Monday, May 24, 2010

Updates!!

Hello!

I was recently reminded (probed...jabbed...) that I hadn't updated in a while.  Fortunately, I finally got out this weekend to do some photography.  Kind of a long post, so stick with it!  First, Ontario's only lizard:

Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)















Moving on to the more avian reptiles, some Black-crowned Night-Herons with hilarious hairdos:

Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)















Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

























Like many patriotic Canadians, my Victoria Day was spent out looking for herps!  The perfect way to spend a holiday.  Salamanders were the primary target, and they did not disappoint.  It's been suggested that the Red-backed Salamander is Ontario's most common vertebrate, though I'll bet most Ontario residents have never seen one.  Too bad, as they are really pretty.

Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

























Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)















Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)















Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)















The next salamander I came upon is an odd one - a genetic complex of two species.  The Jefferson's and Blue-spotted Salamander hybridize (in the least straightforward way conceivable) and are essentially indistinguishable in the field.  This has resulted in the two often being referred to collectively as the Jefferson's Complex (great name for an 80's rock band...).

Jefferson's Complex (Ambystoma laterale x jeffersonianum)















When I found my second Ambystoma of the day he had a surprise in store for me.  Presumably alarmed at my presence, he lifted his tail in the air and began waving it back and forth.  I have never encountered this behaviour before, and am not entirely sure if/how it would deter a predator.

Jefferson's Complex (Ambystoma laterale x jeffersonianum)















When herping, I always manage to find some other interesting creatures.  So, here's a couple of bugs I ran into in between salamanders.

Crane Fly (Tipulidae)















Millipede (Diplopoda)















That's all for now, hopefully I get out taking more photos sometime soon!

Kyle

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Trilliums

Hello!

The near-wintry weather this weekend put a damper on my hoped-for herp-photo outing, but I was eager to get the camera out so I headed over to a nearby spot that I know is rich with Trilliums.  It seems to be just the right time of year for these showy flowers, so I thought it'd be fun to play around with them.  The strong wind today made framing shots frustrating and slow shutter speeds impossible as the flowers never stop moving!  Nonetheless I did end up with a few shots that I am somewhat satisfied with:

Trillium Blanket

























White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

























White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

























Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)















That's all for now!

Cheers!
Kyle

Sunday, May 2, 2010

I'm Still Here!

Hello!

It has been some time since my last update, but that's mostly because I have been busy moving to my new place in Guelph, Ontario!  I am excited to be back in Guelph, and looking forward to using this as my home base for the next while.

This weekend I was fortunate enough to run into some old friends and be invited to join in some herp surveying.  I took the camera along, as I've been dying to get out and get shooting.  This was the perfect opportunity.  One of the first herps we saw (and heard) was the American Toad.

American Toad (Anaxyrus [Bufo] americanus)















Spring is definitely coming in to full swing and it's not just the toads that know it.  Marsh Marigold was blooming in huge clusters everywhere.

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

























The definite highlight of the day came near the end, when we found a species I have never seen in the wild: the endangered Wood Turtle.

Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)















Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)















All-in-all an excellent day, and hopefully a sign of good things to come!

Cheers!
Kyle