no knife but lots of critter pics on this hike.

[JV3]

my knives stayed in my pocket/pack since this hike was about checking out the wild edibles i can find...i'm a newbie but this looks like it's not edible. or at least i'd rather not eat it this is the only trail i've seen this thing growing. gotta check it out later as it progresses.

ants making a nice home out of a 2' diameter log:

busy, busy, busy:

a chipmunk checking me out from a distance:

i'm getting better at shelter building - i've upgraded to a 2-car garage now

someone had more than sleeping on their mind...or they have a bad back:

the legendary trail henge!

...more.

 

[JV3]

a crappy well...kinda dangerous actually:

first thought that came to my mind was..."sacrificial chamber":

my junglas moved from my pack to my belt...what can i say, i get paranoid about 2-legged creatures.

took a look at the tree stump expecting a beating heart...or a coiled snake. nope. just garbage.

someone assassinated the secret squirrel! oh no...where will we get our intel now?! it wasn't stinky yet so i'm guessing it died recently. yes, i would've cleaned it and tried to cook it if i saw it before i snacked on an energy bar half an hour ago

another chipmunk:

after he saw the look on my face while checking out the secret squirrel he knew he might be next:

...more.

 

[JV3]

he kept coming out of his home even though i was literally 3' away from the opening with my camera...brave little fella:

this skink decided to check out what all the commotion is all about:

no clue what this thing is. there were a few of them scattered about:

opened one of the semi-cracked ones and the inside was very stretchy:

for size reference. i can see it now...drunk with friends, it wouldn't take much prodding for me to pop one in my mouth and start chewing

another ant colony. these are dark brown whereas the ones living in the log were black although they were the same size:

...more.

 

[JV3]

on my way down i spot this frog:

while maneuvering for a better angle to photograph the frog above, i didn't notice this much bigger one nearby. he got spooked and jumped in the pond but surprisingly, literally 2 seconds later, he jumps right back out and land within 2' of me...spooky. the camera is within 6" of his face yet he just stayed there too.

[cue the x-files theme song]...the truth is out there.

not sure if they're humping or eating...or both:

...more.

 

[JV3]

can't wait to get my kayak delivered:

a potentially sweet spot for fishing:

tons of tadpoles. tons of large snails too but can't quite get the angle right for the camera:

be like the rock, lil' grasshoppa...be like the rock:

...that's it, you got it!

...lesson two: how to walk on water:

thanks for looking,
- jay

 

[BaldingEagle]

Beautiful! That's what being outdoors is all about. I'm guessing that you don't use a Wally World disposable camera! Very nice photography.
The Balding Eagle

 

[dipbait]

That shiny black spider resembles a widow.

 

[KuRUpTD]

Excellent pics Jay ... thanks for sharing.

Were they taken in New Jersey ? if so whereabouts.

 

[sasha]

man those are great pics. What an awsome hike, Thats what life is all about.

Sasha

 

[dttomcat]

Those photos are spectacular! In New Jersey or what?

 

[TWBryan]

I think the chipmunks did in the squirrel. Great pics and thanks for sharing. Do you know why the frog came out of the water?

 

[hushnel]

Beautiful day, great pictures and plenty of critters, a day well spent. The Kayak will make it heaven

 

[riz_aaroni]

Amazing photos. Not sure what that green ball is, but I am pretty sure I've seen those before some where.

I'm moving back to NJ in a few weeks and should have plenty of free time. Would be cool to organize some kind of bladeforums meetup.

 

[tonym]

Excellent pictures!

 

[JCavSD]

damn, awesome pics

 

[maximus0723]

My goodness, I LOVE THIS FORUMS.

Awesome pics man, thanks for sharing.

 

[JV3]

I'm guessing that you don't use a Wally World disposable camera! Very nice photography.
The Balding Eagle

thanks! i used an 8 yr old nikon that's one step above a point & shoot and two steps above a disposable one

That shiny black spider resembles a widow.

i think it's a tick. it's tiny! i was in macro mode and really zoomed in there to get it up to decent size.

Excellent pics Jay ... thanks for sharing.

Were they taken in New Jersey ? if so whereabouts.

Those photos are spectacular! In New Jersey or what?

thanks! just across the border into ny - harriman state park.

I think the chipmunks did in the squirrel. Great pics and thanks for sharing. Do you know why the frog came out of the water?

the squirrel was certainly outnumbered 20-1. tons of chipmunks in the area. as for the frog, i have no idea. i didn't notice it until i heard the splash. maybe he caught something to eat, came back to his spot but then realized there's this giant right there and he froze hoping i didn't notice him! or he's just an attention whore posing for the camera

I'm moving back to NJ in a few weeks and should have plenty of free time. Would be cool to organize some kind of bladeforums meetup.

pa to nj? my condolences definitely a meetup is in order!

My goodness, I LOVE THIS FORUMS.

Awesome pics man, thanks for sharing.

thanks, guys! i like hanging out here too :thumbup:

 

[riz_aaroni]

no clue what this thing is. there were a few of them scattered about:

opened one of the semi-cracked ones and the inside was very stretchy:

pa to nj? my condolences definitely a meetup is in order!

Lol, I know it is a bad move, but I will save a lot of money in the short term. Will be cool to get a bunch of peeps together though.

Bad news on the green thing though. It seems it is a wasp larva growth. Specifically a Oak Apple Gall Wasp. A couple of links FYI.

http://www.lesjones.com/2005/04/26/oak-apple-gall-wasp-amphibolips-confluenta/

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/oak_apple_gall_wasp.htm

 

[VictGerbSogCamill]

I think the chipmunks did in the squirrel. Great pics and thanks for sharing. Do you know why the frog came out of the water?

Dang ! beat me to it. Thats what I was going to say. Your lucky you got out of there alive. Did you see his eyes; of coarse he wasn't scared of you, he was sizing you up.

Seriously, very nice photos, enjoyed all of the spectacular, up close critters. Looked like a great time. What was that thing in the tree ? (cue the x files music)

 

[fujita yuji]

Love these small creatures.
And above all, that mysterious green ball is a gall!
This is just amazing!

Thanks for sharing!