Herpetofauna: One Life's List

Pseudemys nelsonii
Florida Redbelly Turtle

Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia
March 22, 2003

Photographing water turtles from a moving canoe is a dubious enterprise at best.  Even in Okefenokee's slow moving waters it can be difficult keeping the subject in focus while you're trying not to breathe in a drifting canoe...this is as close as I could get before the Redbelly decided to shove off.  I did take the time beforehand to observe the turtle through binoculars, because you never know how long they'll tolerate your presence.  I saw several more the next day, on our way out of the swamp.