Nature Photography (Formally Spring is in the Air)

[deanm]

I severely misinterpreted this when I first read it.

That's my Canadian sense of humour.

As a fellow Canadian, I was howling.  My wife came by to see what I was laughing at. 😀

[Takama]

Been out Walking to Shops looking for a Birthday Present for an Elderly Woman whos been a great help to me, and i found this Big Fellow by a Gas Station. Sorry about the Quality, it was taken with my Cell Phone at Night

[Halichoeres]

Those toad shots aren't bad at all!

[Doug Watson]

Been out Walking to Shops looking for a Birthday Present for an Elderly Woman whos been a great help to me, and i found this Big Fellow by a Gas Station. Sorry about the Quality, it was taken with my Cell Phone at Night

Those are some nice crapaud shots Takama. That's French for toad, no kidding pronounced crapo. You have good luck with toads I can't remember if I saw one all last year. We used to have a migration of them in my back yard every year but hasn't happened for a couple. Always loved toads and kept one as a pet when I was young.

I colour corrected your shot a bit here.

[Tyto_Theropod]

Aww no! The green light was a really nice touch!

Heh it;s okay really, I appreciate the colour correction so we can see what the toad really looks like, Doug. And I agree. Toads are kind of cute in a toadish sort of way. I like how they're drier to touch than frogs (which are all slimy).

In the area of Scotland where I live there's only one species, the common toad or European toad (Bufo bufo). I don't see common toads that often, but I do occasionally find them in my parents' garden, so I know they're around there. When we dug a pond when I was about seven (through my persistent request because I wanted to encourage amphibians!), they used to spawn there. I even learnt to know the difference between 'tadpoles' (of frogs) and 'toadpoles'! They stopped after a couple years though, so maybe the frogs out-competed them.

The most recent time I found a toad at my parents' was when I'd come to help them clean out a cupboard they have near the front door and we found hiding behind an old pair of Wellington boots! I let it loose in the garden and took the opportunity to take a few pictures. I hope it found somewhere else to hide.




We also get another species, the natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita), but that is endangered in the UK and a very rare find.

[Takama]

Toads love to come out at nights around my town. Every Day im out doing errands i always find more then one along the sidewalks. Some were bigger then others, And the one in my photo was the biggest i seen so far this year.    Some times I catch one and take it home to my backyard.

[Gwangi]

Great toad pictures everyone! I too love the green light in your photos Takama. And it's nice to see a European toad Tyto, they're so similar to our own American toads.

Seems like an appropriate time to post my toad pictures from early May while they were having their annual breeding orgy in a local pond.

[Doug Watson]

Hey! I wasn't crapoing on Takama's green tint, he is the one that mentioned "Sorry about the Quality" so I thought I would touch it up if he wanted a less green version to keep.

[Halichoeres]

crapoing

I see what you did there.

[Doug Watson]

crapoing

I see what you did there.

Thanks

[Doug Watson]

And I agree. Toads are kind of cute in a toadish sort of way. I like how they're drier to touch than frogs (which are all slimy).

Its funny because we don't have lizards in my area, only reptiles are snakes and turtles, when was a kid I saw toads as a stand in for lizards because of their dry skin. Do UK toads have the same defence mechanism as NA toads? I learned early on to hold them away from me at first because the big ones at least love to shower you with urine when you pick them up.

[tyrantqueen]

Its funny because we don't have lizards in my area, only reptiles are snakes and turtles, when was a kid I saw toads as a stand in for lizards because of their dry skin. Do UK toads have the same defence mechanism as NA toads? I learned early on to hold them away from me at first because the big ones at least love to shower you with urine when you pick them up.

I don't know about urine but our native toad species (the common toad and natterjack) have bufotoxin.

[Doug Watson]

Our toad, the American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) also has bufotoxin but unless you want to chow down on one you aren't going to get the toxin on you with gentle handling and it is mild compared to a Cane Toad. One of my dogs grabbed a toad once and spit it out just about as fast. He frothed at the mouth for maybe 10 minutes or so but went on to live a long life. If he had swallowed it that would have meant a trip to the vet. This is the same toad Takama is finding. Even if you got some of the toxin on you it might cause some mild skin irritation. I have picked up countless numbers of toads with no ill effect.

