Year’s end. The days begin to lengthen. Christmas presents like the hip waders I got stir anticipation of the coming herping season. A little over two months until our first salamanders emerge. And what better time to review the past season?

January

On 1/18 Dr. Gary Casper gives a talk about the herps of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, and excitement begins to build about the coming season. Gary asks me if I’d be interested in being involved in some surveying in the upcoming season. But of course!


P1180011 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

On 1/29 I attempt to fill the winter void by visiting my friend Rob Carmichael’s Wildlife Discovery Center. Rob let’s me photograph his GORGEOUS Wagler’s viper.


P1290003 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

February

On 2/12 I go on a bald eagle shoot. Adult and immature eagles munch on fish provided to draw them near.


P2120275 by Carl Koch, on Flickr


P2120306 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

On 2/13 the Blanding’s turtle marsh near one of the hognose nesting areas lies frozen at sunset. About a month to go until our season begins.


P2130266 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

I can’t wait any more. On President’s Day weekend Jake Seals and I head south to find some herps.

We find some awesome salamanders and even a few reptiles with the help of Trey Petty.

On 2/19 after driving all night, we arrive in NE Alabama and find our first herp, a slimy sal.


P2190004 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

The next day in NW Georgia, accompanied by Trey Petty, we find a spring salamander larva...


P2200138 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

...an oddly colored and patterned southern redback sal...


P2200167 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

...and one of our targets for the trip: the Pigeon Mountain salamander.


P2200053 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

March

It’s finally our turn in the Midwest!

On 3/22 an all-day rain that continues well into the evening allows me to be at a vernal pond for the first salamander migration I have ever witnessed.

Eastern tiger and blue-spotted sals move VERY slowly in the slush the rain has formed on the partially ice-covered pool.


P3220027 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

A female tiger bulging with eggs crawls along the bottom as the rain continues to fall.


P3220032 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

April

Salamander surveying for Gary has begun and I have the privilege of confirming the presence of spotted salamanders at the new southernmost locale in Wisconsin.

On 4/5 at the same location we find tiger salamander eggs...


P4050078 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

...and prairie crayfish (Gary was also surveying for crayfish).


P4050084 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

Andrew and Sarah Gilpin, Kyle Salzmann, Matt Heeter, and Al Sheldon come to my neck of the woods for the second annual Southeastern Wisconsin salamander blitz. We find every Wisconsin species except the mudpuppy (we’ll be shooting for all 7 this coming season!).

On 4/9 we find this lovely four-toed sal, among other species.


P4090226 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

On 4/25 Trey Kieckhefer, Stu Willicombe, and I find this lovely spotted sal.


P4250068 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

A large Blanding’s basks on a late April afternoon. A second had been basking with it when Trey and I came upon them.


P4250113 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

Spring break sees me in north Florida with Daniel Dye, Glenn Bartolotti, and Billy Boothe.

Daniel Dye found this lovely Bradford County corn I photographed on 4/27.


P4270030 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

On the same day Daniel and I road-cruise this beautiful eastern coral, one of the lifers I saw on this trip.


P4270071 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

The next day Daniel spots this gorgeous southern copperhead, photographed as found.


P4280071 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

We road-cruise this scarlet snake (another lifer) on the night of 4/27 and photograph it the next day.


P4280024 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

On 4/30 we find this lovely Florida cricket frog, yet another lifer.


P4300004 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

May

May brings out the snakes back in Wisconsin.

Stu finds this lovely blue racer on 5/22.


P5220067 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

My friend Phil Fritsch and his son Avery find this juvenile the same day.


P5220075 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

On 5/28 my friend Ben Scott and I find this splendid wood frog.


P5280118 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

On my way back from visiting Ben I find this western fox.


P5280189 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

Jeff Moorbeck and I find this bull on 5/30. Despite being in shed, it’s beauty is apparent.


P5300265 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

June

Time for hognoses! Eastern (6/22)...


P6220077 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

...AND western (6/25) with Don (psyon), his son David, and his “adopted” son, Isaiah, who finds the western (as well as every other herp on the trip!).


P6250050 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

The same day produces an ornate box turtle munching on a bird carcass...


P6250141 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

...and this beautiful regal fritillary butterfly.


P6250193 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

Late June into July

One of the highlights of every season for me -- nesting hogs. This year does not disappoint! My “2011 Nesting Log” tells the story:

Wednesday 6/22 - first burrower at Hog Prairie, pretty adult coiled in front of brush pile at site 3

Friday 6/24 w/ Trey K. - 3 at site 2, 1 burrowing, 2 small adults coiled in grass

Sun 6/26 w/ Jeff Moorbeck, Jamie Deboer, and Stu Willicombe - one yearling under cover along trax, 6 burrowing/crawling at HP, 2 burrowing at site 2

Monday 6/27 - first burrower ever at site 3!

Tuesday 6/28 - Steve Barten found 7 burrowing/crawling at HP and Dave Connell found 4 burrowing/crawling at site 2

Wed 6/29 w/ Matt and Alan Ignoffo - 7 at trax

Fri 7/1 w/ Brian Farnand - 9 at HP incl colorful ones, many small, 3 in one spot; one burrowing at site 2

Tues 7/5 one burrower at HP

Thurs 7/7 one burrower at HP (same burrow as 7/5, looks to be same snake)

Here are the “colorful ones” I mentioned from 7/1.


P7010143 by Carl Koch, on Flickr


P7010210 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

July

A snapper that was very curious about me (7/7).


P7070078 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

Gravid timber from 7/16.


P7160257 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

August - The “dog days” still included common and uncommon finds.

Bull frog from 8/1.


P8010099 by Carl Koch, on Flickr
Probably gravid northern water snake from 8/15.


P8150058 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

Albino Butler’s garter found while collecting survey boards on 8/16.


P8160102 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

Smooth green from 8/19.


P8190042 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

Another gravid timber from 8/20.


P8200121 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

A western slender glass lizard with full tail from the same day.


P8200124 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

On August 31st I have the pleasure of finding baby eastern hogs emerging from one of the nests at the Hog Prairie! Eastern hogs shed upon exiting the nest.


P8310042 by Carl Koch, on Flickr


P8310061 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

September, October, November, December - My job consumed me for the rest of the season, and limited funds kept me from making any fall excursions.

Lesser fringed gentian, 9/18.


P9180036 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

Jumbo puffball, 10/9.


PA090011 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

Silhouetted oak, 12/11.


PC110063 by Carl Koch, on Flickr

Thanks for joining me in my reverie! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Carl
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Carl

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