Red Eft
Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area
Morris County NJ
April 2023
Call them what you like: Efts, Newts, or Salamanders These charismatic amphibians make me grateful for the preserved open spaces we do have in North Jersey.
Sidenote: if you do take the time to get outside to observe reptiles and amphibians do not be selfish and move them or take them home. Nobody wants to be a prisoner.
Variegated Fritillary
Double Trouble State Park
Ocean County NJ
July 2022
More information on the Variegated Fritillary – https://www.naba.org/chapters/nabanj/butterflies/variegated_fritillary.html
Pine Barrens Bluet
Bass River State Forest NJ
June 2022
This small damselfly accommodated a closeup shot with my compact macro lens setup.
More info on the Pine Barrens Bluet – http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/species/fieldguide/view/Enallagma%20recurvatum/
Canon EF-M 28mm macro lens + Canon M5
Common Sanddragon in the New Jersey Pinelands
Bass River State Forest
June 2022
More information on the Common Sanddragon dragonfly – https://njodes.org/Pages/SpeciesAccount.aspx?id=312
Visit Bass River State Forest – https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/bassriverstateforest.html
This uncropped image was shot with the Canon 28mm macro lens. Shooting dragonflies or small butterflies with a short lens is very difficult yet allows for a broad view of the surrounding landscape.
Dot-tailed Whiteface dragonfly
Mahlon Dickerson County Reservation
Jefferson NJ
May 2022
Though this species of spring dragonflies is very common locally I find their contrasty colors are great for imagery.
For this frame I used my 28mm macro lens to showcase the dragonfly-scape
More information on Dot-tailed Whiteface – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dot-tailed_whiteface
#njnature #njphotography #njhiking #newjersey #nj #macro #morriscounty #northjersey
Hoary Elfin
Whiting WMA
Ocean County NJ
May 2022
With an approximate wingspan of 1” these tiny Spring butterflies are quite a challenge to fill the frame with.
Read more about the Hoary Elfin – https://www.naba.org/chapters/nabanj/butterflies/hoary_elfin.html
Chicken of the Woods
Four Birds Trail
Newfoundland NJ
More information on the Chicken of the Woods mushroom – https://www.wildernesspioneers.co.uk/chicken-of-the-woods-laetiporus-sulphureus/
Explore the Four Birds Trail – https://www.njhiking.com/best-hikes-in-nj-four-birds-trail/
Spring Peeper
Splitrock Reservoir
Morris County NJ
October 2021
More info on Spring Peepers – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_peeper
Northern Walkingstick
Appalachian Trail
Blairstown NJ
September 2021
More info on the Northern Walkingstick – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_walkingstick
Red Admiral butterfly on Tree Trunk
Washington Valley Park
Somerset County NJ
August 2021
Taken with wide angle lens the goal of this capture was to isolate the perched butterfly set against the forested green background.
Dave Blinder Nature Photography 