Turtle Time!

This is the time of year for turtles to lay their eggs.  It's usually about a three-week period that they wander up from the swamps, ponds and lakes to higher ground, seeking the perfect spot.  For decades now, our backyard happens to be the perfect spot for two different turtles that simultaneously lay.  One was a little shy and remained inside her shell while I was there, the other poked her long neck out of her shell and didn't seem to mind my presence while she busily dug the nest.

Finding this small snapping turtle while on my lunch break the other day, prompted a quick photo shoot!

In order to shoot at the angles and perspective that I prefer when photographing reptiles and amphibiams, I put my belly on the ground (just like theirs!)  It's one thing doing it in my backyard, and another when the turtles are in the road like the one above and the ones below of another turtle I saw that same day.  I don't like to move them from the exact spot I find them, so as I lay in the middle of the road, I also have to be keenly aware of the sound of approaching cars to keep myself safe.  The following photos show what a close call it can become for me! 

Unfortunately, the turtle wasn't so lucky.  As I was shooting it, I suddenly heard the roar of a bus speeding down the road, and I knew I only had SECONDS to get myself up and off the road--without even a split-second to spare to grab the turtle.  If I had, the next image would have been a lot messier!

Stunned by the bus whizzing past, stunned by the crunch under the wheels, stunned by my own close call, I was also stunned by the colors spewed on the ground before me, and realized that sometimes--just sometimes--there's beauty even in death.   Of course I photographed it, said a quick prayer, and solemnly walked away.

Posting these turtle images reminded me of some old favorites from last year that seems fitting to re-post.

This snapping turtle, wet and muddy, had just crawled out of the pond where we live to cross to the other side.  The setting sun hung low in the sky, casting a bronze glow on the massive creature.  I was stunned by the long claws, the "piggish" face, and the trademark jagged edge of it's shell--matching the pattern of it's firmly-shut mouth.

And this favorite of mine:

Things That Bug Me

I spotted this butterfly on the playground at work this morning.

That put the bug in my ear, which sent me buzzing around my yard this afternoon looking for bees and other insects.

This made me want more, so I dug through some of my old files to gather other insect images to share.
Here are a few of my favorites:

    

                                            (Doesn't this look like King Tut or something?)

Portraits of a Great Blue Heron 5/1/12

Me and this Great Blue Heron had the same idea this afternoon.  It was standing on the very dock I anticipated standing upon myself today; it beat me to it!

Uninterested in sharing this space with me, with a few flaps of it's wings, the heron found a new spot at the water's edge a few feet away.  I liked the idea, and settled in for an impromptu photo shoot.  I followed the bird as it moved around the lake.  With the background scenery and natural light constantly changing, it created a pleasing array of images during the hour I spent with this Great Blue.  I will post the photos in chronological order so there's a flow, even though my three favorite shots are all the way at the end!

At the time I took this, I didn't even see the turtle sitting on the log!  I'm glad; I would have been sidetracked!