One of the nifty aspects of a walk with a larger group is that there are so many sets of eyes. Highlights of the Mill Creek guided walk yesterday included a slow-moving Garter Snake out sunning itself. (Thanks, Lillian, for pointing it out!)
Because some folks can't stand photos of snakes we are posting this on the jump.
Continue reading "Unusual Walk Highlight" »
We know that some people hate seeing photos of snakes, so you'll have to click the "Continue reading..." line below to see some really nifty photos that Laura Machuca of the Meadowlands Conservation Trust took of a coil of Garter Snakes at Skeetkill Creek Marsh Park in Ridgefield last Thursday. (Thanks, Laura!)
The MCT was doing some marsh maintenance when Laura saw the snakes, thought to be a bunch of males just coming out of hibernation and hanging out in hopes of finding a female.
Continue reading "Snakes Galore" »
We saw a beautifully patterned Eastern Milk Snake crossing the road in DeKorte Park recently. Alas, he seemed a tad under the weather.
Although the snake isn't poisonous, we know some people do not like to see snake photos.
So you'll have to click "Continue reading..." to see a close-up of its skin.
Click here for more on Milk Snakes.
Continue reading "Awesome Milk Snake (click for photo)" »
We rescued another turtle on Disposal Road last week. We are thinking this guy is a Slider -- but please e-mail us if you think we've got it wrong. This guy was roughly 10 inches long.
Click here for posts on other Meadowlands reptiles and amphibians.
Click "continue reading ...." for more photos.
Continue reading "Another Day, Another Rescued Turtle" »
A colleague phoned us to say that a turtle was crossing Disposal Road by the Amvets Carillon in North Arlington. She was afraid it would get hit by a car.
We found this guy about a third of the way across Disposal. We moved him out of harm's way, closer to the nearest tidal impoundment, but not before taking a few photos for posterity.
These guys are usually seen sliding into the water, 50 feet away.
Click "Continue reading..." to see more photos.
Continue reading "Diamondback Terrapin up-close" »
On Friday afternoon, we saw our first garter snake of the year, sunning itself in Lyndhurst.
Click "Continue reading ..." to see a photo.
Continue reading "Another Sign of Spring" »
We know that some people get freaked out by snakes, or even photos of snakes, so we are posting some nifty close-ups of this snake -- a northern brown snake, aka a Dekay's snake, thanks to Ray Duffy's ID) on the "jump" of this post.
If you do look on the jump, be ready for a surprise ending.
Click "Continue
reading..." immediately below to see the snake shots.
E-mail Jim Wright if you
prefer that snake shots not appear on "the front page" of the blog.
Continue reading "REPTILES: Northern brown snake" »
Two great places for nature walks are at the north end of the Meadowlands District in Little Ferry -- the BCUA Nature Preserve and Losen Slote Creek Park.
The nature preserve is part of an old brick-making site that provided the bricks for major cities along the East Coast.
After the brick factory went out of business a long time ago, the land reverted to its natural state, with a clay pit becoming a large pond -- Mehrhof Pond.
It's a beautiful place, and known amongst birders for the waterfowl it attracts -- notably ruddy ducks and other waterfowl by the hundreds in November.
The one caveat is that because the nature preserve is located on Bergen County Utilities Authority property, it is inaccessible without advance permission. You need to go as part of an organized group. You need advance permission to gain admittance. You need to sign an insurance waiver. And it's not open on weekends or holidays.
But the preserve is worth the effort. Because it is not open to the public -- for safety, security and insurance reasons -- it is well-kept and largely undisturbed.
On a recent trip I saw quite a few amazing sights, including a gorgeous Eastern box turtle and a field full of cedar waxwings.
Click "Continue reading" for more information and a look at more images from the BCUA preserve.
Continue reading "LITTLE FERRY: Mehrhof Pond plus" »
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