Hiking the DC Metro Area

[advan]

Nice shots! Keep them coming!

 

[tarcan]

a lot of cool finds again! That hover fly looks pretty cool!

 

[bigjej]

I love this thread. I go to D.C area ( Silver Springs ) a few times a year to visit the in-laws and have been looking for some areas to go hiking and exploring that are under within an hour or so drive. I did Great Falls last May which I really liked. I see you had the same problem I did with shooting the falls - trying to get a true horizontal horizon ends you up with a off-kilter falls so the picture always comes out looking crooked! Did you find the critters off the trail? I went more for a peaceful amble but didnt really see much i terms of wildlife - one of the skinks and many turkey vultures ( when I relaxed at the sandy landing, quite a few started circling me - made me worry that they knew something I didnt!). Besides Huntley, any other nearby areas you'd recommend? What time of day do you find most productive?

 

[Shrike]

I love this thread. I go to D.C area ( Silver Springs ) a few times a year to visit the in-laws and have been looking for some areas to go hiking and exploring that are under within an hour or so drive. I did Great Falls last May which I really liked. I see you had the same problem I did with shooting the falls - trying to get a true horizontal horizon ends you up with a off-kilter falls so the picture always comes out looking crooked! Did you find the critters off the trail? I went more for a peaceful amble but didnt really see much i terms of wildlife - one of the skinks and many turkey vultures ( when I relaxed at the sandy landing, quite a few started circling me - made me worry that they knew something I didnt!). Besides Huntley, any other nearby areas you'd recommend? What time of day do you find most productive?

Thanks! In regard to your Great Falls question, almost all of what I've found has been within 20 feet of the trail. That holds true for most of the locales in this thread. If you're looking for some great spots in Fairfax County, VA, I highly recommend Eleanor C. Lawrence Park, Fountainhead Regional Park, and Hemlock Overlook Regional Park. Most of what I've found is a direct result of taking things slowly, taking in my surroundings, and flipping over cover objects...lots and lots of cover objects. My rule of thumb is to return rocks, logs, etc. to the position in which I found them. If you've got the patience, there are countless species that can be found right under your nose, and you don't have too get far away from metropolitan areas to find them.

 

[Shrike]

Argiope aurantia, Huntley Meadows Park, VA


Chelydra serpentina, Huntley Meadows Park, VA






Pachydiplax longipennis, Huntley Meadows Park, VA. If any entomologists/dragonfly aficionados would like to corroborate/correct my id, please let me know.

 

[oldmanofthesea]

I live in southern Delaware and see many of the same animals. Thank you for the photos. Ron

 

[Shrike]

Yesterday was absolutely beautiful. I went to Mason Neck State Park, VA and managed to find a few things. A spotted salamander scuttled down its burrow before I could get a picture, but the Eastern newt was a nice consolation prize


Acris gryllus


A dragonfly nymph.


Romalea guttata?








Hyla cinerea




Carphophis amoenus. I've been finding a lot of these this year.




Notophthalmus viridescens. A nice looking red eft.









This spider had a gorgeous orb web. Can anybody identify the species? I wish I could have gotten closer. The camera was getting finicky.

 

[advan]

Awesome shots! Thanks keeping this thread going!

 

[Shrike]

Thanks Advan! It's become a bit of an addiction. I really get a kick out of the variety of species you can find minutes away from home. This stuff is practically in our back yards (if not literally in our back yards) but it's invisible to most people. There are some notable local species that I still need to check off the list. Hopefully I can get out there more before winter rolls around.

 

[Shell]

Every time I see a new post here I come to see if you have found a copperhead yet. Love the new pics, that newt is really cool!

 

[Shrike]

Every time I see a new post here I come to see if you have found a copperhead yet. Love the new pics, that newt is really cool!

Thanks Shelley! I think I jinxed myself when I said I really wanted to find one...

 

[Shell]

Thanks Shelley! I think I jinxed myself when I said I really wanted to find one...

I think you did, try reverse psychology and see if that works.

 

[desertanimal]

Red efts are so awesome. Those and eastern box turtles are my favorite memories from growing up in NOVA. Nice finds.

 

[Introvertebrate]

I used to live in the DC area. McLean, Virginia, to be precise. I don't remember seeing such interesting wildlife. I should have gotten out more.

 

[Shrike]

I should have gotten out more.

Everybody should:biggrin:

 

[Shrike]

Made it to Hemlock Overlook Regional Park and Eleanor C. Lawrence Park today. It was a good day for amphibians and inverts. Not a snake to be found.



Toad buddies

Anaxyrus americanus


Lithobates palustris, a pickerel frog!


Dolomedes?


A juvenile Latrodectus variolus


Narceus americanus


A turtle pool party. Eleanor C. Lawrence has a nice nature center. They had this set up for the day so some of their rescue turtles (Terrapene carolina and Trachemys scripta) could catch some rays.


Eumeces fasciatus




Anaxyrus fowleri

 

[Shrike]

Made it to Huntley Meadows Park this past weekend. The wetland boardwalk here makes it very easy to find turtles, frogs, insects, spiders, etc. I actually saw a nice Deinopis spinosa (I think) but could not for the life of me get the lens to focus on it. There's also a great network of trails through the woods. Tons of downed wood and tons of stuff living underneath.




Lithobates sphenocephalus


Lithobates catesbeianus






A nice looking orb weaver. Not sure what species.


Chrysemys picta






Chelydra serpentina. Even snappers can share a tender moment.








I believe these are called handsome meadow katydids. Orchelimum pulchellum. Handsome indeed.




Narceus americanus


Juvenile Latrodectus variolus






Argiope aurantia




Carphophis amoenus




Ambystoma maculatum

 

[zonbonzovi]

Nice snapper porn! That katydid is awesome; haven't seen even a photo of one before. Did you see many of them?

 

[Shrike]

Nice snapper porn! That katydid is awesome; haven't seen even a photo of one before. Did you see many of them?

Gotta love the snapper porn. That katydid was a new species for me too. They were out in force though, crawling on the boardwalk, on adjacent stems, pretty much everywhere you looked. At first I didn't look very closely but when I saw one through the view finder I was impressed.

 

[tarcan]

another great set of captures, thanks for sharing them!