#84 Nine-banded Armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Lake Martin, Louisiana
Time: 1930 CDT October 25 2011

#83 Great Egret

Ardea alba
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Lake Martin, Lafayette, Louisiana
Time: 1800 CDT October 22 2011

#82 Carolina Anole

Anolis carolinensis
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Time: 1300 CDT October 22 2011

#81 Turkish Gecko

Hemidactylus turcicus
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Time: 0000 CDT October 18 2011

I'm pretty sure the small individual (~4cm total length) is H. turcicus, although lacking a good guide book, I'm basing that on what information I can find on the internet.

This larger specimen (~15cm total length) I'm less sure of. Most pictures I've found of H. turcicus have been smaller, and have more obvious banding on the tail, although this one looks like it's lost and subsequently regrown it's tail. As always, if you can offer a better ID, I would be most appreciative.

#80 Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Time: 1500 CDT October 16 2011

#79 Great Black-backed Gull

Larus marinus
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: East River, New York City, New York
Time: 1400 EDT September 30 2011

#78 Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Battery Park, New York, New York
Time: 1500 EDT September 30 2011

I considered this a little bit marginal, as this turkey is named (see wikipedia article here), hangs out in a downtown park, and has previously been captured and returned there. I suspect she also gets fed to encourage her to stay. But since she turned up of her own accord, and there's nothing to stop her moving on, I'll count it. Plus I've seen more than enough wild turkeys, so I don't feel like I'm cheating.

#77 Eastern Phoebe

Sayornis phoebe
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Boston, MA
Time: 1520 EDT September 27 2011

#76 Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Boston, MA
Time: 1500 EDT September 27 2011

#75 Mute Swan

 
Cygnus olor
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Toronto Islands
Time: 1745 EDT September 20 2011

#74 Eastern Chipmunk

Tamias striatus
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Toronto Zoo
Time: 1430 EDT September 17 2011

#73 Ring-billed gull

Larus delawarensis
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Niagara Falls
Time: 1400 EDT September 15 2011

#72 Woodchuck

Marmota monax
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Niagara Falls
Time: 1345 EDT September 15th 2011

#71 Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, British Columbia
Time: 1900 PDT August 29 2011

#70 Black Turnstone

Arenaria melanocephala
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Clover Point, Victoria, British Columbia
Time: 1815 PDT August 29 2011

#69 Glaucous-winged Gull

Larus glaucescens
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Clover Point, Victoria, BC, Canada
Time: 1800 PDT August 29 2011

#68 Red-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta canadensis
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: UVic, Victoria, BC, Canada
Time: 1430 PDT August 26 2011

Terrible photos I know, but you make do with what you can get

#67 Western Tanager

 
Piranga ludoviciana
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada
Time: 1510 PDT August 16 2011

On Garter Snakes

Garter snakes are difficult to identify to species level. They are highly variable in colour and pattern, and the more specific diagnostic traits, such as the numbers of specific scales, are not always easy to see at the time, or to get a clear photo of. In the area that I have seen them - Vancouver Island - there are 3 species, Thamnophis sirtalis, T. elegans vagrans and T. ordinoides.

I have posted one set of photos so far, seen here, which I identified as a common garter snake, T. sirtalis, an identification that I am rather less sure about now. I have subsequently photographed two more, and I'll attach these at the end of the post. The original I now suspect to be T. ordinoides, and the second T. sirtalis, while the third could be T. elegans vagrans, but realistically all these are little more than guesses.

So, if anyone out there knows what's what with these species, and can give me a better idea of what I'm looking at, I would be immensely grateful. Please ask for larger versions of any photos, or of any from different angles -  I can't promise I'll have them, but I'll see what I can do.

#66 Rough-skinned Newt

Taricha granulosa
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Matheson Lake, Victoria, BC, Canada
Time: 1400 PDT July 10 2011

#65 Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis
IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
Location: Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California
Time: 1715 PDT July 3 2011

Here's a closeup from the above shot:

And a couple more pics, taken through the eyepiece of my binoculars:

These hawks were so still, riding the air currents from the wind hitting the sea cliffs below, I guess, which made it really easy for me to take these long shots