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Despite low water levels, there's plenty of wildlife available for photo ops

By JIM NIGRO

This small stream meanders though a woodland not far from our home. Here it reflects a bit of sky and the surrounding trees. In the background the stream surface is coated with duck weed.

Further upstream the surface of  the same creek is entirely covered with duck weed...

...much to the enjoyment of this female wood duck.

She is obviously at home in this alge-covered stretch of the stream.

This photo belies the leopard frog's size -- it was actually smaller than my thumb. They were quite plentiful and jumping all over the place. This little guy was willing to sit still for a few moments, allowing me to take his picture.

Another leopard frog, though considerably bigger, provides a demonstration in the art of camouflage.

This heron is in the process of swallowing a meal -- perhaps a fish, or maybe a relative of the leopard frogs.

A pair of Painted turtles soak up the sun.

All four of this turtle's limbs are flailing the air in a desperate bid to escape. As I approached to take its photo it attempted make a hasty exit but failed to get a toehold in order to propel itself into the water. It took some doing but It finally succeeded. Hopefully, next time it will select a larger sunning surface.

This group has the idea -- a large surface which provides easy escape in the event trouble should arise.

JIM NIGRO

Thanks, Rob.......its always good to get outside.....with the countryside beginning its annual late summer-early fall transition and the onset of warm days and cool nights, photo opportunities will be vast and varied.

Aug 28, 2012, 3:29pm Permalink
Mardell Lamb

You never disappoint with the great outdoor photos, Jim. :) This is a great time of year (Fall being my favorite.) Capturing wildlife pics is always wonderful. Thank you. The painted turtles are a fave of mine. There's a pond on Galloway Rd. that I nicknamed "Turtle Pond." My jaw dropped when I saw how many that were there. It was early in the a.m just as the sun was rising. They were sunning themselves around the perimeter. When they heard me they ALL jumped in the water!

I didn't even see the Leopard frog in that pic. Wow!

Aug 28, 2012, 8:00pm Permalink
JIM NIGRO

Thanks, Mardell - I thought you might especially enjoy the turtle pics.....its nice seeing them on the water and far from the middle of the road!

Aug 28, 2012, 8:56pm Permalink
JIM NIGRO

Mike, there was a time when I did likewise - spent a few summer evening's wielding a frog gig by lantern light......in my teen years I caught bullfrogs with a fishing rod, the enticer being a small red fly......on a side note, the other day my son-in-law took my grandsons to a local creek where they spent the afternoon catching crayfish. They caught quite a few and that evening they dined on Jambalaya ala Bartz!

Aug 29, 2012, 7:38am Permalink

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