I've been back home in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley for just under a week now, and with college classes back in full swing, I almost wasn't able to go road cruising tonight. But when, on rare occasion, the weather guessers are correct in their prognostications, as they were tonight, it's tough to pass up a good Ambystoma opportunity. I and a new member of the university herping club went out at about 7pm tonight to hit a few back roads bordering vernal pools and streams to see what we could turn up. The rain wasn't heavy enough to bring the Springs and Reds out tonight, but the Ambystoma were out in full force. First, we encountered our first lumbering Spotted Salamander, one of the fattest I have ever seen:
Virginia Spotted Salamander
A mile or so later, after a gaggle of unpictured Wood Frogs, we happened upon two more Spotted Salamanders simultaneously crossing the road, but as we photographed the first, the second escaped into the roadside woods and disappeared on us!
Second Spotted Salamander
The rest of this particular road turned up a heaping helping of Wood Frogs and one more Spotted Salamander. After stopping for some gas and food in town, we headed into pastureland along a blacktop one-lane and turned up this beauty, the last salamander of the night:
Jefferson Salamander
Happy herpin'!
Jefferson
A Little Road Cruise through the Shenandoah
Moderator: Scott Waters
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Re: A Little Road Cruise through the Shenandoah
You found a jefferson!!! YIIIP!!