We landed at BWI on a Saturday, spent a few hours with my parents in Anne Arundel County, then left for Queen Anne's County to have a small memorial service for my wife's grandmother who passed away back in April. We met her family at a nice park and walked to the beach to conduct the service. My wife told me not to herp while at the park, given the solemn situation. So I didn't. But, it turns out, her family spotted two different herps for me anyway.
While we were waiting around for my father-in-law, my sister-in-law called me over to a fence line where a frog was taking shelter in a gap in a fence post in order to beat the late afternoon heat. This is a Cope's Gray Treefrog, and the ID is based on their range (Gray Treefrog's don't range to where we were).

On the way back from the ceremony, my brother-in-law was the first to see this Eastern Gartersnake that had just been hit, most likely by a park vehicle. The wound to the head didn't look severe, but the snake was definitely in bad shape, and was hardly moving when I relocated it off the path.

The next few days were spent in Delaware, where I turned up a few neat critters around my mother-in-law's house.
Bess Beetle, I believe.

Fowler's Toad in the flower bed. My MIL used to have a cat, but she gave it away, and it just so happens that I now find a toad in her yard. Hopefully more wildlife will show up in the future!

Slug

These spiderlings must have been laid and hatched in the span of the night, because they were definitely not there the night before.

Mama spider

The only deliberate herping I conducted in Delaware was at a park in New Castle County that I've been to several times before. Here's a male Blue-fronted Dancer damselfly.

This Northern Watersnake was out basking next to a foot bridge. I love the coloration on this one. Does it look gravid to anyone, or appear as if it had a recent meal?


Eastern Gartersnake hanging around some logs.


Silver-spotted Skipper

I snuck up on this small Eastern Painted Turtle that was hanging out on the pond's edge. I love seeing them as they have more color on them than most of the turtles we get in Florida.



Red-spotted Purple

Northern Redbellied Cooters with a Painted Turtle

This Green Frog hopped across my path after it was scared up by a nearby snake. I never got a good look at the snake, but it was likely a Northern Watersnake.

After Delaware, we spent the rest of the time back in Anne Arundel County, MD. I didn't turn much up there besides some Toads.
Eastern American Toad - this was a surprise find as Fowler's Toads are more common in the area, and I hadn't seen one of these since I lived in Illinois back in 2013.

Male Eastern Amberwing - the smallest dragonfly species you'll see in these parts.

Robber Fly

Dessicated Bullfrog in the basement windowsill at my parent's house. Not sure how it ended up there.

Fowler's Toad found at night near a retirement complex.

Juvenile Common Whitetail (male)

Juvenile Fowler's Toad in the neighborhood I grew up in.

Another one I flipped near a creek in my neighborhood.

Said creek.

I saw this Ebony Jewelwing fluttering about, until it got caught in this spiderweb. The spider immediately pounced upon its prey, immobilizing it. That's not something you get to see everyday!

That's all I have to share from my trip. Nothing spectacular, but I was pleased with what I managed to turn up with what little time I had for herping. I hope you enjoyed my finds!