Stephen Barnard has sent a fair number of photos over the last few weeks, and I thought it was time to collect them here. The first one is gorgeous:
This looks like a Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus), but may be a Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator). They’re notoriously difficult to distinguish unless they’re mixed together. (The trumpeters are larger.) The yellow spot by the eye strongly suggests tundra, but it’s not dispositive. Other features of the head and the bill suggest trumpeter.
When I asked for DNA evidence, he added this:
Hunting tundras is allowed, but hunting trumpeters is forbidden. How a hunter could tell the difference is left as an exercise.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). I’m pretty sure this is Desi [his mate is named Lucy]. He has the haunted eyes.
I was photographing this Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) when a Bald Eagle swooped in to attack and made off with a feather.
This cow and calf moose (Alces alces) were hanging out by the caretaker’s house. The cow was being a little aggressive.
Finally, a nice landscape (or seascape) shot from the island where Stephen just went fishing, titled “Two anglers and a guide, Kiritibati”:
As lagniappe, I give you a bizarre slug sent by reader Stuart Coyle in Oz:
Here’s a weird little mollusc found on my back deck last night. It’s a Red Triangle Slug (Triboniophorus graeffei). I have never seen one before. I leave it up to your readers to work out why wearing lipstick around its breathing pore. I’m sure I don’t want to kiss it.
Beautiful, Stephen!
Wow. Such a striking close-up of Desi! Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing, Stephen.
Absolutely stunning.
How they could allow hunting of any swan is beyond understanding, let alone two that are so close in appearance. Let’s have a $5000 dollar fine for shooting a trumpeter and see if that reduces the shooting of columbianus.
I’m with you on that. Some people will shoot anything that moves.
I am not a hunter, but would support hunting of mute swan (Cygnus olor)in the US. These are considered an invasive species. It was introduced (like Starlings and House Sparrows) and now competes with native species for resources.
Good point. Mute Swans are very aggressive. I believe than under current British law the Crown retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but I doubt that this is enforceable in the Colonies.
Wow, I’ve never seen a blue swan nor a slug that size. How big was the slug?
The slug was about 80mm long. This is Australia, we don’t go half way with our creepy crawly beasts.
Amazing pictures, Stephen. I guess the eagle was showing the hawk who was boss ’round here.
Best guesses for the kissable slug:
a. Hemoglobin, which does appear in various invertebrates. They might use it to help pull in oxygen.
b. Aposematic warning. Along with the blue eye stalks.
c. No reason at all. Not every feature is directly ‘for’ anything.
HOW BIG IS THAT SLUG!! AUGGHHH!!
You’ve never seen a banana slug.
Well, yes, I have, being from Santa Cruz – but they’re not that… *thick* usually, LOL. That looks like a French roll 🙂
I stand corrected!
Sammy the Slug is the UC Santa Cruz mascot.
Stephen, your nick name around here is sure to become Bif. 🙂
The Dez front photo is really incredible. WowZ!
Kissing a slug is very slimy. I don’t know this from experience, but what sticks to fingers sticks to lips. 🙂 Banana slugs around here have the most impenetrable slime I’ve ever encountered. Soap doesn’t work…just scrubbing with some abrasive material is the only solution.
I’m loving that slug picture!
And, is it only me, or is the third picture in the OP the best bald eagle picture ever?
These are outstanding photos! Thanks for sharing.
Wow,spectacular! Thank you!