The Nature Photography Thread

[ConcinusMan]

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

[ConcinusMan]

I miss summer!

So...

I started browsing through some pictures taken last summer.

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



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

[ConcinusMan]

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

[gregmonsta]

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

Around 1987 -

Slow worms







Sand lizard (female)



Slow worm found on holiday in Northern France 2003 -

[guidofatherof5]

Hervorragend, Greg.

[gregmonsta]

Vielen Dank

[Croti]

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

[gregmonsta]

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

Very nice.

[guidofatherof5]

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

[Croti]

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

Robert