My Screaming Neighbor

The Bluejay is an easily recognized sight with its bright blue, black and white feathers. The Bluejay is often heard screaming their call which sounds like jay, a warning to all prey of the forest that a fox or something was lurking in hiding. But sometimes the Jay's call is part of a political debate with another Jay. Enjoy my photos

Devin's Nature Blog

A Real Stinker

The Southern Green Stink bug unlike the invasive brown kind actually does produce a smell. This is an introduced species but has become a pest. They hibernate during the winter months in garden rubbish. the southern green stink bug will eat a wide variety of fruit including cotton, peaches and tomatoes and seeds starting with pecan, sorghum and soybeans. Enjoy

Devin's Nature Blog

I may be European but I was born here

The European Mantis is a master of camouflage. The plant in the photo (Japanese stilt grass) has the almost exact shade of green as the mantis. This gives the mantis an edge on hunting it's prey. Mantis's are phenomenal stealth and ambush predators. Enjoy my photos

I'm not nutty!

The White Breasted Nuthatch is a small woodpecker commonly seen at bird feeders all year long. I recognise it by the crown symbol on it's head. It also has blue-grey wing feathers and a white head and breast it's beak is 3/4 of an in long. We enjoying seeing them at our bird feeders.

Enjoy

What are those?

What are those green spots?

A: frogs

B: algae

C: none of the above

(answer in comments)

(no peeking)

A pious bug from China

The Chinese mantis is a species of praying mantis that thrives here in suburban N.J.. They camouflage extremely well with their enviorment (surroundings). They stalk up on their prey (mainly grasshoppers) and devour until their full. Scrapes and bites hurt from these mantises, I know that from experience. The Chinese mantis is also my trademark.

devin's nature blog

Canadian Invasion

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The Canada goose is a large waterfowl (water bird) that thrives here in New Jersey. They are very light due to their hollow bones. Like all birds these hollow bone enable them to fly. Even though they are everywhere they are majestic.

Enjoy my photos

Devin's Nature Blog.

The Mighty Monarch

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Monarch butterflies begin life as caterpillars like all butterflies. The caterpillar above is named Charlie and at the largest he'll grow at two and half inches. Next he'll form a cocoon and go through metamorphosis. Finally it will come out as a butterfly. Devin's Nature Blog ENJOY!!

A peep or two in spring

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Spring peepers are the first frogs to start calling in spring. Their call goes like this "peep". At their largest they are the size of a nickel. They live in the woods. They are tree frogs. They can be told apart from other frogs by the X on their backs. Enjoy.

Devin's Nature Blog

Something to hum about

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Above are three male ruby throated humming birds with their elegant ruby throats. Females have white throats. Their nests are the size of silver dollars! WOW!! "VVVVVVRRRRRMMMMMMMM squeak" is what humming bird call sounds like. I have humming birds in my back yard. Enjoy!

Devin's Nature Blog

Slimy Summer days

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When frightened slimy salamanders release slimy substance that acts like glue. That substance gives them their name. They live under logs and in tunnels they built. Like all amphibians they absorb water through their skin.Enjoy!

Toad Today

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Fowler's toads are brown with golden eyes at night. Unlike American toads Fowler's toads have multiple warts per spot and have a white racing stripe down their back. The biggest one I've ever seen was the size of about the size of a dinner plate.It was Toadzilla!! Their great coloration gives them outstanding camouflage.Enjoy

Jewel of creek

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Ebony Jewelwings are very friendly damselflies, they will often will land on you. They live near creaks and water sources. Males are an electric blue green color. Females are brown. I have shown a photo of the male and female Jewelwings mating. When they are mating, they make a heart shape with their bodies. Hope you find a jewel of your own. Enjoy!

Devin's Nature Blog

It's not easy being green

Check out my camouflage - (click to enlarge)

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Green frogs have a distinctive hump on their back so you tell them apart from bull frogs. Green are colored to blend in with their environment and do it very well.They live in marsh swampy areas and sometimes in vernal pools. Enjoy!!

Devin's Nature Blog

Hawks of the Pond

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Pond hawks are a species of Dragonflies that like to eat grasshoppers. Every time I've seen one eating they have grasshoppers in their mouth. Male are a beautiful electric green color and females are a dazzling blue color. Enjoy my photos. Devin's Nature Blog