair, except for that one long piece of grass of course) I'm glad the birdies are finding my horses useful too. lol

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

[infernalis]

Rhea - Mom had pet raccoons when I was little.

Now there are some interesting pets, one was even toilet trained.

Then NYS enacted a wild animal law, and animal control took moms coon away. (Mom had no permit, and in 1973 D.E.C. sent out an officer to take him):eek:

[drache]

that is a sweet nest, Lori
but it does remind me that a friend of mine used to cut any horse hair she found into little pieces, because she knew that the birds use them in nest building and she worried that baby birds could strangle themselves

Wayne
I like the raccoons because they're good for the compost, but I'm trying to figure out what I'll have to do to proof my future outdoor reptile enclosures against them

[infernalis]

That is a thought, Raccoons have been known to eat herps.

Ultrasonic repellers may work, Snakes are deaf. But I have never tested ultrasonic repellers on lizards?? so it may not work with them. (Keep out the coons, drive lizzy crazy? not sure)

The downside is sonics repel all small furry critters...

[Lori P]

OH!!! OH!!!!! FINALLY---- I found a snake in my yard!!!!! (Well, other than the tiny worm snake!!) (And, well, acutally hubby saw him first and came and got me!!!!) He was right outside of our living room-- a black rat snake:

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Black_rat_snake_7_6_08_001_resize.jpg

I picked him up soooo gently....

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Black_rat_snake_7_6_08_004_resize.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Black_rat_snake_7_6_08_005_resize.jpg

What a cool, calm snake!! He wrapped around my arm as I picked him up for pics...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Black_rat_snake_7_6_08_008_resize.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Black_rat_snake_7_6_08_008_crop_resize.jpg

He/she is wonderful... about 5 feet long. I suspect he's the one who's been emptying the duck nests in the yard... sigh... well, after meeting him, I don't mind sharing those eggs. :-) Before putting him down, I did ask him to just leave me a couple for my breakfasts... :-)

[Zephyr]

Wow. Now THAT is a gorgeous snake. Simply lovely Lori. :D

[drache]

what a beauty
great find, Lori
and thanks to the photographer as well

[Zephyr]

Are you sure he's a he? Maybe he's a she, and she may be going to lay eggs. I can't think of another reason a black rat would be out during the day!

[Stefan-A]

Beautiful rat snake, Lori. :)

[adamanteus]

Nice find, Lori.:)

[Lori P]

Thanks guys!! Jamie was sooooo funny-- I was lying in bed reading (yeah, rough day) and he comes bounding back to the bedroom yelling for me to hurry up, hurry up, come see... lol. He was soooo proud of himself for being able to show me a snake in the yard. :-)

Kyle, no, I don't know the sex. Just called it a he.

[Garter_Gertie]

What a cutie! Snake's not bad, either.

[drache]

I'd really hoped the web would show up more, but heck - at least it's in focus

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/2645815532_ab1cf30e5b_b.jpg

[CrazyHedgehog]

cool web!:)

[reptileparadise]

Very nice rhea!
You could try misting the web real gently (so that the spider doesn't make a run for it :p)

[anji1971]

Whew, I've missed a few pics!!:eek:
Lori, and Rhea,
Nice ratsnake, raccoons, bird's nest, and spiderweb!!:D

[Lori P]

I went for a nice walk today along our creek. I was REALLY HOPING to see a garter... it had just rained, hard, and then the sun came back out full force, so I thought to myself, Self, this is IT... you will find garters today!!! But noooooo.... no snakes at all. Sigh.

However, I did find this! This is the first crayfish I've ever noticed by our creek before-- but a while ago Kyle suggested a pic of a mud pile I'd posted was a crayfish home-- and apparently he was right. :-)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Crayfish_001_crop.jpg

I wouldn't have posted this pic because it's blurry, but look, in the lower right corner... there's a tiny little critter. Crayfish baby?? Spiderling??

