I was momentarily distracted in tracking a southern black racer by this Cuban brown anole. The photograph doesn't do it justice. This was one big and beautiful Cuban brown anole!
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
A mid-sized American alligator patiently water-basking in a canal off of Marsh Bay Creek in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Anyone know what that aquatic growth is called?
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This little skipper was fluttering about the southern end of L. Pond road near Marsh Bay Creek at Merritt Island. I've seen many over the years, but rarely get decent photographs for one reason or another.
Thanks to cyric for helping tag the formal identification!
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This little crab actually hung back long enough for me to snag a quick photo -- and then promptly disappeared into its burrow.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
A rather large and graceful tricolored heron at Cape Canaveral National Seashore earlier today.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This little solider butterfly was biding its sweet, sweet time at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in central Florida.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
Buckeye goodness at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on 03 June 2012. Rah!
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
An Eastern kingbird at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in central Florida, just a hop, skip, and a jump north of NASA's Cape Canaveral.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
An awkward, non-revealing photograph for sure... Still, this is the black-necked stilt, a curious little shorebird commonly seen strutting through central Florida's shallow waters. At Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, they are an common staple to any given day trip.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
Along with red-winged blackbirds, I used to often see belted kingfishers in the Marsh Bay Creek area of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in central Florida, This was back from 2005 through 2007.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
Red-winged blackbirds are extremely common in the Marsh Bay Creek area of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge -- or, at least they were from 2005-2007. I haven't been back to this area in quite some time.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This is not a pure Atlantic salt marsh snake. It is a hybrid between N. c. taeniata and the Florida watersnake, Nerodia fasciata pictiventris. Atlantic salt marsh snakes have been hybridizing with the Florida watersnakes, the latter having moved into their territory in recent years. Pure Atlantic salt marsh snakes are increasingly rare, as their populations have been greatly diminished.
Note the dorsal stripe over the front third of this individuals back and the amazing ventral pattern. Florida watersnakes never have such clean striping on their ventral scales. An amazing individual.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This remarkable Florida king snake was hunting on the side of a obscure and winding dirt road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, flanked by water on both side of the road. Massive, extremely muscular, remarkably smooth, and surprisingly tolerant of my presence, this snake was an incredible experience.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
An old, rancid photograph of a young, beautiful gopher tortoise!
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
A manatee cruises in a canal connecting the Mosquito Bay and Mosquito Lagoon in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida.
~ janson
