I thought that I was seeing things for a few seconds two days ago when I spotted this Three-toed Box Turtle walking north through the dew laden grasses.
Three-toed Box Turtle in spring grasses – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/250, ISO 1000, +0.3 EV, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 400mm, natural light
It has been since last September since I’ve seen a Three-toed Box Turtle in the yard. The turtle was quite a distance from the deck, and at first I thought it was a grackle foraging in the grass.
Then my memories of these turtles kicked in, and I recognized the slow way they move forward.
Seconds after realizing what I was seeing, I was off like a shot, camera in hand, so I could photograph this amazing box turtle.
These turtles can basically pull their heads inside their shells, and they do when they’re startled. After getting close, moving slowly and deliberately is necessary to get photos that show their heads.
Once I was near enough to the Three-toed Box Turtle, I knelt on one knee to steady myself and took photos from a low-angle perspective that gave me a turtle’s-eye view of the scene.
The markings on the face of this box turtle are interesting. I saw and photographed this same turtle last September. It has the same markings on the right side of its shell, or carapace, plus it had a lot of white on its face too.
Paying attention paid off once again. I could have missed out on photographing this turtle if my brain hadn’t let me know that it wasn’t a grackle walking through the damp grasses.
Keeping an old file, one where the head didn’t show on this turtle, proved I had also seen and photographed it last September.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Three-toed Box Turtle photos plus facts and information about this species.
Wonderful narrative to go along with this fascinating shot. This is another notch on my never-ending learning curve. I have never heard of a Box Turtle before this post. The only “Box” creature I know about is the Box Jellyfish; which is not something you want to cozy up to. Thanks Mia.
How nice to be able to see and recognise and old friend.
Neat! I am seeing more and more red sliders in Farmington Bay.
Your enjoyment is contagious. As always, thanks for sharing.
Adorable!