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Crayfish_002_crop.jpg

Keep AWAY!!! I shall EAT YOU!!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Crayfish_004_crop.jpg

[Zephyr]

How neat. :P
If you had picked it up and taken a pic of the tail from the underside I could've sex it too. ^^
That spider seems to be either a wolf or fishing spider.

[ssssnakeluvr]

That spider seems to be either a wolf or fishing spider.
are you referring to the recent one there with the spider in the orb web???? thats an orb weaver, not a wolf spider or fishing spider...

[drache]

I think he meant my night time pic where the web didn't pop like I wanted it to

Lori - that crayfish is so cool

and look what I found today
- a cool beetle

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/2653433889_dc2d6ff1cf_b.jpg

and
a visitor from outer space

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2654281794_818df98133_b.jpg

[crzy_kevo]

i saw a couple beetles like that screwing on a leaf a couple days ago lol

[anji1971]

Cool mantid................I like!:cool:

[Zephyr]

I love mantids. ^^

[jitami]

Mantids are awesome! I'm really missing them this year. Last year i was working at a preschool and the neighbor had a garden. I don't know if they were store bought or naturally occurring but we had hundreds upon hundreds of tiny green babies at work last year. It was fun showing them to the preschoolers, but it was also very important to move them to higher ground at every chance! Preschoolers can loooooove critters too much sometimes!

[Zephyr]

If I were so preoccupied with garters I'd probably get off my bum and catch me one. :P

[anji1971]

We usually end up with a pet mantid somewhere along the line. Every summer, my daughter brings me one home. At their Dad's house, there seems to be a fair population!:)

[drache]

I've never kept one and I hear they need a steady supply of food
I'll have to read up on it
apparently they're not uncommon around here
maybe next year . . .

[enigma200316]

Went to the Zoo!! heres a couple pics............

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Picture_398.jpg
West African Dwarf Crocodile

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Picture_396.jpg
one of the parents to the cub
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Picture_394.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Picture_404.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Picture_420.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Picture_417.jpg
Snake-neck turtle!!!

[Lori P]

Rhea, I love the pic of the little orange beetle!!! He's adorable.

And Justin, great pics!!! Love the baby tiger playing with the stuffed toy!

[anji1971]

Nice pics, Justin!:)

And Rhea,
Yes, mantids will eat like there's no tomorrow!! But it's so much fun to watch them catch it!

[ssssnakeluvr]

here's a resident of my critter room, a house spider and her egg sacs....

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ssssnakeluvr/housespider.jpg

and an odd visitor to the room today....not sure exactly what kind of insect this is.....

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ssssnakeluvr/bug.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ssssnakeluvr/bug2.jpg

[drache]

that is some weird looking insect

[crzy_kevo]

whoa ugly little thing

[Garter_Gertie]

Isn't that some type of wasp?

[ssssnakeluvr]

well, from all my entomolgy experience thats what I think....but I have never seen one of these before...

[Zephyr]

Possibly cicada killer wasp.

[Garter_Gertie]

Mud daubber? Ground wasp?

Hideous thing. Kill the MF. (shudder)

[ssssnakeluvr]

Possibly cicada killer wasp.
not big enough...this was about an inch long...and I haven't seen cicadas here.....

[Zephyr]

Huh.
Dunno then.
Probably not a member of Vespidae.

[count dewclaw]

Perhaps it is a wasp-mimic moth...the tuft at the end of the abdomen and the antenae don't look right for a wasp. My insect guide does not have a picture of that particular one though...

[Zephyr]

Perhaps it is a wasp-mimic moth...the tuft at the end of the abdomen and the antenae don't look right for a wasp. My insect guide does not have a picture of that particular one though...
Good point. And the legs don't look like Hymenoptera to me.

[ssssnakeluvr]

wasp mimic moth eh?? haven't heard of that one....my entomology skills aren't as great as my herp skills.....:rolleyes: most of my ento studies were with ants....had numerous ant farms!!

