Tuesday 27 June 2017

Insect, Birds, and Freshwater Turtles in the Wetlands

I have always been fascinated by insects, and when we discovered this large one in the wetlands of Alvor, we were amazed at it's size and appearance. It must have been at least 15cm in length, and had striped eyes, and was fully aware that it was being scrutinized, but stayed perfectly still as I took macro after macro. It was only during the editing that I spotted something that may be fanciful, but it really moved me. What do you think! After some research I discovered that it is the Egyptian  Grasshopper.


THE EGYPTIAN GRASSHOPPER   ANAERIDIUM AEGYPTIUM
 

HE SEEMS TO BE LOOKING RIGHT AT ME, AND PLEADING "PLEASE DON'T HURT ME" !!
 

WE SAW IT HERE, WHERE WE OFTEN WALK MEL. 
 

A VERY PEACEFUL SPOT, BUT.......
 

WE ONLY CAME HERE IN THE LATE AFTERNOON, JUST BEFORE DINNER; TO AVOID THE HEAT.
 

SPOONBILLS
 

SANDWICH TERN
 

HERRING GULL
 

NOT SURE OF ID OF THIS LITTLE BROWN BIRD, MAYBE JUVIE SPECKLED WARBLER.
 

BABY BLACKBIRD
 


 

MALLARD.
 

ANOTHER VIEW OF THIS FLAT AREA OF WETLAND:
 

 AS WE PASSED BY ONE OF THE STRETCHES OF WATER, I SAW SOME FRESHWATER TURTLES.
 

I DIDN'T PHOTOGRAPH THE ONE WITH IT'S HEAD STUCK IN A WATER BOTTLE. I WISH PEOPLE WOULD BE MORE CAREFUL. I COULD DO NOTHING TO HELP.:(
 


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41 comments:

MadSnapper said...

that looks like a grasshopper to me and he is looking at you and your camera.. try typing ID grasshopper Portugal that is how I look for things. you probably already know that but just in case. what abeautiful place to walk.. as always your photos are gorgeous. thanks for all the nice things you said about me in your comment

Linda said...

So much beauty to see! And you have captured it all magnificently! I love places like this! Thank you so much for sharing. :)

sami niilola said...

Wow. Really fantastic photos. I really enjoy your photos. Greetings.

matti niilola said...

Really awesome place. Your photos are great. Greetings.

MadSnapper said...

he is a beauty, glad you found what he is

Michelle said...

Great photos! I really love the reflective photo with the duck/pond.

Lowcarb team member said...

Such fabulous photographs of the grasshopper.
Your other photographs are lovely too, and you've certainly given us a fabulous selection to enjoy, thank you.

Aren't those turtles great!

Enjoy these last days of June

All the best Jan

Cloudia said...

How lovely to enjoy your shots!

The Furry Gnome said...

Nice pics! I like the grass picture.

Lea said...

A great series of photos!
Have a wonderful day!

Richard Pegler said...

Wow, Sonjia - what a huge grasshopper that is!

Your wetland area looks extremely interesting. I'd be looking for dragonflies there!

The turtles must have been a delight to find. How sad that one was almost certainly condemned to death by the thoughtless actions of an irresponsible human.

With my best wishes - - - Richard

Ranten said...

Hi! Love your pictures and I am joining your blog :-))

Phil Slade said...

Hi Sonjia. I think you're right with Egyptian Grasshopper. We see them in Menorca some years and I identified them via Google. There's apicture on my blog somewhere. As for your little BJ I think it may be a very juvenile Spectacled Warbler depending when you took the phot - this spring? I think your tern is Sandwich Tern.

Aritha V. said...

I love your photos. What a large, LARGE grass hopper. Also the area is great. Here I've seen migratory grasshoppers out of Egypt! Their eyes are so special and cute! Vertically stiped.

Bob Bushell said...

Fantastic, on the wings, standing on a twig, and swimming around, beautiful.

This N That said...

Good shots of the birds...Love the turtles..Pretty area..Have a wonderful day..

