Pic: visitor, laying turtle in apiary.

[van from Arkansas]

This turtle decides to lay close to my hives, next to my bbq area.  Keep in mind, laying turtles are very shy and protected in Arkansas, so I cannot just walk up to the turtle and snap a pic.  That is why the pic was taken at a distance from the turtle.  I inserted an arrow to show momma turtle, laying.

What is humorous is I need to graft eggs from the hive in the pic, the hive just behind the turtle and I need to graft today as the next two days are 80% chance of rain.  I discovered the turtle as I was about to grab a frame of eggs/larva from the hive.  So, now I am waiting on momma to finish laying.

This is the second turtle to lay this week.  I live on the lake shore so I am used to the laying turtles and give the turtles privacy.  I adore turtles for some reason.  I used to keep turtles and honeybees as a kid.  Guess in a way, I am still doing the same.

So when momma finishes laying 8-16 eggs, I will commence my grafting larva for queens.  I won?t interfere with momma turtle.  Nature is just so cool to watch.

Health to your bees.

[The15thMember]

That is so cool!  We see box turtles around here occasionally, but I have never seeing a laying turtle.  Do you know what species your turtles are? 

[van from Arkansas]

A common red ear???? I think???

It is now 2:13pm and I am still waiting on momma.  This is her third nest to dig, I am guessing she hit tree roots and had to move her nest site.  She, momma turtle, is now much closer to the hive I need to graft from.  I am patiently waiting on a turtle before I can graft.  Never thought I post about a turtle in BeeMaster.  I am waiting on nature[turtle] to work with nature[bees].

[iddee]

Of course,when you really want to get something done, time passes at a turtle's pace.   

Nice pic. We call them terrapins. Do you know if they are turtles or terrapins?

[The15thMember]

Nice pic. We call them terrapins. Do you know if they are turtles or terrapins?

Red-eared sliders are technically terrapins.  All terrapins are turtles, so terrapin would be the most accurate word.  Turtles spend most of their time in water, as opposed to tortoises which spend most of their time on land.  Terrapins are turtles that frequently venture onto land; essentially turtles that are not fully aquatic.   

[van from Arkansas]

Of course,when you really want to get something done, time passes at a turtle's pace.   

Nice pic. We call them terrapins. Do you know if they are turtles or terrapins?

Member knows more than I.  The turtle is a lake dwelling turtle that come up to my back yard every year to lay.  Some are green with a red mark on the side of the head.  The turtles shell is about 14 inches in length.  We have box turtles too that do not bother the bees.  Cat birds and tanagers live on my bees most of summer.

The turtle departed about 4:00pm and I was able to do my bee work: place queen frame in a hive so bees can polish egg cells, find a frame of correct age larva, typical inspections looking for signs of swarming yada yada yada.

[The15thMember]

Member knows more than I.  The turtle is a lake dwelling turtle that come up to my back yard every year to lay.  Some are green with a red mark on the side of the head.  The turtles shell is about 14 inches in length.  We have box turtles too that do not bother the bees.  Cat birds and tanagers live on my bees most of summer.

The turtle departed about 4:00pm and I was able to do my bee work: place queen frame in a hive so bees can polish egg cells, find a frame of correct age larva, typical inspections looking for signs of swarming yada yada yada.

Well, I'm no turtle expert, but that definitely sounds like a red-eared slider to me.  Red ears, and all that.    I have never seen a tanager, but would gladly lose a couple of bees to do so.  My mom saw one once.  We hear them in our forest frequently, but our canopy is so thick we can almost never see them, and they rarely come down low enough to spot.                 

[CoolBees]

Well, I'm no turtle expert, but that definitely sounds like a red-eared slider to me.  Red ears, and all that.     ...   

15th - Well ... you've got all us beat ... so that makes you the expert. 

Mr Van - it's nice that your willing to give the turtle a break. Very kind of you sir. All of nature is unique and amazing. And yet so many people rush on by it - these days.

[The15thMember]

Mr Van - it's nice that your willing to give the turtle a break. Very kind of you sir. All of nature is unique and amazing. And yet so many people rush on by it - these days.

Agreed! 

[Seeb]

You are very cool Van, thanks for sharing your experience. Lucky turtles at your place

[Acebird]

I like the pic Van but it seems like you could get around the laying area with out disturbing the turtle.  I suspect you just wanted to share your other hobby.  Thanks for sharing.

[Hops Brewster]

I saw  mountain tanager a couple weeks ago while out camping on BLM land.  Pretty birds.
Van, now all you need is a hare to come by, then you can start making book on the resulting race.

[jalentour]

I found a 2 inch snapper in my upper yard yesterday, along way from the creek.  Does anyone know if they lay upland?  Or did some crow get bit and drop her in the yard?  Lots of snapper and box turtles here in the Ohio River Valley.  Can't tell much from your photo but I admire your respect for wildlife.  (Kind of steep in your neck of the woods?)