First Day of Spring in Greater Cleveland

[tspuckler]

Today is the first full day of Spring. So I decided to go for a 10 minute drive and check out a wooded area and see what's up.

The spot has a vernal pool.

Many, many Wood Frogs were calling, along with a few Spring Peepers. Wood Frogs sound like chickens clucking. Most of the Wood Frogs were floating about, chasing other Wood Frogs or being chased.

Another amphibian that reproduces here is the Spotted Salamander.

Red-spotted Newts are here as well, presumably to eat amphibian eggs.

The second Spotted Salamander was nearly 8 inches in total length.

You might have thought that I was kiding you when I said Wood Frogs sound like chickens, so I made this short video.

http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/tspuckler/Peeper%20Night%202010/?action=view&current=MVI_0283.mp4

Most of the frogs were rather dark.

But I did see this pink one. I've seen pink ones before, but this one was so light that I soon realized that it was an albino.

I closed out the day by finding this very pale "white-sided" Spotted.

I'm glad Spring is here.

 

[diamondlil]

Great photos Tim, thanks for sharing your finds!

 

[Airidies]

Very cool pictures! Reminds me that i need to go down the the creek and take some pictures.

 

[WingedSweetheart]

One day it rains and the next day it snows. I wish it would hurry up and get warm so I can go looking for critters!

 

[oneirogenesis]

I love spring! Good to see the critters are starting to wake up. We're finally getting temperatures consistently above freezing, so it will soon be time to look for snakes and frogs up here.

 

[VickyChaiTea]

Love the photos. They really do sound like chickens! And wow albino frog! He's lucky to have lived for very long.

 

[Dorgrim]

hah that video is awesome!

salamanders are one of those animals that i see and just am baffled by, they are so beautiful, nature really does make amazing creations!