[count dewclaw]

My kids did 4H entomology projects (with my help) so I have seen some interesting insects, but there are so many insects that I am by NO means an expert. It just reminds me of some of the clear-wing moths we have around here.

[Zephyr]

Heh, not to brag but I'm the state's 2 year in a row Entomology winner at Science Olympiad. :P

[count dewclaw]

Take a look at this:
http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/philjs/stengl/LPNN/pdf/LPNN34.pdf

[Zephyr]

OMG... So that huge "wasp" last weekend... May have been a moth. x.x
Oh well, not taking any chances. We have to many flying stingy and biting things around here anyways.

[ssssnakeluvr]

I won the entomology part of he county fair where I grew up, and also won best miscellaneous proect!!!! I did some searching, kinda looks like a hornet clearwing moth.....Paranthrene simulens

[anji1971]

Look what I found in my garden today!!:D
One of the egg-sacs I put under my Alberta spruce must have hatched. I think they're a little late getting started, but hopefully I'll have a few survive and grow up in my backyard.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July11-2008_024.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July11-2008_027.jpg
These guys are so darned tiny!!
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July11-2008_025.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July11-2008_029.jpg

[Snake lover 3-25]

awwwww you should keep some!!!!!:D:D:D

[Garter_Gertie]

Are your maple leaves turning RED already????????

[drache]

how cute
hopefully they'll make it

[Lori P]

Ooooh how tiny and sweet!! Great pics Anji. :-)

[anji1971]

Are your maple leaves turning RED already????????

No, that's not a maple. It's a plant (Heuchera -- Coral Bells, red variety)!
By the time I found the little guys, they were starting to migrate off the Alberta spruce and into the rest of the garden. I'm hoping they find their way all over the yard.

[boeh]

Very nice idea Anji. Would love to have some of those guys in my backyard. Thanks for the pictures, just cute monsters :rolleyes:

[Garter_Gertie]

No, that's not a maple. It's a plant (Heuchera -- Coral Bells, red variety)!
By the time I found the little guys, they were starting to migrate off the Alberta spruce and into the rest of the garden. I'm hoping they find their way all over the yard.

(wiping sweat off brow) Thank gods! Man I was gonna get really upset as we just got summer like three weeks ago. WHEW!

[anji1971]

Well, I do have a maple that stays red all year..............but it's supposed to look that way!;)

[crzy_kevo]

nice find anji you should keep some

[anji1971]

I'll keep one after they grow up a bit. I really don't think I have the inclination to find hordes of itsy- bitsy bugs to keep one fed right now! I'll wait till they can eat crickets.

[Zephyr]

I'll keep one after they grow up a bit. I really don't think I have the inclination to find hordes of itsy- bitsy bugs to keep one fed right now! I'll wait till they can eat crickets.My sentiments exactly.

[infernalis]

I was trying to take a nature photo, and this silly human got in the way!

http://www.rockyroostmx.com/files/frickin_crazy.JPG

[jitami]

Looks like fun Wayne! Anji your little mantids are too cute! Don't blame you for waiting a bit to keep one, though. I had great luck feeding tons of aphids, but you probably don't have aphids on your roses to begin with :)

[anji1971]

About a month ago, I had a bazillion aphids on my Rose of Sharon bush. But some ladybugs promptly moved in and took care of those for me.;)

[drache]

here's someone strategically situated above the trash cans




http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/2661808177_bf517d4bc6_b.jpg

whenever I got closer than this, I got a demonstration of a skillful high speed traverse of the net into a great hiding spot - I'd no idea they could go that fast

[anji1971]

That's a neat looking spider, Rhea! He's quite colourful.:)

[ssssnakeluvr]

nice photo!!!! looks like an argiope...not sure the exact species!!! neat spiders!! yes, they are quick!!!!!

[Lori P]

Very pretty spider, Rhea. Love the colors.

Wayne, I like your gravity-challenged human, too. :-)

[Garter_Gertie]

Rhea, plain spider webs - sans spider - I like much better. :D (shudder)

[Stefan-A]

The weekend started out slow..
http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-01.jpg


http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-02.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-03.jpg

Until I found this thing:
http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-nice-01.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-nice-02.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Then on our way home I saw this little yearling adder and I was reminded of how badly I need a proper camera.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-adder-01.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-adder-02.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-adder-03.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-adder-04.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-adder-05.jpg

[adamanteus]

It seems you're a lot better at Adder spotting than I am, Stefan!
I like the Harvestman picture.

[Stefan-A]

I spotted the adder by pure luck, but I really can't believe how easily I spotted it, when all I saw of it the first time, is right there in the first picture. I returned to the spot three times after I always managed to scare it away by shoving a camera in its face, but at least I got a few photos of it.

[infernalis]

Adder spotting .

Anoyone else spot the irony???

Those Pinus conieus are scary Stefan, is that an invasive species???:eek:

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-nice-02.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Anoyone else spot the irony???

Those Pinus conieus are scary Stefan, is that an invasive species???:eek:
No, they're actually endemic. ;)

My sister's kids were making animals out of cones and they asked me to make one, too. They weren't too impressed by my first, a cone snake. :D

[Lori P]

Stefan, the adder face shot is great. He looks so angry!!

ROFL at the pinus conieus... intimidating looking creature...

OMG, a CONE SNAKE.... I'm rolling....

[Stefan-A]

I'm not 100% on the sexual dimorphism among juvenile adders, but if it were older, I'd be pretty sure he's a she. :)

[reptileparadise]

A lot of great pictures again!
Love the adder pics Stefan!!!!

Not sure on this one...Didn't touch it just in case...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Exotic%20green%20rally%202008/DSC_0146Small.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/vuurbuikpad/Exotic%20green%20rally%202008/DSC_0149Small.jpg

[Garter_Gertie]

Stefan, is that - that adder - a venomous snake? It sure is scarey looking.

[crzy_kevo]

oh ya adders are bad news gotta be careful eh

[drache]

yep
adders are venomous

[Garter_Gertie]

Ish. Yuck. (shudder)

[Stefan-A]

oh ya adders are bad news gotta be careful eh
Oh ya, eh? :D

[ssssnakeluvr]

I went looking for them while in Germany....couldn't find them.... :(

[drache]

I went looking for them while in Germany....couldn't find them.... :(they're a bit reclusive

[Stefan-A]

Fairly well camouflaged, alert and prone to flee. And they're surprisingly fast. I think they're also pretty active foragers, unlike many other viperids.

It's also the most widespread species of snake in the world with a range from Britain to Sakhalin Island just north of Hokkaido. And it's also the northernmost species of snake. And it only had 3 subspecies last time I checked. :)

[jitami]

Very nice Stefan!

[drache]

sheesh - I must have a miniscule attention span these days
I also meant to say
great shots, Stefan
and what a nice find

[Zephyr]

That adder doesn't look like a very happy camper. lol
Nice pics Stef. :)

[Stefan-A]

Thanks, all of you. :)

[Stefan-A]

Might as well post this one here. :D

YouTube - Not a snake (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2x46IYXBPQ)

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-13/2008-07-13-adder-04.jpg

I really think you should crop this one; it's a great picture!

Steve

[Stefan-A]

It already is, it's the same picture as the one above it in my post.

[reptileparadise]

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/Natuur/DSC_0075Small.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/Natuur/DSC_0078Small.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/Natuur/DSC_0082Small.jpg

[reptileparadise]

I came across this today...
Ladybug hybridization, intergrading or sexual dimorphism?
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/Natuur/DSC_0098Small.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/Natuur/DSC_0099Small.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s285/reptile-paradise/Natuur/DSC_0100Small.jpg

[Snake lover 3-25]

wow that's strange...... :confused: great pics!!!!

[Stefan-A]

Very nice photos. :)

[anji1971]

Wow, those are very unique looking ladybugs. The ones over here don't have markings that dramatic!

