Buckeye Herps Blog

A photographic journal of the reptiles and amphibians of Ohio, Michigan and other places interesting wildlife call home.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Basking Blandings

I am always excited to see Blandings turtles. The have been one of the most commonly seen animals this spring, and it seems like every day I am out I see 10+ in the various wetlands I visit. They seem to be holding on in Michigan despite the relentless onslaught of habitat destruction and raccoon predation that await them everyday. Usually I have to drive 30+ minutes to get out of the urban jungle, but I was fortunate enough to find a little park about 15 minutes from our home that seems to have a small population of blandings. Honestly, it looks like there should tons, but I have been happy to see a single blandings on each visit to the area.


See the turtle? The binocs my father got me have greatly improved my turtle spotting ability.




BH

6 comments:

  1. Nice! I love to see the Blandings at Magee Marsh- and I missed theme this year. I was good to see yours!

    ReplyDelete
  2. New to herps, and that is one wild looking turtle.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cheryl - I have looked for them there without success. What a wonderful place though!

    Ted - Welcome. I have't always been so fond of turtles, but MI has some real humdingers. Missouri actually has Blanding's, although I can't say what their current status is. The river diversity is truly amazing though, and I would love to one day snorkel with an alligator snapper.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You get great pictures of turtles. How far away are you generally, and what kind of lens do you use?

    ReplyDelete
  5. 30ish yards. I have a cheapo 55-200mm lens and usually do some cropping as well.

    BH

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful! It's nice to know you! from Japan
    I love American turtles so much.

    ReplyDelete