This Island Ottawa

 Exploring Petrie Island

Northern Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans melanota) Petrie Island, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

In the East end of Ottawa, Orleans, there is a popular island on the Ottawa River called Petrie for nature enthusiasts and those who just want to lounge on the beach. The island is made up of various wetlands types and there are a number of trials to follow to view nature in its splendour. The island is a great location for viewing amphibians and turtles. Let's start along the Educational Amphibian  Pond where I observed both American Bullfrogs and a Northern Green Frog. 

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) Petrie Island, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 

There is also great turtle viewing ares especially the Turtle Trail where there logs and boards set for turtle sunning and basking. On this day the Northern Map Turtles were out representing and putting on a show for the viewers. The large females and the somewhat small males dotting the logs in the +29 degrees temperature for the spring day. Surprisingly not a Painted Turtle to be found.

Two female Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica) Petrie Island, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

The smaller male.

One of my favourite past times is to chase Tiger Beetles on the hot sands of the island. This time viewing both Festive & Bronze together on the beaches having their fill of prey. These beetles are my most favourite insect to observe in the wild and to photograph. Their antics and odd behaviours make them a special favourite. The size of the insect makes them the fastest running animals on the planet. They run so fast that they are blind to their surroundings. It is so much fun to observe them their antics often surprising me with new behaviours witnessed. 

Bronzed Tiger Beetle (Cicindela repanda) Petrie Island, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.