Insect, Birds, and Freshwater Turtles in the Wetlands

I have always been fascinated by insects, and when we discovered this large one in the wetlands of Alvor, we were amazed at it's size and appearance. It must have been at least 15cm in length, and had striped eyes, and was fully aware that it was being scrutinized, but stayed perfectly still as I took macro after macro. It was only during the editing that I spotted something that may be fanciful, but it really moved me. What do you think! After some research I discovered that it is the Egyptian  Grasshopper.

THE EGYPTIAN GRASSHOPPER   ANAERIDIUM AEGYPTIUM
 

HE SEEMS TO BE LOOKING RIGHT AT ME, AND PLEADING "PLEASE DON'T HURT ME" !!
 

WE SAW IT HERE, WHERE WE OFTEN WALK MEL. 
 

A VERY PEACEFUL SPOT, BUT.......
 

WE ONLY CAME HERE IN THE LATE AFTERNOON, JUST BEFORE DINNER; TO AVOID THE HEAT.
 

SPOONBILLS
 

SANDWICH TERN
 

HERRING GULL
 

NOT SURE OF ID OF THIS LITTLE BROWN BIRD, MAYBE JUVIE SPECKLED WARBLER.
 

BABY BLACKBIRD
 

 

MALLARD.
 

ANOTHER VIEW OF THIS FLAT AREA OF WETLAND:
 

 AS WE PASSED BY ONE OF THE STRETCHES OF WATER, I SAW SOME FRESHWATER TURTLES.
 

I DIDN'T PHOTOGRAPH THE ONE WITH IT'S HEAD STUCK IN A WATER BOTTLE. I WISH PEOPLE WOULD BE MORE CAREFUL. I COULD DO NOTHING TO HELP.:(
 

WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS
I'D-RATHER-B-BIRDIN
MANY THANKS TO OUR GRACIOUS HOSTS. JUST CLICK ON THEIR LINKS, TO SEE CRITTERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE.