Camouflaged as a rock

Lol, I'm staying up all night, tonight - will explain later tomorrow or the following morning when I post my next shots. Thought I'd post my daily three now (around 1:00 am), otherwise I might end up missing a day : )

This afternoon, 1 May 2016, I just needed to get out with my camera. The sun was shining and I had a bit of time. Drove down to Fish Creek Park, forgetting that on a Sunday, it would be packed with walkers, cyclists, fishermen, people having a picnic or BBQ - and a few photographers.

Spotted a lost kid's toy - a bright yellow, plastic duck - floating in the creek and couldn't resist capturing this unusual spring visitor. Nearby, was a turtle - presumably a Painted Turtle. I need to look up about wild ones in Alberta. It was camouflaged so well, looking like a rock in the water. I don't know how this turtle got here, whether naturally or if someone released it into our area.

"The western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) can be found in Canada’s western provinces, as far east as Ontario. But this colourful turtle is struggling to survive. The Canadian Wildlife Federation is funding research to better manage western painted turtle populations. The Rocky Mountain western painted turtle is listed as of special concern by the Species at Risk Act and COSEWIC."

cwf-fcf.org/en/discover-wildlife/resources/online-article...