the Valley was hopping last night!

 This male peeper had his colors reversed, I've never seen one with light markings on a dark body.

Here's a video of him making noise!
This one was calling from the edge of the towpath and can be heard calling when the temperatures drop. I hear some calling last year after a 3-4 inch spring snowfall.

 A female Green frog. You can tell the females from males because their eardrums are about the same size as their eyes. The Green frogs started calling several weeks ago during the warmup, and began again last night, but will stop calling with the temperature drop. With the Valley's water levels being so low, compared to last year, she was probably coming from the adjacent pond to the more permanent deeper lock, where the larger frogs breed. There tadpoles can take up to 2 years to metamorphose, so they need the more permanent water environments.

 

Here's another Pickerel frog. They are still calling from the canal, sounding somewhat like a descending snore. I didn't hear any last year, but this year they seem to be abundant.

Warmer temps get things moving again

I went for a night walk in the Valley last night to see what was active given the temperature finally rose above 60. After a couple weeks of temps in the 40's, the activity picks up where it left off, in much smaller numbers. Last time out, I heard the Green frogs tuning up, but none were calling last night. The anura that start calling later in the spring are much more sensitive to the weather and temperatures then the early spring species. Most abundant were choruses of Spring Peepers followed buy 5-6 Pickerel frogs and lastly 2-3 American toads. I was surprised that I didn't hear any Western Chorus frogs, they sound like dragging your thumb across a comb, but did see one on the towpath. Once it warms up, I'm curious to see if the toads begin calling again. One thing for sure, we need rain. The ponds and pools are pretty shallow right now. When the climate is dryer and the pools dry up faster, the tadpoles will speed up their metamorphosis.

This American Bullfrog was the first that I saw. She was out and about and I saw her heading back to Red Lock.

 This Spring Peeper shows the distinct "X" or "Cross" marking.

 This is one of several American toads that I came across. Their color varies greatly and changes with ambient light or location. It was making like a rock, so I hopefully wouldn't see it!

 This little one was crawling across a foot bridge.

 One of many Glow worms that illuminate the towpath. In a couple months, this will metamorphosis into a lightning bug. The larva feed upon snails and slugs and adults don't eat at all, dying after they mate.

 This Western Chorus frog was the last anura I saw on the towpath. It was close to Red Lock, where I typically park for these late night excursions.

Excellent night

It was an excellent night in Hinckley tonight! I saw many Spotted salamanders migrating across the road and 1 Jefferson's salamander. Wood frogs were abundant and I could hear them calling in the distance in a full chorus as well as many Peepers tuning up.

3-7-2012

I went back to the Hinckley and Whipps Ledges pond to see what activity was there. I saw 2 Wood frogs in amplexus, but heard none calling. There were 3-4 Spring peepers calling intermittently dependent on where I was walking. I saw only one Spotted salamander and it swam under a log as soon as the light hit it. I was surprised to find 3-4 Eastern newts, they blend in perfectly with the vegetation. There were several juvenile Bullfrogs again and I did see what I believed was last years Bullfrog tadpoles due to the rear legs beginning to grow. Temps were in the upper 50s during the day and rain in the morning. By the afternoon, everything was dry. I then went to Red lock and didn't find any Leopard frogs, so they may have moved on or were deeper in the vegetation due to the previous days cold temps.

Start of Migration!

Juvenile Bullfrog, note no dorsal folds

I found a surprising number of frogs this evening after traveling to Hinckley and then to Red Lock in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I found several juvenile Bullfrogs at Hinckley by Whipps Ledges. My guess is that they metamorphosed late last year due to their small size and hibernated in the pond. I was surprised at the number of adult Leopard Frogs that I found in the Red Lock off Vaughn Road and I suspect they hibernated there as well. As far as migration goes, the Leopard frog pic was taken in a grassy area which was next to the canal lock, so it was more then likely heading to an area nearby where I have heard them chorus in the past. I heard one Spring Peeper and one Midland Chorus Frog in the same area calling sporadically and I believe that Friday they should be more plentiful.

Male Leopard Frog, note thumb pads

First frog I saw migrating, it was crossing the grass by Red Lock.

Leopard frog on Riverview Rd.

Spring Peeper, male

Spring Peeper, note cross on back

Spring Peeper, note variation of pattern on back

Bullfrog, Hinckley

Sunday at Brecksville Station pond

I got to the pond just as the snow storm passed by, but was able to get these pics as a second round of flurries passed through.

It looks like both the Western and Eastern ponds are kept full by the beavers. Separated by the Cuyahoga Valley Line, each is connected by an overflow from the Western pond, and there are small lodges in each.

Last time I was here, I thought I heard an owl in a grove of pines, and it looks like this could be the nest.

They tend to nest in the pines so they have permanent cover to hide from the crows. Scouting locations for the upcoming spring is one of my favorite things to do in the winter because the deer trails are very viable and the geography is easy to read.

Sunset at Station Road pond

I went to the Station Road pond Sunday evening to look for good recording locations beyond the railroad bed. I didn't really find anything new, but there is a hillside that may shield the mic from the road traffic coming from 77. I find that atmospheric conditions affect the sound, for example, if there is a heavy fog, ambient sound is diminished. If it is very still and the sky is clear, the sound from I77 is very noticeable. All in all, it is a good area to use as an overall indicator, but maybe not so much for recordings. There are areas along the towpath that are much more protected and quiet.