[Garter_Gertie]

The one on top looks like one of those Asian 'ladybugs.'

I love the toad! He's so CUTESEY! The first picture he looks so sad and lonely; second pic he looks mad. He's a very nice looking gentleman.

[Snaky]

Nice pictures, Sjoerd!

Some pictures of this weekend.
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0547_klein.jpg
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0546_klein.jpg
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0548_klein.jpg
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0531_klein.jpg
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0528_klein.jpg
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0511_klein.jpg

[Snaky]

http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0530_klein.jpg
http://gallery.dierenparadijs.be/data/500/medium/DSC_0529_klein.jpg

[Garter_Gertie]

I LOVE the thistles! One of my favorite flowers. I can't see a thistle without thinking of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Scotland. GREAT picture, thanks!

And while they may/may not be the Scottish kind, so what? I like the pic, I like the thoughs/memory, and it's all good enough for me.

[Snake lover 3-25]

very pretty!!!!:D

[Stefan-A]

It's been another very slow weekend.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-20/2008-07-20-01.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-20/2008-07-20-02.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-20/2008-07-20-04.jpg
Hunter.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/nature/2008-07-20/2008-07-20-03.jpg
Hunted.

[reptileparadise]

Wow, that spiderlike thing (lice?) is cool!

[count dewclaw]

Some new pictures...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/milkweed_beetles.JPG

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

[anji1971]

Oooh, that dragonfly is very cool! I've seen some like that around my pool a couple times, but they've been much too fast for me to catch on camera. Good shot!

[adamanteus]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//535/medium/2008_0724grassie0006.jpg

Natrix natrix helvetica.

[reptileparadise]

Very nice!
Did she have a meal or is she gravid?

[Garter_Gertie]

oOOHHH. That is a very pretty snake. Neat that it doesn't have markings on its back.

[adamanteus]

Very nice!
Did she have a meal or is she gravid?

It's a big meal in there, Sjoerd... maybe a frog (I thought I could see it's knees sticking out)!:D

[Stefan-A]

It's a very nice find, James. :)

[adamanteus]

It's a very nice find, James. :)

She was a big girl too.... I must confess I was a little tempted, but I resisted!:D

[anji1971]

I probably wouldn't have been able to resist!:D

[Sid]

Congratulation on a great find, James. Beautiful specimen.

[anji1971]

I was out in the garden again!
My baby mantids are growing.........
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July24-2008_020.jpg

This guy is working his way through my butterfly weed. It's a monarch caterpillar.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July24-2008_014.jpg

I ordered these lilies this spring, and they're just starting to bloom. I'm very pleased with the result.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July24-2008_018.jpg

And I also found a couple of "water monsters" in my pool!;)
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/July24-2008_022.jpg

[Lori P]

Ok, I'm honestly not a morbid person... I swear!! But the other side to the beauty of nature is death, right? And this week all of these things presented themselves...

First, a black widow and.... her ex-mate???!!!!
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Black_widow_and_mate_002_resize.jpg

Then, a magnificent hawk that Jamie saw get hit by the car in front of him as it swooped for something on the road... he picked it up hoping to save it but it died as he reached it. I just thought, even in death, it was so noble and beautiful...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/hawk_002_resize.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/hawk_005_resize.jpg

Look at those claws!!!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/hawk_004_claws.jpg

And this morning I woke to a whole new group of baby ducks, but then found this... wonder why he died before he made it out?? Can you see the little beak?

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/dead_egg_001_resize.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/dead_egg_002_resize.jpg

Ok! No more death pics, I swear! Someone post more flowers, quick!!!!

[adamanteus]

First, a black widow and.... her ex-mate???!!!!
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Black_widow_and_mate_002_resize.jpg



That's not her deceased mate, Lori, that just her exuvium (sloughed skin).

[Stefan-A]

Shouldn't a male be much smaller than that anyway?