Every year Hubby finds a box turtle in the yard as he did this past week. He always brings it to me and the turtle and I have a photo session on top of the hot tube cover.
I sit and wait patiently for the turtle to begin coming out of his shell.
Mr. Turtle (male as evidenced by his bright red eye) is content to pose for a few close ups before I return him to the yard in the place where we found him. Eastern box turtles do not travel far, usually living within an area less than 200m in diameter. In cold climates they hibernate through the winter in loose soil at a depth of up to two feet. We might just see him again this summer.
Oh, if you think they are slow let me dispel that rumor. I put him back and was racking around a nearby tree. In less than five minutes he was gone without a trace!
Linking to
Rurality Blog Hop.
so darn cute! and pretty, too!
ReplyDeletelove those eyes. nice shots. ( :
ReplyDeletedid you name him?
Great shots - neat red eye (not to be confused with those horrible all night ones - lol!).
ReplyDeleteYour patience paid off! What a cutie!
ReplyDeleteLovely! I adore turtles.
ReplyDeleteHe's cute - and has quite the red eyes. I had a pet turtle as a kid, which in retrospect seems kind of mean - but I really did love that turtle.
ReplyDeleteI'm always curious about turtles as we don't have any here. We also have very few snakes as in garter snakes.
ReplyDeleteHe was playing Peek-a-boo with you. Love those red eyes.... Such a cutie...
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
He's a charmer, for sure! I had no idea that only males had the red eyes. I always learn something new on your great blog, Carletta! I love his wrinkly neck and overbite. xoxo
ReplyDeleteGreat photos...I am always amazed at how fast they can travel.
ReplyDeleteOh he's a pretty boy! I did not know you could tell the sex by the eye color. Good for him that he's able to move fast. Predators will have a challenge with this one.
ReplyDeleteA fine close up of him in different poses. It's a fun photo opportunity since he's returned to his place in like at the end of the session.
ReplyDeleteHe's a handsome fellow and rewarded your patience by posing beautifully.
ReplyDeleteOh what a cutie!
ReplyDeleteHa! They do move fast when they want to, don't they?
ReplyDeleteLove the big red eye. Oh to be able to hide in a shell and escape the world when it all gets too much.
ReplyDeleteI've seen them take off - I didn't know they could move like that. I hate it when I see them on the road. I usually stop and move them to whichever side they are aiming for.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. He has really pretty eyes/eye.
ReplyDeleteIt sure was nice of him to stick around so you could take his picture. Did not know that the red eye indicated a male. Good to know!!
ReplyDeleteLove this...his eyes show a bit of trust and fear combined, does that make any sense?
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! He's a beauty. .
ReplyDeleteHow nice of him to pose for you. He is one very handsome fellow.
ReplyDeleteHow Cool, it came out for a photography session with you. :)
ReplyDeleteCarletta, glad he paid you a visit, cute shots of the turtle.
ReplyDeleteAwesome shots! It was nice of him to pose for you.
ReplyDeleteLove the colors! Great photos
ReplyDeleteGreat subject! One of my greatest childhood memories is of my yearly box turtle pet. I was allowed to keep it in a pen for a week or so and then I had to let it go. I sure hope I didn't harm them too badly keeping them in captivity!
ReplyDeletelove this series of shots, such a unique subject.
ReplyDeleteNice shots!! Love the Eatern Box Turtles. YOu drive looks similar to ours. We are on a mountain in upstate SOuth Carolina. I've see a few box turtles this year too.
ReplyDeleteMichael
A Few Pictures of Eastern Box Turtles