Hey everyone, my name is Matt and I'm a Florida resident who grew up in Maryland and spent eight years of my live living in Delaware. All of that time predates my passion for herping, so whenever I am up there, I try to make up for that fact. I recently just returned form a short trip up there with my wife and son, and I was able to squeeze in some herping, both intentional and incidental.
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).
DSCN8244 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
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.
DSCN8256 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
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.
DSCN8258 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
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!
DSCN8272 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Slug
DSCN8279 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
These spiderlings must have been laid and hatched in the span of the night, because they were definitely not there the night before.
DSCN8342 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Mama spider
DSCN8344 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
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.
DSCN8288 - Male Blue-fronted Dancer by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
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?
DSCN8300 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
DSCN8302 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Eastern Gartersnake hanging around some logs.
DSCN8304 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
DSCN8306 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Silver-spotted Skipper
DSCN8312 - Silver-spotted Skipper by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
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.
DSCN8313 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
DSCN8314 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
DSCN8317 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Red-spotted Purple
DSCN8322 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Northern Redbellied Cooters with a Painted Turtle
DSCN8331 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
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.
DSCN8338 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
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.
DSCN8367 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Male Eastern Amberwing - the smallest dragonfly species you'll see in these parts.
DSCN8397 - Male Eastern Amberwing by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Robber Fly
DSCN8378 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Dessicated Bullfrog in the basement windowsill at my parent's house. Not sure how it ended up there.
DSCN8357 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Fowler's Toad found at night near a retirement complex.
DSCN8360 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Juvenile Common Whitetail (male)
DSCN8387 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Juvenile Fowler's Toad in the neighborhood I grew up in.
Fowler's Toad Stewarts Landing 1 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Another one I flipped near a creek in my neighborhood.
DSCN8238 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
Said creek.
DSCN8351 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
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!
DSCN8350 by Matthew Ratcliffe, on Flickr
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!
Quick Trip to MD/DE
Moderator: Scott Waters
- mtratcliffe
- Posts: 533
- Joined: January 19th, 2014, 4:34 pm
- Location: Mt Laurel, NJ
- incuhead2000
- Posts: 670
- Joined: November 16th, 2010, 11:04 am
- Location: Germantown, Maryland
- Contact:
Re: Quick Trip to MD/DE
Nice stuff, love the spiders! MD can be a tough place to herp sometimes but ever now and again you get lucky.
Re: Quick Trip to MD/DE
Good stuff! I like that you don't only include herps, and that you have an appreciation for other things as well.
- mtratcliffe
- Posts: 533
- Joined: January 19th, 2014, 4:34 pm
- Location: Mt Laurel, NJ
Re: Quick Trip to MD/DE
I hope to be able to herp more in-depth there sometime, especially during salamander movements. By the way, if you are who I think you are, I know your brother Chris.incuhead2000 wrote:Nice stuff, love the spiders! MD can be a tough place to herp sometimes but ever now and again you get lucky.
MCHerper: Thanks! I'm a big fan of Odonates, though I still need my field guide to ID most of them.
- incuhead2000
- Posts: 670
- Joined: November 16th, 2010, 11:04 am
- Location: Germantown, Maryland
- Contact:
Re: Quick Trip to MD/DE
Yes I am his brother. Chris was actually telling me a story the other day that I think involved you and a Swamp eel!
- mtratcliffe
- Posts: 533
- Joined: January 19th, 2014, 4:34 pm
- Location: Mt Laurel, NJ
Re: Quick Trip to MD/DE
Yup, that was me. I thought it was a lightly-colored Amphiuma until he corrected me. He knows his non-herps very well!incuhead2000 wrote:Yes I am his brother. Chris was actually telling me a story the other day that I think involved you and a Swamp eel!
- ZantiMissKnit
- Posts: 1037
- Joined: September 14th, 2012, 9:43 am
- Location: Boston area, MA
Re: Quick Trip to MD/DE
That creek looks like a good snapper creek!