May 8th dawned cool and rainy, but clouds dispersed around 12 noon. Right around then, I hit the trail in Washington Valley Park, Gilbride Road trailhead, in Bridgewater, NJ.
I was pleased to explore a new trail on this visit (shown in red dashes on the park map). The overlook, pictured above, is my new favorite place. The vastness of the gorge below the East Branch Reservoir reminds me of the gorges I love in Ithaca, NY (where I lived for four years while earning my Bachelor's degree).
This spot looks very similar to a gorge I walked past often while in Ithaca. It is interesting how the man-made reservoir transitions into the natural rock.
From a spot along the new part trail I explored, you can look down the reservoir towards the rock crossing I have mentioned in a previous post.
This spot looks very similar to a gorge I walked past often while in Ithaca. It is interesting how the man-made reservoir transitions into the natural rock.
From a spot along the new part trail I explored, you can look down the reservoir towards the rock crossing I have mentioned in a previous post.
On my way along the trail, I spotted these Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) butterflies "puddling" (sipping minerals from moist ground, along the steam bank).
Above is a shot of half of what I believe is a American robin's (Turdus migratorius) egg while it rests in my hand. I found the half shell found under a tree, in the grass along the trail.
Above is a shot of half of what I believe is a American robin's (Turdus migratorius) egg while it rests in my hand. I found the half shell found under a tree, in the grass along the trail.
A lucky shot of a Common Whitetail (Libellula lydia) dragonfly. Evidently this dragonfly is also known as a Longtailed Skimmer - thanks Wilkapedia for help with the identification. My field biology course was over ten years back now and I'm not sure how may insects we covered.
The insect above is a millipede (Narceus americanus), an impressive insect about 4 inches long. Millipedes are harmless and feed on dead plant matter on the forest floor. However, I am positive a bug this size would have frightened me badly if I had encountered it indoors as a child. Now I am fond of them because their serrated bodies remind me of snakes, which I find fascinating. For those curious about these insects, there is a great website here and a descriptive Wilkapedia article here.
The insect above is a millipede (Narceus americanus), an impressive insect about 4 inches long. Millipedes are harmless and feed on dead plant matter on the forest floor. However, I am positive a bug this size would have frightened me badly if I had encountered it indoors as a child. Now I am fond of them because their serrated bodies remind me of snakes, which I find fascinating. For those curious about these insects, there is a great website here and a descriptive Wilkapedia article here.
I look forward to hiking this trail again during the summer. I am pleased that I have not yet visited every good spot in the Somerset county park system. With some sunny weather in the forecast, I hope to hit the trail and enjoy the beautiful green wonderland that forest trails have become.
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