I assure you that no humans were harmed in the making of this photograph.

NJ bear hunt begins again soon It is a shame how effective fear mongering is in USA culture and policy making.

Incoming Storm and Broadleaf Arrowhead
Paulinskill River WMA
Sussex County NJ
September 2023

A low camera angle on the Paulinskill highlights the flowers of a Broadleaf Arrowhead.

I was previously unaware that these plants’ roots can yield a highly edible tuber often referred to as “duck potato” or “Indian potato”.

Canon M5 + EF-M 11-22mm

September Storm Over the Paulinskill
Sussex County NJ
09.11.23

An ominous horizontal cloud hugged the horizon before this afternoon’s storm.

Canon M5 + EFM 11-22mm

Not a Copperhead

Tourne County Park
Morris County NJ
September 2023

“Snake phobia” seems to have recently overtaken my area as well as other parts of New Jersey. The facts are that venomous snakes (Copperheads and Rattlesnakes) are quite uncommon.

The facts also are that this is an image of a common Northern Water Snake which is the most misidentified snake around.

If you can’t identify a snake don’t go near it yet also apply the theory of “Occam’s Razor”, the most common species is likely what you are looking at.

Canon 77D + Tamron 100-400mm

Island Beach Sunset
Island Beach State Park
Ocean County NJ
10/21/2009

Taken back in 2009, this was a great opportunity to observe day about to transition into night from “the Jersey Shore”.

Canon 7D + Canon 100-400mm

Pickerel Frog
Wildcat Ridge WMA
Morris County NJ

This small Pickerel Frog jumped across the Orange Trail and onto a rock during my late day hike to the local hawkwatch.

My camera was quite low to the ground with a wide angle macro lens to capture this perspective.

Canon M5 + 28mm EFM macro lens

Musconetcong River Bend in Autumn
Stephens State Park, NJ
September 2014

Taken a little over 9 years ago at Stephens State Park which offers an easy leisurely walk along the Musconetcong River.

Canon 6D + Tamron 24-70mm

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Groundhog Family
Waywayanda State Park
New Jersey
May 2012

Never won any awards with this shot from 10+ years ago It’s still the only time I’ve observed a group of young groundhogs (woodchucks) together.

Canon 7D + Tamron 18-270mm

Great Brook in Late Summer
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Morris County NJ
August 2023

The Purple Loosestrife was in full bloom today near Long Hill Road.

Canon M5 + 18-150mm

Eastern Fence Lizard
Brendan T Byrne State Forest
New Jersey
July 2023

A closeup view of a common Fence Lizard at rest in the New Jersey Pinelands.

Canon 77D + Tamron 100-400mm