Spring in the mountains is peeking around the corner

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BillMcGighan
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Location: Unicoi, TN

Spring in the mountains is peeking around the corner

Post by BillMcGighan »

Been quite tied up on home projects since the holidays, but our recent spurt of warm weather, combined with rain, was more than I could stand.

Two quick outings, both less than an hour each, one night, one day, gave hope that spring is around the corner here in the mountains.

These animals are just the usual suspects, so it’s less the specific animal, and more the hope of the start of a new season of life!



Upland Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris feriarum) were strongly calling so many couldn’t resist the draw.


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Blueridge Two Lines (Eurycea wilderae) squirmed across the road like little snakes.


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No prespring outing would be complete without the ubiquitous Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)


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Of course, the star of this road was the Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum).



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A common resident of the mountain streams , Seal Salamander (Desmognathus monticola) seemed out of place in this location and was a small surprise.



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Today, in the afternoon with the salamander movement, I grabbed the camera and the dog and did a very short hike to a low altitude Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) breeding pool. They were calling nicely.

When I saw the one on the left, I couldn’t help but think of a line in a song, “There's a frog on the bump on the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea”



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Oh well.... Cabin fever can be serious!!!!

Maybe spring is within sight!
simus343
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Location: Okaloosa ca, Fla.

Re: Spring in the mountains is peeking around the corner

Post by simus343 »

Very nice Bill. Your Blue Ridge Two-Line looks a little like a gravid female. I flipped a southern two-line on Monday that was a little chunky. Shined her with my phone light and she was gravid.
Tamara D. McConnell
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Re: Spring in the mountains is peeking around the corner

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

... the hope of the start of a new season of life!
Yes!
Beautiful animals, Bill.
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Josh Holbrook
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Re: Spring in the mountains is peeking around the corner

Post by Josh Holbrook »

Can't wait for spring - we did some herping last night and had some fun results as well.

The White Witch's power is waning!
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BillMcGighan
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Location: Unicoi, TN

Re: Spring in the mountains is peeking around the corner

Post by BillMcGighan »

simus
Your Blue Ridge Two-Line looks a little like a gravid female.
Yeah, Nick, all the females seen that night were gravid. The cirri on the males were pronounced.



Tamara, has it been bad down there so far?



Josh,
The White Witch's power is waning!
:lol: :lol: :lol: I'm all ready for the warmth of the wardrobe!
It's cold as crap here again!

What are the regulars over by you?
Tamara D. McConnell
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Re: Spring in the mountains is peeking around the corner

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »


Tamara, has it been bad down there so far?
No, not bad at all. Been a very mild winter, almost no winter at all. But the spring explosion of life is still very exciting and the best time of the year, in my opinion. When I am standing in a swamp listening to springtime frog choruses, I hear the voice of God.
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Berkeley Boone
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Re: Spring in the mountains is peeking around the corner

Post by Berkeley Boone »

Nice diversity, Bill! I love the colors on that wilderae!

--Berkeley
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