I Don't Like Spiders and Snakes [at Great Meadows NWR]

I tried taking a new trail today at Great Meadows, but after jumping because of three different garter snakes slithering out of the way within 5 minutes, I decided to turn back to the busier, wider, more visibly open trail.  Yes, I am a wimp.  I do not like spiders or snakes, but I tolerate them!

 Garter Snake

 Red-Bellied Woodpecker

 American Black Duck

 Canada geese

Autumn Meadowhawk

There were tons of these dragonflies all along the trail.  Two actually landed on my right arm and hitched a ride with me awhile!

It was nice to see a butterfly!  It was right near the observation deck.  Later, I saw a second one, but it was just a fly-by.

 Eastern Comma

ditto

 Grasshopper

 Green-Winged Teals

 Snapping Turtle

 Not sure about this one, but think it's a Northern Water Snake.

What are those blobs on the trail?

 Snapping Turtles (see them both?)

 and closeup!

Now, all along this trail, there were really long tendrils of spider webs blowing out from the reeds on the right side across the trail.  I had to keep wiping my face and arms.  It was creepy.

 Hairy Woodpecker

 Downy Woodpecker

And just in case you were starting to relax after getting back into the woods and away from the wispy spider webs, there were more snakes!

 Garter Snake

I went back to the observation deck to see if the Eastern Comma was still around.  It was not.  While on the observation deck, I noticed spiders all along the railing.  If people were not paying attention, and leaned against the railing, a spider might just crawl onto their arm or up their sleeve (and I might not tell them).  Creepy!

Coming soon!  With the bold headline on this posting in the parking lot, I was sure that something good much be coming.  Surprise!  They are going to start charging an entrance fee on December 1.  It will be worth it, but it's still not exactly a coming attraction!