Timber!

It was a great walk this morning with my nature group.  Although I missed it, some of the group saw a porcupine (which I would have dearly have loved to see).  But the big show was this very large Timber Rattlesnake, one of only two venomous snakes in New Jersey (the other being a Northern Copperhead).  This snake is on the Endangered list in NJ, and can only be found in three fairly small habitats, one that we were in today.  

I have only ever seen this species once before, and it was in the same location as today's find.  There is a small population of these big snakes up along a high ridge in our county.  One of the guys in our group is extremely knowledgeable about snakes so he knew right where to go for a possible sighting.  This one was curled in some vegetation, trying to warm up.  It had 12 rattles, which means that it has molted 12 times.  Timber rattlesnakes molt on average about once every 1.4 years, making this one between 8-10 years old.  It's estimated length - 5 feet.  It's not a good shot, but definitely a "moment" I want to record.  This was taken full frame at 300mm with only a very small crop.  

And although this is one of the more venomous snakes in N. America, it has a mild disposition and isn't prone to strike without ample warning.  Still, one doesn't want to get up close and personal with this reptile.

The other fun sighting today was a beautiful damselfly called an Ebony Jewelwing.  They are only found in very few specific areas in New Jersey so we were quite lucky to get a good look at one today.  Although not one of my better shots, I'll put it in Extra.  It looks similar to the much more common Ebony Jewelwing that I blipped a week or so ago.

Things in the yard were quiet when I got home today.  I cleaned out the Bluebird nest box, hoping they'll be back for their second brood.  The garden seems somehow emptier with them gone.  The starlings must have taken the kids to someplace for their daily  survival lesson, making the garden quite a bit quieter and peaceful.  We'll see what tomorrow brings...

Thanks for stopping by...

xo
Debbi