Turkey Vulture and Fall Foliage
Four Birds Trail / Craigmeur Cliffs
Rockaway Twp NJ
October 2021
The white-blazed Four Birds Trail provides a good workout as well as expansive views off of Green Pond Road.
I park here for this section of the Four Birds Trail – https://goo.gl/maps/xfKBicW3Epio6PKX8
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
Pileated Woodpecker Pair
Denville NJ
September 2021
On a recent morning walk around the block in Lake Arrowhead I came across Mr & Mrs Woodpecker spiraling their ways around the base of a tree. In my experience, Pileateds may tolerate a close approach by a stealthy photographer.
This was a challenging shot in order to freeze the action of two moving birds in the shade. This lucky exposure occurred at 1/60th of a second which is a chance occurrence for handholding a telephoto lens.
Cell phone video of these Pileated Woodpeckers can be seen here – https://www.facebook.com/daveblinderphotography/posts/1983099445196194
Peck’s Skipper on Joe Pye Weed
Lake Ames
Rockaway Twp, NJ
August 2021
More info on Peck’s Skipper – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polites_peckius
Tiger Swallowtail on Joe-pye Weed
Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center
August 2021
Learn more about Joe-pye Weed – https://www.thespruce.com/joe-pye-weed-eupatorium-purpureum-1402848
Visit the Kay Environmental Center – https://www.morrisparks.net/index.php/parks/elizabeth-d-kay-environmental-center/
Common Wood Nymph butterfly
Elizabeth D Kay Environmental Center
Chester Twp NJ
August 2021
My experience with Common Wood Nymphs is that they are rarely approachable and flighty. This individual an exception as I was able to get quite close for photographs.
More info on the Common Wood Nymph – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_wood-nymph
Visit the Elizabeth D Kay Environmental Center – https://www.morrisparks.net/index.php/parks/elizabeth-d-kay-environmental-center/
Eastern Amberwing in Obelisk Position
Chester, New Jersey
July 2021
How do dragonflies prevent overheating you asked? Here is that answer – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obelisk_posture
Canon EF-M 11-22mm + EOS-M5 mirrorless camera
Northern Brown Snake
Morris County NJ
June 2021
A healthy DeKay’s snake rests comfortable amid mulch. More info on Brown Snakes – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storeria_dekayi
Great Egret on the Beaver Brook
Jonathan’s Woods
Morris County NJ
June 2021
On a recent June morning 2 egrets as a Great Blue Heron were active near the beaver dam. The pile of feathers at the egret’s feet are a result of preening.
