Brown Creeper on Bark

Grab & Go

Teasel in Good Light

Agkistrodon contortrix, commonly known as the copperhead snake, is both beautiful and terrifying. While some ophidiophobic people might be terror-stricken by venomous snakes, ecologists see them as a crucial balancing agent in habitats where they are known to exist. These snakes play a vital role in controlling rodent populations while their venom is sometimes used for medicinal purposes. Their venom is being assayed for its anticoagulation properties with the potential to help those with heart disease. Let's appreciate the beauty and importance of these creatures in our ecosystem. hashtag#copperheadsnake hashtag#ecology hashtag#wildlifeconservation.

These snakes are non-aggressive, but proceed with caution. You have to basically step on one to get them lunge and bite. My lens was 12" from this snakes face and other than trying to taste me by means of tongue-sniffing it was not exhibiting any indication that I was a threat. Oh, but don't try this at home. If you were to get envenomated by this snake the antivenom runs about 13k a vial. Gets worse, the average person needs 4-6 vials to offset the affects of its poison. A potentially costly proposition.

NOTE: I photographed this snake under a reptile survey board in Warren County New Jersey. The board, when originally placed, was attractive to a meadow jumping mouse who took up residence with in a cozy bowl of grasses it constructed. I monitored this board for several weeks. The last time I lifted up the board this gorgeous reptile was curled with resting bitch face, taking up the very space the equally pulchritudinous mouse had called home just a week prior. Hmmmmmmm... wonder where that mouse went???

Winter Wren Portrait

Purple Sandpipers Pushing and Shoving

Hooded Merganser Male Head Up

Red-shouldered Hawk with meadow Vole

Robin flipping winterberry

To Coy or not to Wolf - That is the Question.

The second week of October I had the pleasure of visiting a landfill in the New Jersey Meadowlands. Sounds weird right , "the pleasure of visiting a landfill." Who would ever want to visit a land fill.

"Awwweeee the Rain!"

Just hanging out on a warm and humid late summer afternoon with your tongue out and eyes closed catching liquid sunshine! Doesn't get better than that!

If you dig animal migrations and you live in New Jersey, the first thing that comes to mind are species like Monarchs on their way to Mexico - Red Knots to Terre Del Fuego, South America - Snowy Owls in Canada to Island Beach State Park - Humpback Whales to Sandy Hook Bay, but who amongst us think dragonflies? Unsung migrators that pass through my beloved garden state on massive journeys south is a six-legged emerald gemstone, that, in the hand, is a picture of nature's perfection - the Green Darner (Anax junius) (translation: Lord of June).