Vernal Pools

[elizabethquandt]

The snow has melted in the Adirondacks and the vernal pools have formed--the last two nights I went out with some friends along a road that runs along my school to see the big amphibian migrations. Wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and spring peepers were all out in the 100's; they are a truly amazing sight.

Photos from yesterday night (yesterday the salamanders were out in full force, having begun their journey later than the wood frogs):

The first salamander we moved off the road

First spring peeper we found

Salamanders in the first pool we went to (here the spring peepers were so loud they would hurt your ears)

A female wood frog at the second pool (females are reddish and males are a greyish brown)

Wood frog eyes (there were hundreds of them out there!) My favorite photo of the night.

Salamander cluster (there were hundreds in this pool)

One poking his head out of the leaves.

Planning on going out again tonight!

 

[hawk]

Great shot's! Love the glowing frog eye's. Also I am impressed that you and your friends were out looking and listening. The peeper's began singing here last night and redwing blackbirds singing during the day...beautiful isn't it - Spring!!!

 

[lisaperp]

Wow!! All we have here are crickets and regular frogs. I had no idea frog's eyes illuminated the light like that!

 

[mrsnamsherf]

I love the glowing eye photos! I lived for four years on a pond, and had no idea frog's eyes did that.

Marie

Erm, that is, in a house-the pond was in the front yard. :lol:

 

[elizabethquandt]

Great shot's! Love the glowing frog eye's. Also I am impressed that you and your friends were out looking and listening. The peeper's began singing here last night and redwing blackbirds singing during the day...beautiful isn't it - Spring!!!

I always love it when the blackbirds and peepers come out--back at home (3 hrs south from college) both come out in full force as well. We have several vernal pools in the woods near my house and my mom and I have been fascinated with them since we found a spotted salamander up there. I was so happy I finally got out to see them migrating! It was a really amazing experience.

Also saw snowshoe hares and red foxes during the nights I was out. The wildlife viewing has been great up here since the weather's been warmer--saw a bald eagle soaring high up yesterday, and we have a pair of merlins nesting on campus. And my favorite, the ravens.

Marie and Terri-- the frogs' eye didn't really glow; they were just illuminated by my camera flash Really cool effect!

 

[kat051207]

Wow, that is something. Very cool, great pics!

 

[R Taft]

Oh Wow..........That would have been heaven for me as a kid....i just loved (still do really) frogs and salamanders......Sooooooooo many, awesome