Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

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ahockenberry
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Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by ahockenberry »

Hi folks
I have not posted for awhile so thought I would put up some images from the last couple of herping seasons.
I have been distracted by other nature photography - "bigger game" so I thought I would include a couple of those as well.

I will begin with a few of the non-herp species and then get on to the herps:

Black Bear (500 + pounds)
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Black Bear
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Black Bear
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Cow Moose
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Cow Moose
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Campsite with Canoe
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Habitat
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Habitat
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Beaver
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Coyote
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Whitetail Deer
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Red Fox kit
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Loon
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Heron
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Heron
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Ribbon Snake
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Ring-necked Snake
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Garter Snake
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Garter Snake
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Northern Watersnake
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Baby Milk
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Adult Milk
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Northern Water Snake
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Five-lined Skink
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Bullfrog
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Northern Leopard Frog
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Mink Frog
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Green Frog
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Gray Tree Frog
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Gray Tree Frog
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Gray Tree Frog
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American Toad
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American Toad
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Blue Spotted Salamander
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Red-backed Salamander
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Painted Turtle
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Painted Turtle Group
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Blanding's Turtle
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Common Snapper
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Spider Web
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Hoverfly
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Widow-skimmer Dragonfly
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Osprey
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Wild Turkey
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Racoon
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Rich in Reptiles
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by Rich in Reptiles »

Those black bears are just magnificent!
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chrish
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by chrish »

Spectacular photography top to bottom. Simply beautiful.
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Noah M
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by Noah M »

Great stuff. I'm partial to the mink frog. It seems people don't see them very often.
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jonathan
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by jonathan »

Beautiful. Great herp species numbers for Canada. For some reason I love the loon, the baby treefrog, the snapper, and the turkey the most. But yeah, that black bear is incredible. I've never seen one even 1/3 that size.
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ahockenberry
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by ahockenberry »

Thanks - yes, certain herp species in Ontario are locally abundant but otherwise quite difficult to find.
Herping in Ontario is a lot of work, generally speaking. So I try to be prepared to photograph whatever I find in the wild
so, even if I am skunked on a herp trip, I can manage to get some shots of some other wildlife.
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Jeff
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by Jeff »

a

That blue-spotted salamander looks VERY much like a Slimy Salamander (even spotting, nasolabial protrusions, round tail, etc.). I know they aren't supposed to be in Ontario, so did you take the photo elsewhere?

Jeff
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ahockenberry
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by ahockenberry »

Okay - you caught me !
Yes, actually that was the only one not photographed in Ontario. It was in West Virginia- good catch
I have photographed Slimy Salamanders before but they tend to be black and have a lots more spots, don't they?
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Jeff
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by Jeff »

a

They vary geographically and ontogenetically in spot size and density.

Jeff
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ahockenberry
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by ahockenberry »

Thanks Jeff
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billysbrown
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by billysbrown »

I loved that blue-spotted salamander - how do these sit in the blue spotted/Jefferson's spectrum? [edit - sorry, just saw the discussion re slimies and W. VA. I'd love to see the local blue spots]
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ahockenberry
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by ahockenberry »

Billy
Thanks - Slimy do not exist in Ontario to the best of my knowledge, however, the Blue Spotted and Jefferson do
though the Jefferson are a localized and threatened species:

I think this will answer your question...
http://www.cortland.edu/herp/keys/salamand/ajefflat.htm
NACairns
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by NACairns »

Great photography, thanks for sharing.
Brian Eagar
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by Brian Eagar »

Very nice photography! That second black bear shot is amazing! How close were you to it?
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ahockenberry
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by ahockenberry »

Thanks
The second bear - I was pretty close within 10 feet - BUT photographed from INSIDE a vehicle
The others were photographed from outside a vehicle but with a vehicle close by
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Chris Smith
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by Chris Smith »

Wow. Your photography is amazing!

Please consider reporting the herp finds to http://www.herpmapper.org. The project could use more support from the neighbors to the north.

Cheers,
Chris
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pjfishpa
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by pjfishpa »

Those bear pics are spectacular. And that Leopard frog pic is a stunner too. Hope to get up around Chapleau next spring to have a look around! Nice pics man!
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ahockenberry
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by ahockenberry »

Thanks Chris - I will check out the herp atlas

Thanks PJ - yes Chapleau is a great spot - especially for Musky and Smallmouth Bass fishing
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Keeper
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by Keeper »

Great photos and beautiful wildlife! Thanks for sharing :)
Kai
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FloridaSerpent
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Re: Ontario Herping & Nature Images 2013-14

Post by FloridaSerpent »

Wow didnt expect so many nice herps in Canada
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