From My Perch

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Reptiles - Turtles

For years, I have been taking pictures of turtles that come up out of the lake onto the lawn and garden to lay their eggs. I have not done anything with the identification of these images. Most of these images were clicks in passing, where I did not put much effort in getting a good image of the turtle.

But now I have this field guide from the library with Frogs, Turtles, Lizards, Snakes, etc. It really is quite good. The pictures do not show all the species or sub-species but the text is excellent. I will have to try to find a copy to add to my own reference library.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians

I also found this website that helps you with identifying your turtle with key criteria and pictures.
Turtle Identification

All of my good images are from Michigan but we see turtles everywhere we travel. I will have to pay more attention to them now.

Photo taken at Murray Lake, MI on 6/16/2002

Blanding's Turtle - Emydoidea blandingi

Spiny Softshell Turtle - Trionyx spiniferus

Common Map Turtle - Graptemys geographica

Painted Turtle - Chrysemys picta

The references and gear I used for this blog are:
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Camera: Canon EOS 10D
Lens: Canon EF28-105mm F/3.5-4.5 II USM
Steiner 10x42 Predator Binoculars

All images © MSCI

Monday, August 29, 2011

Reptiles - Lizards

I took my first lizard photo in 2005 in New Mexico and then a couple more in 2008. However, this year in Texas, it was hot and I saw many lizards. The lizard that started me on the hunt was the Texas Horned Lizard. My husband saw it in the middle of the park road in Seminole Canyon SP and came to get me - with my camera. This lizard and some of the others stayed perfectly still while I took their picture. Others are gone in a flash. I know several of them did not get their picture taken.

When I reviewed my photos at home, I knew I had to get some reference guides. I searched the library databases and put out hold requests for all the guides I could find. They came from all over Michigan. One book from CMU was placed in the library in 2002 and I am the first person to check it out of the library. However, the guides were not comprehensive enough, so I found 2 websites where people were willing to help me with the ID.

These were the books and websites that I found:
Lizards of the American Southwest
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians
Handbook of Lizards: Lizards of the United States and of Canada
Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas
Austin Reptile Service
Ribbit Photography and Wild Herps

Why lizards? Whatever is in my camera view finder, is a "clicking" moment. There are over 100 different species of lizards in North America, plus many sub-species. Texas has quite a number of lizards or their sub-species. Now I have captured 9 different species and sub-species in images.

See the clicks below.

Green Anole - Anolis carolinensis

Texas Horned Lizard - Phrynosoma cornutum

Greater Earless Lizard - Cophosaurus texanus

Texas Greater Earless Lizard (sub-species) - Cophosaurus texanus texanus

Texas Spiny Lizard - Sceloporus olivaceus

Texas Rose-bellied Lizard (sub-species) - Sceloporus variabilis marmoratus

Southwestern Fence Lizard - Sceloporus cowlesi

Big Bend Tree Lizard - Urosaurus ornatus schmidti

Common Spotted Whiptail - Aspidoscelis gularis

The references and gear I used for this blog are:

Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Camera: Canon EOS 10D
Lens: Canon EF28-105mm F/3.5-4.5 II USM
Steiner 10x42 Predator Binoculars

All images © MSCI

Monday, August 15, 2011

Butterflies - Royalty & Ladies

Royal butterflies? Well, we have a Monarch, a Queen and an Empress. There is an Emperor or two but I haven't seen him, yet. Next, we have very important rulers and commanders like the Admirals and the Viceroy. Lastly, we have the Ladies - American Lady, Painted Lady and West Coast Lady. So far, I have seen only one Lady. I thought I had a picture of the Painted Lady but alas I don't. The difference between the American Lady and Painted Lady is so small, that I had misidentified some of my pictures for awhile.

You can see that some them are closely related when they have the same first Latin or Scientific name.

All of these butterflies are in the Brush-footed family.