The Scenic Lawrence Brook - Animals
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some of the animals observed near  the  Lawrence Brook
THis cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum), part of a flock, was chasing insects near water surface. great egret
Cedar waxwing
(Bombycilla cedrorum)		 Great  egret 1
(Ardea alba)		 Great  egret 2
(Ardea alba)		 Great  egret 3
(Ardea alba)
Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura). Up to 30 vultures have been observed over the Lawrence brook and in atree nearby. They feed on dead animals (e.g., deer, squirrels, rabbits) Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus); catch insects in flight Canada goose. (Branta Canadensis), nesting. Species in overpopulation
Turkey vulture 1
(Cathartes aura)		 Turkey vulture 2
(Cathartes aura)1		 Eastern kingbird
(Tyrannus tyrannus)		  Canada goose
(Branta Canadensis)
Flight of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) near Ryders Lane great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
Bald Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)		 Great  blue  heron
(Ardea herodias)		 Green heron
(Butorides striatus)		 Double-crested Cormorant
 (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) picked up from the canoe snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina); approx. shell length: 12" snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina); approx. shell length: 12". It can easily bite your finger off.     
Painted turtle 1
(Chrysemys picta)		 Painted turtle 2
(Chrysemys picta)		 Snapping Turtle 1
(Chelydra serpentina)		 Snapping Turtle 2
(Chelydra serpentina
American toad (Bufo americanus) its tadpoles live in shallow water. Adult's skin secretes bufotoxin, an substance that irritates human skin. bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). Females are larger than males (weigth up to 1.5 lb) rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) (3-8 ft) harmless Red-bellied turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris), common in the Lawrence Brook (it had been declared endangered in Pennsylvania)
American toad
(Bufo americanus)		 American Bullfrog
(Rana catesbeiana)		 Rat  snake
Elaphe sp.		 Red-bellied Turtle
(Pseudemys rubriventris)
Turtle laying eggs turtle laying eggs a few feet from the Mill pond. Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina), found on Main street (Milltown) Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina),
Eastern box turtle 1 (Terrapene carolina) Eastern box turtle2 (Terrapene carolina)
black-winged damselfly (Calopteryx maculata) Green darner dragonfly (Anax junius), one of the fastest-flying dragonflies (50 mph).   Univoltine (1 brood per year) species, lay eggs almost only on plants of Rosaceae family
black-winged damselfly (Calopteryx maculata) Green darner dragonfly (Anax junius) Eastern tent caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum) Eastern tent caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)
Eastern black swallowtail on cardinal flower (Farrington lake) Nest of bald-faced hornet (Vespula maculata) larva of regal moth, also called royal walnut moth (6-6 " wingspan), the heaviest moth north of Mexico.  
Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)  bald-faced hornet [nest]
(Vespula maculata)		 Hickory  horned devil

(Citheronia regalis)

  
fresh water clam  
Mystery  snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis) Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera)  


Black  bears are occasionally  sighted not far  from the  Lawrence brook
(4  sightings  in 2008)
Bear in Milltown (pictures)

 Rrosted deer tracks on snow-covered ice

Black  bear
(Ursus americanus)		 White-tailed deer
(Odocoileus viginianus)		 Coyote
(Canis latrans),
beaver lodge Beaver dam
fresh  beaver cut Beaver lodge Beaver lodge Beaver dam
       

Invasive Species
       
gypsy moths on an American beech unaffected part of the forest affected part of the forest gypsy moth damages on a leaf
damaged beech leaves gypsy moths on an American beech

Gypsy  moth (Lymantria dispar)  infestation in the  Helyar forest , along  the Weston Mill Pond. In  Spring 2007, 2/3 of the  native forest  was   defoliated.
asiatic clam (Corbicula manilensis), an invasive clam clogging pipes; adults carry young clams in their gills See Section 'Invasive species'

The adults carry their young in theirs gills.

An invasive species that clogs pipes.  Accumulation of  shells can be observed in shallow areas, especially  near bridges
 Asiatic clam
(Corbicula manilensis), 		     
       
 

Flight of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) near Ryders LaneFlight of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) near Ryders LaneFlight of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) near Ryders LaneFlight of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) near Ryders LaneFlight of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) near Ryders LaneFlight of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) near Ryders Lane

Flight of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) over the Weston  Mill Pond and  Rutgers University .A video  of this sighting will  be available in the future

 
Carapace of a snapping turtle  that  had been  stabbed  with  great  force by  a heron. Bone  had been displaced, but  not fully perforated. The turtle seems to have survived the injury
Trout stabbed  by  a heron.  When found, the fish  was still alive.