Just a quick update with a few recent finds. Some of these photos were taken with my new camera (Nikon Coolpix P610S), which has a much better zoom and flash on it than my previous camera. I'm hoping for some higher-quality pics at medium range as a result. Also, I have two photos of different animals for you all to make guess as to the species. One of them will likely stump a few of you.
This past Saturday evening, I attended a program on frogs at a local state park. We didn't turn up a whole lot during our hike since it hadn't rained at that spot in a few days, but there were a lot of Pinewoods Treefrogs calling in some spots. Also, plenty of Southern Toads about.



Mama spider with eggs

Juvenile Gator in the swamp - I spotted it by shining its eyes

Guess the herp by its backside! This frog was up high on the outside of a restroom, so it's definitely a treefrog of some sort. I'm 90% confident of the species, but I'm curious to see what you all come up with.

Now, here's a tough one. Take a guess as to what this is - it was found in the same swamp as the Gator above. I know what it is, though I had to ask for help.


One the way out of the park, I found a pond that was teeming with frogs. Pinewoods Treefrogs, Squirrel Treefrogs, a single Barking Treefrog, Bullfrogs, FL Cricket Frogs, and Eastern Narrowmouths were all calling. I didn't get many photos, but here's one of the Pinewoods Treefrogs as it was calling:

Footage:
Chorus with five species calling:
On Sunday, we had a strong thunderstorm roll through that dropped more than two inches of rain on an already water-logged Tampa. The frogs, of course, came out in force, though I think even they are exhausted from all the breeding lately. There's been so much rain, that even the Green Treefrogs are calling from the ditches and fields!

Squirrel Treefrog

FL Leopard Frog

And here's what I think is a FL Watersnake, though later on I began to wonder if this one doesn't have some clarkii (Mangrove Saltmarsh Snake) in it. Most FL Watersnakes I see in the area have darker bandings and more red on them, even the young ones. I found this one about half a mile from the road where I've turned up three DOR clarkii this year. Josh Holbrook seems to think it's a hybrid, though there's no way to know for sure without a ventral shot, which I should have had the presence of mind to take.


Finally, a Little Blue Heron, just because I want to show off the zoom on my camera.
