NEVER SAY DIE!! Nov. 20, 2011

Still mild as November went on. Mid-60s. Why the hell not hit Allendale?

It was a lovely day for a hike, even though I had a cold and we were a bit tired. But still, a balmy November day held the promise of herps. Well, maybe not... it had been DAMN COLD Friday night. Frost and ice. Still, there might have been someone out and about.

It became clear fairly quickly, however, that despite the lovely weather, most herps had retired for the winter. We enjoyed the fresh air, exercise and the walk, but admittedly, we wanted to see some animals.

We got so desperate, we took a shot of this big Earthworm!


He was pretty impressive.

We were almost done, having walked for over an hour, flipping everything possible and the car was in sight. I flipped a log.

Ooh! Redback! I grabbed him. No, just a worm after all.

No wait! It IS a Redback!!! (I told you I had a cold!)


This one lil fella had forgotten to hibernate, so we happily photographed him and sent him packin' for the winter!



See you in the Spring, Señor Redback!

Try to remember a Redback November. 2011

November 8, 2011

We'd been having a bit of an Indian Summer. Though there had been "killing frost" and even some snow already, the promise of 65 degree temps had me asking my good friends Kate and Snag if I could rummage around in their yard... home of Redback Salamanders and Dekay's Snakes.

No DeKay's were about (I got there just before dusk... about 5 PM in these Daylight Savings Time days) but I saw a dozen Redbacks in about 20 minutes!! Some big, some small... all cute!




I does my heart so much good to lift rocks in November and see nature still hangin' out!




Man, I will miss Redbacks when we move to the South some day...


November 13, 2011


With warmer weather still upon us (low 60s in November? Hell yeah!), we once again asked our friends if we could rummage in their yard. Thankfully they're incredibly kind to their two loony neighbors! Not as many Redbacks as 5 days prior, but not too shabby overall!

This guy wanted to play some football!


A rare mammal sighting! A small Maybelle!


And some more robust Redbacks!


Peek-a-boo!


Is this it for 2011? Who knows?! Though the weather has turned cool again, I refuse to say die! Though, if this it... at least we ended on a cute picture!!