Social Distancing: Frogs. 3-20-20

It rained Thursday, hard at times. Warm Friday. It was cloudy but not rainy by Friday evening. Hell, it was dark by the time we left. Our friends Teá and Dan were going to the Haunted Swamp to look for critters and we decided to join them, while still keeping a full Joey Ramone away from them and each other. They got there 25 minutes before us and reported sightings of Wood Frogs, Spring Peepers and American Toads. The thought of toads excited us in a way that is hard to put into words. Tingles, I tell ya.

At about 8:30 PM, we hit the trail and were surprised and happy to see a Redback trucking across the path.

The ground was still very moist so we liked our chances.

We met Teá and Dan and scoped out a vernal they had been perusing. The quack of Wood Frogs and the peep of Peepers was music to my ears. Teá pointed out our first American Toad on the year, a wonderful, large chonk of a beast!

My heart swelled.

This Woodie couldn't decide if he should go into the water or not.


On the side of the pool, Andrea spotted our First of Year Peeper.


An American Toad looking quite grumpy in the water.


A little further up the trail, we found another wonderful inlet full of amphibian phun. This Peeper was calling right in front of us, giving us some nice sac.


Some Ride-'em Cowboy Wood Frogs showing me their butt.


3/4 of a Redback.


Sadly, this was the spot that was so full of Fairy Shrimp a week ago. They seem to all be gone already.

These Wood Frogs are not practicing social distancing.


We headed further up the trail in hopes of spotting Blue-spotted Salamanders. Much to our surprise, this Green Frog was out on the path. First of Year and the first one we've ever seen here on a nighttime salamander search.


We didn't see any Blue-spots, or any regular ol' Spotted Sals this night, but the walk into Ambystoma-land wasn't exactly fruitless. Redbacks continued to fulfill our Cuadata needs.


This Peeper hopped into Andrea's path.


A couple more Redbacks were trucking along the path.



I can't tell you how ridiculously happy I am to see toads again.


Heading back, we saw another wee Green... he still has a bit of tail on him!


This little fella was in the path... it appears to be our First of Year Bullfrog!


Another gorgeous American Toad.


My last photographed critter of the night was a big ol' woolybear walking along. Teá told me it was a Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar.


So, that's a 6 species herp night, a good and safe time with friends, and a breath of fresh air. I thank Teá and Dan for suggesting the hike and getting us into the woods. Who knows how much of that we'll be able to do this year?