[Tyto_Theropod]

I apologise, Doug, I did try to make it clear that I was laughing! Of the handful of toads I have picked up, none have ever prayed me with anything, but I do try to be gentle with them (common sense with any animal).

Also, nice shots, Gwangi - looks like what I assumed from the noises off went on on the floor above me at in last semester's hall of residence, just minus the alcohol!  I love it when you can capture an event in wildlife photography. It's like people will always advise you: take a shot that tells a story.

[Doug Watson]

I apologise, Doug, I did try to make it clear that I was laughing!

I did get that your comment was tongue in cheek but since two people commented I thought I may have crossed a forum line by touching someone else's photo, like "never rub another man's rhubarb". Takama didn't comment either way so I don't know how he feels about it but I certainly apologize to him if I crossed a line. So even though my intentions were to help I have learned my lesson I won't touch someone else's photo or rhubarb for that matter.

[Takama]

I apologise, Doug, I did try to make it clear that I was laughing!

I did get that your comment was tongue in cheek but since two people commented I thought I may have crossed a forum line by touching someone else's photo, like "never rub another man's rhubarb". Takama didn't comment either way so I don't know how he feels about it but I certainly apologize to him if I crossed a line. So even though my intentions were to help I have learned my lesson I won't touch someone else's photo or rhubarb for that matter.

I dont mind you tampering with my photos.     Im glad people like the green photos as well.  My phone automatically set itself to green light when i used its camera on that toad.   I Was not sure how the qulity would be, so i apologized in advance.

[Doug Watson]

I dont mind you tampering with my photos.

I am glad you were not offended since I didn't do it with evil intent. In my original post I did say they were nice photos. Anyway, won't happen again.

[Doug Watson]

Great toad pictures everyone! I too love the green light in your photos Takama. And it's nice to see a European toad Tyto, they're so similar to our own American toads.
Seems like an appropriate time to post my toad pictures from early May while they were having their annual breeding orgy in a local pond.

Great shots but this post should have an R rating. My favourite is the one above with the toad calling, you must have been chest deep to get that shot. I was tempted to tint it green but the good angel on my shoulder won out.

[Doug Watson]

I have been on the sidelines with a sinus infection so these are from my last kayaking at Murphy's point on June 6 after we got back from Florida.

One of many Turkey Vultures that soar over the lake. Even though they occur down south when we were in Florida all we saw were the smaller Black Vultures.



Iris.



Rosa rugosa and a bug.



When I came up on this stump I saw a Common Grackle fly away. Sure enough it had a nest inside with four eggs. I have never seen them nest over water like this.



The eggs in the nest.



One of many Dolomedes spiders.



Leopard Frog



First trip of the year with no Rat Snakes but I did spot this pretty Water Snake. I was about to grab it when I noticed it had just eaten so decided not to stress it out and risk it regurgitating.



Close up.



This shot tells a sad story, something dug into a turtle nest on this steep bank. There were lots of discarded empty shells But some of the eggs rolled down and into the water to drown. Not sure what species but most likely Map Turtle. With turtle eggs even changing the orientation in the nest can kill them but emersion in water will definitely do it.



A happier story, this Map turtle hatchling has survived for now.



Painted & Map turtles on a Water Lily root.



Painted and Map turtles covered in yellow pollen that has fallen into the lake, probably why I have my sinus infection.



This shows how resilient these buggers can be. Somewhere along the line this Painted Turtle suffered a nasty blow to the top of it's carapace and it has somehow survived. If you have ever seen inside a turtle shell their vertebrae are fused to the inside of the carapace, this must have hurt like heck



This big Snapping Turtle was just climbing onshore when we came along. Head is in the lower left hand side.



Close up, gaze if you dare into the eye of the beast!

[Tyto_Theropod]

Nice shots Doug! The turtle looks pretty chill for someone who's had such a nasty bump, but my favourite of these shots is the leopard frog. You're lucky to live somewhere so diverse.

Now I come to think of it, I would be pretty cross if someone edited one of my pictures without my giving permission first (why I stick watermarks on them nowadays unless it's stock), but I know your intentions were good. I will, however, make sure that my rhubarb is safe at all times!