Picture 1: Two Pearl Crescent butterflies (Phyciodes t. tharos) perched on a dried piece of scat, perhaps getting some nutrients.
Pictures 2 & 3: Two shots of a Bull Frog (Rana catesbeiana) submerged in the duckweed along the shore.
Picture 4: A Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) sunning on a sunken log.
I know I probably shouldn't include these, since all previous posts have been from hikes in New Jersey, but I can't resist. The following five pictures are from a Swamp Boat Tour I took in Marrero, Louisiana. The tour company conveniently offers transportation from New Orleans, LA, where I spent the rest of the week. You know what they have in Louisiana...
...the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)! Several juvenile 'gators swam right up to the side of our boat during the tour. They were awesome!
The boat also cruised by a Tricolor (or Louisiana) Heron (Egretta tricolor).
(One more 'gator, snoozing on a log).
A Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) in danger of 'gator attack, according to our tour guide.On July 3rd, I flew back to New Jersey. I was completely disoriented (even though LA is only 1 hour behind NJ), and I didn't make it out to a park until Sunday, July 4th. I hit the same trail as last week, in Washington Valley Park.
The sun was out and the temperature was hovering around 80 degrees when I started out around 10am.
A shortage of rain, and an abundance of sun had turned much of the trail to dust. All water lines were low, and grass had colonized much formerly submerged land.
Eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) continue to liven the place up with their calls and antics.
I have no idea why my time stamp crapped out on me, but the picture of the Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) above is also from July 4, 2010. Aengus and I spotted two of them chowing down in one of my neighbors' front yard. I didn't want to disturb it, so I have no confirmation of what it was eating. Look at those legs - they look like fluffy feathery pants! Good thing this is a short week, because this vacation went way too fast.
The sun was out and the temperature was hovering around 80 degrees when I started out around 10am.
A shortage of rain, and an abundance of sun had turned much of the trail to dust. All water lines were low, and grass had colonized much formerly submerged land.
Eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) continue to liven the place up with their calls and antics.
I have no idea why my time stamp crapped out on me, but the picture of the Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) above is also from July 4, 2010. Aengus and I spotted two of them chowing down in one of my neighbors' front yard. I didn't want to disturb it, so I have no confirmation of what it was eating. Look at those legs - they look like fluffy feathery pants! Good thing this is a short week, because this vacation went way too fast.
