Terrapin Territory

Last time I photographed this post in the lake near my daughter's home a female mallard was perching on it. Quite a surprise for us to see a terrapin basking there this morning. I think this might be a false map turtle, also known as a sawback. These are native to the US and have been causing problems for the local wildlife in, amongst other places, Bystock Nature Reserve in Devon.

Many terrapins were bought, at the size of fifty pence coins, as pets in the 1990s when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons were popular. As the reptiles grew and the craze faded many were released into the wild. 

Terrapins will take ducklings, dragging them under with their sharp claws and beaks. The claws can be seen in my extra image.