On Saturday, July 24th, I walked a familiar trail in Washington Valley Park, beginning at the Gilbride Road parking area. At around 9am, the temperature was already up around 80 degrees, and heading upwards quickly. 
The sun was very bright, and appeared almost white in several photos I took.
A Green frog (Rana clamitans) lounges in the shadows.
Not many critters were out this morning, and I noticed the light seemed different from my usual hiking time (right around noon). The shadows were longer here and there as the sun was not so high in the sky.
The light was just reaching the tips of the trees over the trail leading to the Hawk Watch platform.
I was feeling artistic as I headed back down the trail after viewing the falls.
The best fishing spots in several parks are marked by "Christmas ornaments" like the one above - lost floats from fishermen catching a line on a branch. 
As I drove into the park yesterday, I wondered how many critters hang out in the slope leading down from the roadway to the water. The trail runs right along the river, so the area between remains undisturbed.
A Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) feather along the side of the trail. Since just the one feather was present, hopefully the rest of the jay is intact somewhere.
I noticed that many trees appear dry, and dead leaves litter the undergrowth - just like fall!
This morning, I made it down the shore to Sandy Hook, a part of Gateway National Recreation Area in Highlands, NJ. At 8:30am, the sun was out the day wasn't too hot just yet. My companion and I started out at Horseshoe Cove, a spot on the bay side well out along the hook of Sandy Hook.
Interesting stuff is always swimming by or lying in remnants along the sand here.
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The sun was very bright, and appeared almost white in several photos I took.
A Green frog (Rana clamitans) lounges in the shadows.
Not many critters were out this morning, and I noticed the light seemed different from my usual hiking time (right around noon). The shadows were longer here and there as the sun was not so high in the sky.
The light was just reaching the tips of the trees over the trail leading to the Hawk Watch platform.
I was feeling artistic as I headed back down the trail after viewing the falls.
The best fishing spots in several parks are marked by "Christmas ornaments" like the one above - lost floats from fishermen catching a line on a branch. 
As I drove into the park yesterday, I wondered how many critters hang out in the slope leading down from the roadway to the water. The trail runs right along the river, so the area between remains undisturbed.
A Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) feather along the side of the trail. Since just the one feather was present, hopefully the rest of the jay is intact somewhere.
I noticed that many trees appear dry, and dead leaves litter the undergrowth - just like fall!
This morning, I made it down the shore to Sandy Hook, a part of Gateway National Recreation Area in Highlands, NJ. At 8:30am, the sun was out the day wasn't too hot just yet. My companion and I started out at Horseshoe Cove, a spot on the bay side well out along the hook of Sandy Hook.
Interesting stuff is always swimming by or lying in remnants along the sand here.
Kestrel nesting sights are set up out over the water logged dunes.
Over on the ocean side of the park (Parking Lot C), lots of folks enjoy the calm surf. After a great beach day, we depart around 11am. Despite the abundant sunshine, it is now raining fairly hard. With some extra water, I hope the plants will be revived.
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