TomM's Nature Pictures

[TomM]

Hello everyone! I've been going through a bunch of my older pictures and decided that I should share some with you. I'll be posting images by geographic region. Enjoy!

MALIBU CREEK STATE PARK, CALIFORNIA (MARCH 2012)
The lay of the land

Didn't even get a chance to leave the parking lot before seeing a Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)

Western Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus)

My favorite find: A juvenile Southern Pacific Rattle Snake (Crotalus oreganus helleri), the first rattlesnake I've seen in the wild

---------- Post added 09-20-2012 at 12:36 PM ----------

CHARLESTON LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK, ONTARIO, CANADA (MAY 2012)
Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)

Eastern American Toad (Bufo americanus americanus)

A friendly Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

 

[PrettyHate]

Can I have the map turtle and the chipmunk, please?

 

[TomM]

I would say yes but they are back where they belong. But seriously, go to Charleston Lake. Nicest chipmunks you'll ever meet, but the red squirrels are little @$$#*(&s and try to chase them away.

 

[PrettyHate]

I would say yes but they are back where they belong. But seriously, go to Charleston Lake. Nicest chipmunks you'll ever meet, but the red squirrels are little @$$#*(&s and try to chase them away.

The red squirrels around here are total jerks as well...
I may very well have to make a trip to Lake Charleston when I am back in Ontario I could use some quality turtle/chipmunk time!

 

[arachnofab]

How were you able to get a chippie on you?

 

[TomM]

How were you able to get a chippie on you?

I was eating cereal on the porch of the cabin I stay in on fishing trips when I see this little guy stirring about. I got off the porch, sat down and put some cereal in front of me. Only took two seconds before the thing trusted me and hopped up on my lap begging for more. Plus, people who stay at that camp usually throw peanuts to the chipmunks so they aren't really skittish around people.

 

[TomM]

Obx

THE OUTER BANKS, NORTH CAROLINA (MAY 2011)

Caught this Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) on the path from our rental house to the beach

The boardwalk leading through the wetlands to the docks where my brother, my friends, and I went crabbing

The light house and the gull

Close up of the Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) in its mating plumage

Cancer the Crab :sarcasm: [The Ghost Crab (Ocypode quadrata)]

An Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) in flight

Right before it dove for a fish

This Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) kept trying to steal our Sun Chips

A family of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)

Sunset

A Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) came to investigate our haul of crabs [it was pretty dark by then and hard to get a good shot]

He came right up to us and sat down like a dog

The silhouette of people (Homo sapiens) hanging out in a tree after sundown near our crabbing spot

A long exposure of a full moon, hidden by the clouds, over the Atlantic

After the moon got over its shyness

 

[TomM]

POOL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, PENNSYLVANIA (AUGUST 2011)

Two male Northern Green Frogs (Rana clamitans melanota) in the frog ponds

Two male American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis tristis) enjoying a bath in the stream

This doe popped up in the bushes right next to the trail [Virginia Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus virginianus)]

This fawn was is the clearing a few yards away from the doe

A long exposure of the mini waterfall in one of the frog ponds

 

[Shrike]

Nice looking rattler! Thanks for sharing.

 

[stingray]

Looks like it was alot of fun. Thanks for posting the pics!

 

[Louise E. Rothstein]

What a glorious grackle!!!

 

[TomM]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to keep posting as long as I can keep finding all of the pictures. I should have a decent amount more to come.

 

[Terry D]

Tom, Some great shots!! Nothing beats time afield-especially when you're getting good shots like these to remember it by. Sadly, I've invested very little time and expense behind the shutter but I enjoy every minute when able to be out there. Thanks for sharing.

Terry

 

[RS4guy]

Great shots, nice spy's! Thanks for sharing man.

 

[TomM]

CHARLESTON LAKE, ONTARIO, CANADA (MAY 2008)

Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer) sitting low in the water

An Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), probably female, peeking out of her shell

A Northern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis) that crossed the path in front of me

My brother next to some trees worked on by beavers (Castor canadensis)

My brother and family friend next to a big beaver dam (it's about 50% since this picture has been taken 4 years ago)

 

[TomM]

I will be uploading more albums soon. (Possibly Maui, more Canada, Southeast U.S., and Michigan)