Monday, July 15, 2019,
This is a female Eastern Box Turtle that I found at West Meadow Beach in Setauket. The reason I know she’s female is that she was starting to dig a nest when I found her. There are other ways to discern the gender of a Box Turtle but nesting behavior is generally a dead giveaway. JK
JK
Friday, July 12, 2019,
JK
Thursday, July 11, 2019,
This is a female Diamondback Terrapin. She’s digging a hole in which she will probably lay her eggs. Sometimes a Terrapin will dig several test holes before deciding that she has found the right place or the proper consistency of sand. Think Goldilocks and porridge. JK
Wednesday, July 10, 2019,
In my previous post I mentioned that I was waiting for birds near the artesian well at West Meadow Beach. These two photographs are an example of why I visit the well. Several species of birds enjoy taking baths in the puddle that forms there. This Catbird is just one of many birds that come by for a freshwater bath. The water, by the way, is absolutely delicious. JK
JK
Tuesday, July 9, 2019,
This is a female Fiddler Crab of the species Uca pugilator, otherwise known as the Sand Fiddler Crab. These little critters can be seen by the hundreds, even the thousands, in salt water marshes or tidal flats. Whole swarms of these guys will make their way across the mud as they move to and fro. I’ve seen so many on occasion that the very ground seems to be moving.
This little lady was traveling alone. I had been waiting for birds to visit the artesian well at West Meadow Beach when I spied her crawling near where I was seated. As you can see, she does not sport the extra large claw that her male counterparts carry. She does, however, have the same pretty coloration that males wear.
After allowing me to get these photos, she made her way into a grassy area and disappeared. She may have been seeking shade or maybe even some relief from the paparazzi. Hey, I’m a guy with a camera. If I see a pretty lady, I’m gonna take her picture. JK