Fourth Quarter 2016
Posted: December 30th, 2016, 4:58 pm
My Fourth Quarter post will, in reality, just consist of a few December finds: I shared our October mole kingsnake post at the end of the Third Quarter post, and Alabama's drought killed the herping in November. With the return of rain, amphibian activity has picked up a little, and I'm hopeful for more luck in the new year as vernal ponds begin to fill.
Marbled salamanders are typically the first ambystomatids to make an appearance for me during salamander season, and this year was no exception.
Marbled Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
The most exciting find for me this month has been the northern spring salamander. Earlier in the year, I got an adult Carolina spring salamander (G. p. dunni) in the Talladega National Forest, ending my Gyrinophilus drought, larvae notwithstanding.
I've been herping this particular creek bed in Jefferson County, AL, for a couple of years, typically finding red salamanders, spotted duskies, Southern two-lineds, and northern spring larvae. On a trip earlier this month, I got a big surprise when I flipped a rock to find an adult spring in the underlying muck.
Northern Spring Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Northern Spring Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
I visited a beaver pond swamp in the Oakmulgee WMA and got a red salamander for my trouble. Come spring, these things will be ubiquitous at this site.
Red Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Just yesterday (12/29), I returned to the creek in Jefferson County and flipped what I believe to be the same spring salamander from earlier this month. I thought the occasion warranted another couple of photos.
Northern Spring Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Northern Spring Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Thanks for looking! Nothing too exciting (unless you know of my spring salamander struggles), but I expect more from the year-to-come and hope to be able to travel a little more for some species that still elude me.
Happy New Year!
Marbled salamanders are typically the first ambystomatids to make an appearance for me during salamander season, and this year was no exception.
Marbled Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
The most exciting find for me this month has been the northern spring salamander. Earlier in the year, I got an adult Carolina spring salamander (G. p. dunni) in the Talladega National Forest, ending my Gyrinophilus drought, larvae notwithstanding.
I've been herping this particular creek bed in Jefferson County, AL, for a couple of years, typically finding red salamanders, spotted duskies, Southern two-lineds, and northern spring larvae. On a trip earlier this month, I got a big surprise when I flipped a rock to find an adult spring in the underlying muck.
Northern Spring Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Northern Spring Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
I visited a beaver pond swamp in the Oakmulgee WMA and got a red salamander for my trouble. Come spring, these things will be ubiquitous at this site.
Red Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Just yesterday (12/29), I returned to the creek in Jefferson County and flipped what I believe to be the same spring salamander from earlier this month. I thought the occasion warranted another couple of photos.
Northern Spring Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Northern Spring Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Thanks for looking! Nothing too exciting (unless you know of my spring salamander struggles), but I expect more from the year-to-come and hope to be able to travel a little more for some species that still elude me.
Happy New Year!