Back from vacation - herp pics and other stuff!

**Pareeeee** · 07-20-13, 02:13 PM

So I was on vacation to Tobermory, Ontario, Canada this past week.

Here are some photos I took while there! I love that place, wish I could've stayed longer!

First pics: Cameron Lake - specifically the tributary between it and Cyprus Lake. Insanely beautiful place to kayak.

Dragonflies were life savers. They kept chasing all the horseflies and deerflies away.

This is where we saw:
Northern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis)
I had never seen one in my life until the other day! He was swimming alongside my kayak. When caught he went into what I called a "death roll". Extremely jumpy and nervous little snake.

**Pareeeee** · 07-20-13, 02:14 PM

Midland Painted Turtle (we saw several)

**Pareeeee** · 07-20-13, 02:14 PM

Bullfrogs that you could scoop up with your paddles. They were rather dumb and would just sit there as if nothing happened.

Flowerpot Island, Fathom Five National Marine Park

More incredibly clear, fresh water.

There we saw:
A Bald Eagle (sorry no photos! They turned out blurry)

A very upset Eastern Garter (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
He flattened his neck and struck several times. Blurry photos because of all the gazillions of mosquitos trying to bite me while taking the pic.

**Pareeeee** · 07-20-13, 02:15 PM

...and a Longhorn Beetle of some sort, I believe it was a White Spotted Sawyer:

Snorkeling at Little Cove. This place was beautiful. Spectacularly clear fresh water.

Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon)

Juvies:

**Pareeeee** · 07-20-13, 02:15 PM

Adults:

It was so beautiful. Wish the week wasn't over already!

**Pareeeee** · 07-20-13, 02:16 PM

Also had fun doing THIS

Snorkeling with Water Snakes - YouTube

And this is the Ribbonsnake video, you can see it doing the "death roll" thing which made it VERY difficult to hold onto.

Northern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis) - YouTube

Kimmie · 07-20-13, 02:23 PM

oh my so pretty

dbassa · 07-20-13, 03:35 PM

Wow, great photos and vids! Thanks for posting. What camera and lens are you using?

sweatshirt · 07-20-13, 04:48 PM

Awesome! Looks like fun =)

RandyRhoads · 07-20-13, 04:49 PM

Outstanding pics, thanks for sharing...

**Pareeeee** · 07-20-13, 08:00 PM

Thanks everyone for the comments

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbassa

Wow, great photos and vids! Thanks for posting. What camera and lens are you using?

I use a Canon Powershot SX20IS, with an adapter which allows me to use filters: UV and Polarizer.

**Pareeeee** · 07-22-13, 09:01 PM

I was unreasonably excited to find a Ribbonsnake. I have never seen one in my life. Look a lot like a garter but boy are they jumpy and flinchy(is that a word?)!

I submitted a sighting report to the Canadian government's 'Reptile and Amphibian Atlas'.

red ink · 07-22-13, 10:48 PM

Great pics mate... looks like beautiful country up there.

Donnie · 07-23-13, 11:47 AM

great pictures, looks like you had a great time in a beautiful place

smy_749 · 07-23-13, 12:32 PM

Every time I look at this I get angry that I'd have to drive 4 or 5 hours up to maine for water like this. And I want to go swimming now.