[Leica] IMG: Pond turtles and what stalks them

[CartersXRd]

so many of my favorite creatures—look just like their eastern cousins


ric


> On Aug 28, 2018, at 8:17 PM, Adam Bridge via LUG <lug at leica-users.org> wrote:
> 
> August has turned mild here in the Central Valley and I’ve finally found wild creatures I can successfully stalk: pond turtles.
> 
> More specifically: the pond turtles that reside in “Putah Creek” at the UC Davis arboretum.
> 
> Here are are pair of western pond turtles at rest on a log. They are actually a bit skittish. After a few minutes of observation they’ll begin to resent the too-close observation and slide into the murky green water.
> 
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Home/Around-Davis/i-FSmW6RT/A>
> 
> The western pond tutles are the true natives to this area but other species appear (and are removed) frequently.
> 
> Here are a pair of red-eared sliders catching some sun:
> 
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Home/Around-Davis/i-5TsWkXS/A>
> 
> I have wondered what made these creatures so wary. About 50 yards away I found out why:
> 
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Home/Around-Davis/i-FbMsfTL/A>
> 
> A great blue heron, standing on a tree branch hanging over the water, proves to be an agile predator.
> 
> Channeling his inner dinosaur:
> 
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Home/Around-Davis/i-hrZWD2C/A>
> 
> This bird was absolutely fearless and paid me, a troupe of joggers, chatty moms with strollers no mind at all. Entirely focused on what might pass below him.
> 
> A week earlier I’d spied a green heron hunting along the same stretch.
> 
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Home/Around-Davis/i-Z38vjwH/A>
> 
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Home/Around-Davis/i-sGb75sK/A>
> 
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Home/Around-Davis/i-rP9Q7Hp/A>
> 
> Thanks for looking. Comments/corrections of species ID gratefully accepted. 
> 
> All of these are with the Fuji X-T2 and the excellent XF100-400MM F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens. The exception being the first image of the pond turtles which was shot with the Sony A7Riii and the (brand new) FE 100-400MM F4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens. I’m still working on that one because the contrast in the original shot was too great.
> 
> Adam Bridge
> 
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