Turtle Tours: Photos From Beside the Thames River (1)

Red-eared Sliders, Common Map, and Spiny Soft-shell

The egret fishes the Thames River in London, ONT

Beside it is a trail I can follow, camera in hand

Introduction:

The number of photographs I take per week has decreased lately because I am transitioning from frequent walker to frequent runner (to prepare for two half-marathons in the fall). However, I still walk once or twice per week along the Thames River in London, Ontario, and my eyes are growing accustomed to spotting various types of turtles found along the river banks, often sun-bathing or stretching their legs.

Here are a few photos from along the way, depicting the setting and three or four types of local turtles (some prefer to be called tortoises as well). 

Walkers can access the shores of the Thames on the west side 

of the Thames Valley Parkway (TVP), two locations

The walkway ends under Oxford Street

Lotsa turtles hang out on the right side of the river near Blackfriars Bridge

I see the occasional fish, above, and fisherman, below

The 'turtle tour' begins:

I think it's a Common Map turtle or Northern Map

Spiny Soft-Shell is thinking about hitting the road. 

Two seconds later this one was gone!

Common Map turtle, from opposite side of the river

An endangered spiny soft-shell turtle... er, tortoise

More to follow.

Please click here to view May 2022: Photos From Along The Way (1)

Photos by GH