We just finished up the warmest winter on record here in the Greater Cleveland Area. Here's some of the stuff I found this year prior to March 21st.



Painted Turtles were the first herps of 2012 for me. I started seeing them out basking in February.





A nice group of them from a Metropark.





A "flying" Painted.





Amphibians started migrating around the middle of March, if not, a bit sooner. Jefferson Salamander:





I took my friend's kids out during the daytime. Here's the habitat we explored:





Lauren likes salamanders.





And so does Lance.





But Lucas...not so much.





Spotted Salamander.





Redbacks are one of two types of salamanders that I can find in my backyard.





Another friend wanted me to take her kids herping, so I did.





The children were stoked when we hit the "salamander jackpot" - four Spotteds and one Smallmouthesque under one log.





Smallmouth-like Salamander (probably a hybrid).





Ryland was happy.





Avery now wants to be a herpetologist.





Wood Frog.





Darker, floating Wood Frog.





Spring Peeper.





On March 14th I saw my first "lifer" of the year - Blanding's Turtle.





Bullfrog.





Big Ol' Snapper.





Medium-sized Snapping Turtle, sporting some orange.





Black Squirrel





A little bit after the Peepers and Wood Frogs, Western Chorus Frogs and American Toads started calling.



Western Chorus Frog.





American Toad.





Big toad carrying a sign. Somebody told me that it wasn't real, but I want to believe.





On March 17th I went looking for my second "lifer" of the year. Along the way I saw this Northern Brown Snake.





And some Green Frogs.





And I found my "lifer" too - Spotted Turtle.





Northern Water Snakes were the first snakes I saw this year, but they proved to be tricky to get shot of.





Here's a different one.





Leopard Frog on a log.





Pickerel Frog on a log.





On March 20th, it seemed there there were Eastern Garter Snakes everywhere. A few males courting females were seen. Here's a little male with a large female that appeared to have recently eaten a frog.





And here's one from another location.





Red-spotted Newt in "suspended animation."





Newt out of the water.





It's been an interesting winter!



Tim
Third Eye Herp

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