The Nature Photography Thread

[adamanteus]

You want me to send you some? We obviously have plenty here!

[ConcinusMan]

That's OK, I think we have plenty too. I just never saw that many at one time.

[ConcinusMan]

Now this is interesting. I found a weed growing my yard that is variegated.

I had read somewhere that the way they make variegated spider plants is that they purposely infect it with a harmless virus. About 6 years ago I had such a spider plant hanging from the eve of my house. All these years later, I find the weed growing right under the spot where I had the spider plant.

Apparently, the virus got into the soil and recently infected one of the weeds. Neato.

Normal weed:



Variegated:

[mustang]

look to the top left of the plant i spy a snake shed....opse i ment wasp nest lol

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, I thought someone might comment on that. Friggen paper wasps. Mean suckers. They'll attack and sting you just for being in the area. Thank God the winter here kills them and that's about as big as the nests get. When I lived in Bakersfield, CA, they were active nearly year 'round the the nests could get the size of a basketball. Yikes. One or two mad wasps is one thing, but in Bakersfield, CA one nest could have 30 or 40 pissed off wasps. And OMG that sting hurts. Used to get nailed by them while picking oranges from a tree in my back yard. Makes a honey bee sting feel like a real pleasure. In fact, I had two bee hives in my yard too. They were downright tame and almost never stung me but those darn paper wasps.. I hate them!

[redspot]

A few critters I've seen lately.

South of me, I love this place. There are always snakes to be found. I flipped a tin yesterday to find 2 Racers, 2 Gophers, 3 Oregon red spotted and 2 ringnecks. Probably the best flip I've had, of course they all bolted before I could get my camera out....

A big ugly gopher snake, yeah he was in shed but even nice ones from this area are pretty ugly IMO.



It's the opposite of the ugly duckling.



Alison was busy getting attacked by snakes



First Rubber Boa I've found in the area



We were riding back to the car and I almost DOR'd this guys



I did get one pick of a Oregon red spotted that was pretty nice looking

[redspot]

Some habitat





Went and checked out a spot for really big Salamanders and was not disappointed. These are huge Neotonic Pacific Giant Salamanders. Neotonic is basically larva that reaches adult size and is able to produce in larval form, to put it simply...

This guys was easily a foot long




Habitat



A ton of Washington Western pond turtles were out basking at a protected pond, these were photo'd from a good distance. Like it would matter, you can't get close to them anyway.



This is the first instance I've seen Coluber constrictor mormon playing dead.



Thanks for looking,
Nate

[adamanteus]

Excellent pics, Nate.

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice photos. Looks like a good time was had by all.

[guidofatherof5]

Of all the birds in our area this is my favorite. I've raised Robins for much of my life.
This young bird was sitting in the middle of a busy street.
I was fortunate to get it scooped up before it became a grease mark. No parents around so I took her with me. She's/he's eating cut-up night crawlers and fresh picked mulberries.
I figure a week on the Ranch should have this little one ready to go.