Lots of pics, my vaca to VA beach

So ive not been shooting much since i finished up my thesis field work, i just needed a break. but ive still been lurking, and went to virginia beach to visit my sister for the 4th (and this week). And i started shooting a bunch, so heres a splathering of shots from the past week... minus the firework shots posted in the viewfinder.

eastern painted turtle, found in sisters backyard
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...h/DSC_0916.jpg

the next batch is from backbay
Osprey (not great pics but a great bird) crops and lightning on these.
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http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...1163edited.jpg


other bird shots (im still not a big bird shooter so this is as good as it gets with my crappy lense)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...h/DSC_1170.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...C_1208crop.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...C_1252crop.jpg


and then the Highlight of the trip for me was one day we where hiking at First landing state park and we found this

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...dcopyright.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...dcopyright.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...dcopyright.jpg
its a rough green snake, and the first one i have ever seen.

then the NEXT day while i was at back bay i found this!
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...dcopyright.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...dcopyright.jpg

a cotton mouth, also the first time i have seen one! unfortunantly it ran away before i could do much with it.

but two new snake species in 2 days! i was pumped.


and that was basically my vacation.

thanks for looking

Thats awesome! I've done backbay (but with the kids and dog so we didn't do too much exploring, too much poison ivy lol). I've never been to First Landing though. But you would love the Great Dismal Swamp out in Suffolk. We went there one day and walked a mile and saw 5 snakes just in that mile! Not to mention the turkeys, prothonotary warblers, crazy insects, cranes, turtles etc. We also thought we heard a bear crashing through. We heard something big anyways!! lol (Again, we had the kids with us so we didn't get all the way out to the lake.)

Amber

hahah ive wanted to go to the great dismal swamp, but the rest of my family said its kinda boring ( straight path along a straight canal in the open sun) and its currently on fire so it may not be open. at back bay i just stayed on the trails with in about a mile or 2 of the ranger station the cotton mouth was about 3 feet off the trail... i really want to go kayaking in that bay though i'd have alot of fun!

Yes, it is just a straight shot for the most part, but if you are concentrating on the wildlife you see... its fun :D

There is a wooden walk way that goes thru the woods for a short distance in the beginning that you can take too. Thats where we heard the bear.

I like your pictures of the Rought Green Snake. The green really pops out on them.

thanks dan ( its actually a rough green snake- sorry for typo...) and yes the green is phenominal looking on them.

I meant to say I liked the snake pictures too :)

nice shots, dylan. Green snakes are always one of my favorites (2, really) and I have a soft spot for ol' trapmouth chunkhead too. You should see if you can meet me in southern IL this fall for a snake road trip - you'd have a blast.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sushigaijin

nice shots, dylan. Green snakes are always one of my favorites (2, really) and I have a soft spot for ol' trapmouth chunkhead too. You should see if you can meet me in southern IL this fall for a snake road trip - you'd have a blast.

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let me know when your going and details i would love to join you...

Very nice images and that rough green snake is a cute little guy.

thanks paul, you know what any of those birds are? the first im pretty positive is an osprey, the one is a gull of some sort, and is the last one a tricolored heron?

Looks like you got a very productive trip !!

2 osprey, what looks to be a ringbilled gull, pair of willets and a little blue heron