This is a great time of year to keep an eye out for diamondback terrapins and other turtles.
They have been laying eggs for a week or two now, and sunning themselves on the banks of the Hackensack River and nearby marshes at low tide.
They also go up on land to lay their eggs — that’s how the first image in this 31-second video was captured.
Diamondback terrapins are amazing reptiles — they are the only species that has adapted to living in brackish waters. They are a threatened species in New Jersey.
If you want to see one, you have to be quiet — they are typically very skittish. In the video, you can see the terrapins scatter as the camera boat quietly and slowly approaches.
You can also read more about terrapins here.