Debbie said...

it's so sad that the summer heat keeps us indoors and prohibits us from enjoying a walk with nature. we also, try to get out in the evening when the temperatures cool. beautiful close up of the grasshopper, lots of details in your images!!

this looks like a great spot, i always enjoy seeing those "plumped up lips" on the baby birds!!

Teresa said...

Muy buenas fotografías. Saludos.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Those are some wild-looking eyes! Great macro shots.

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Hi friend.. Nice series of birds and pics.. Fantastic place.. Regards

Rajesh said...

Beautiful captures.I liked them all.

A Colorful World said...

Love your grasshopper...and your wonderful wetlands photos! Just beautiful.

La Biosfera de Lola said...

Enhorabuena por tus espectaculares fotos, me encanta la Tortuga. Besos.

Rose said...

oh, boy, you sure have a lot of great photos in this one post...I love the grass/seeds one so much.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, beautiful captures of nature and the wildlife. I love the spoonbills and the cute turtles. Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

LEN said...

Loved the grasshopper who looked very tired but who wouldn't be tired if you'd flown all the way from Egypt! I thought you would be interested to learn that Bee Eaters have been sighted in Lincolnshire and an enterprising farmer is charging £5 for folk to park on his land and take photos of them!

Breathtaking said...

Len.
Oh no!:( I remember AUDREY charging folk to see Bee-eaters on "TO THE MANOR BORN" and also Audrey went out and bought dozens of jars of honey, before the Bee-eaters ate up all her neighbours bees.:)

riitta k said...

Your photos are great. And I love your banner, so beautiful birds, though unknown to me. Happy weekend.

NatureFootstep said...

overall beautiful photography. Love all birds and critters :)

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

We love wetlands --and what a beautiful one you had here to walk and observe nature .... mostly beautiful and fascinating (except the poor turtle in the bottle that you saw -- it seems there are careless people everywhere; I hate that!)..... Wonderful birds and scenery ... that is an amazing grasshopper.

We also understand what wetlands heat can be like because we spend half of our year in Florida -- humidity is high there, even away from the wetlands. Evening or very early morning walks are definitely best in the hottest months. (And my husband does not do early morning!)... Thanks for the lovely tour.

Nancy Chan said...

Wonderful collection of beautiful critters. I love the birds in flight images. Have a wonderful weekend!

Tom said...

...thanks so much for taking me along to the wetlands, let's do it again.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, this is a wonderful critter post. I just loved the turtles and all the birds. Great collection of photos. Thank you so much for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

La Biosfera de Lola said...

Muchas gracias, feliz fin de semana también para ti. Besos.

Jeevan said...

Wow! Indeed stunning captures on the Egyptian grasshopper and got great details to observe and gives a perspective of an on man climbing a tree... really wonderful wetland for watching critters. Such natural places really need to be preserved and people should be conscious not to disturb the ecosystem and throw away esp. plastic items which kill species. Wonderful post

David M. Gascoigne, said...

It seems as though you had an almost metaphysical moment with the grasshopper, and I fully understand that kind of reaction. There is an elemental quality to even the most humble life forms which engenders respect and wonder in a sensitive person. Kudos to you for sharing this experience with us. As for the turtle stuck in the plastic bottle, my blood boils. If we must have plastic water bottles (and we can well manage without them) the very least we could do is not toss them wherever we happen to empty the contents. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Sonjia.

Ela said...

Oh, such a beautiful natural place !!!
Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos !!
Happy weekend !

Helma said...

You will see very nice pictures and a nice variation.
I have never seen the Egyptian grasshopper.
A beautiful animal but also a big one!
The landscapes and the birds and turtle are very beautiful to see.
A hug

Anni said...

Absolutely WONDERFUL photography! Of each photo...from the birds, the turtles, the landscape and the grasslands. Absolutely beautiful!!! Especially like the chicks, I do. Precious.

I'm late getting to visit with you, holiday company from Colorado, but want to wish you a happy week ahead and thank you for joining us birders at I'd Rather B Birdin'

Stuart Price said...

Looks like a great place!

Jenn Jilks said...

We live aside a wetland, Tay Marsh. I just adore it. A small frog pond means lots of flora and fauna. It is heaven!

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