I've had a fairly busy Summer so far, but I have had some time to go herping. Not as much as I would have like to, but it's something. So my first real finds this season were by a tiny pond in the backyard of the nature camp I was ccounseling at. In the pond, there were numerous Green Frogs and Bull Frogs, as well as tadpoles I could'nt recognize. After 10 minutes stumbling around in the water, I saw a beautiful, tiny, and very recent metamorph that I have really been hoping to see.
Northern Grey Tree Frog ~ Hyla versicolor *LIFER*
Hopping around the bushes next to the pond were what the campers called "minitoads," quite an appropriate name.
Eastern American Toad ~ Bufo americanus americanus
Last but not least, there were two, mean Garter Snakes that hung close by.
Eastern Garter Snake ~ Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
The week after, we headed down to the shore. The totals were 5 species of frog, three species of turtles, and 1 species of snake. Pretty good for a week in the ocean!
We visited a farm/garden and saw some cool non-herps
And some herps
Fowler's Toad ~ Bufo fowleri
Northern Green Frog ~ Rana clamitans melanota
We also saw a Northern Black Racer, but it was too fast.
Next, we headed over to a salt marsh to look for Northern Diamond-back Terrapins. We saw about 50, but the flies and heat were murderous, and I couldn't snap a good shot. Here is their habitat though.
This past week I went to a herping camp (yes, there is such a thing) and we totaled 20 species. I got to see a good number of both common and uncommon animals. Unfortunately, I only had my iPhone and a point-and-shoot.
Fowler's Toad ~ Bufo fowleri
Eastern Box Turtle ~ Terrapene carolina carolina
Northern Two-lined Salamander ~ Eurycea bislineata
Short-Tailed Shrew
Northern Red Salamander ~ Pseudotriton ruber ruber
Wood Frog ~ Rana sylvatica
Eastern Ribbon Snake ~ Thamnophis sauritus sauritus
I hope you guys enjoyed!
Some Mid-Summer Herps
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Blacktail31
- Posts: 50
- Joined: March 2nd, 2013, 4:47 pm
- Location: Tucson Arizona
Re: Some Mid-Summer Herps
Wicked wood frog!
- YoungHerpetologist02
- Posts: 28
- Joined: July 20th, 2013, 1:30 pm
Re: Some Mid-Summer Herps
Cool Northern Red Salamander.
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- Posts: 2248
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:42 am
Re: Some Mid-Summer Herps
I like the shrew and I love the chickens. That's a very pretty red sally, as well.
Re: Some Mid-Summer Herps
The sheep and wood frogs must grow really large in your area.
John
John