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With temperatures hitting the mid-60s today, I decided to go outside and take a look around. Though warm, there were still patches of snow on the ground and many areas of standing water were still frozen.

As I hiked, I could hear Spring Peepers calling off in the distance, but there calls were scattered and sporadic. The first herp of 2013 was a much bigger frog than a Spring Peeper - American Bullfrog.

In the same area while looking through the underbrush, I spotted my first reptile of the year - Midland Painted Turtle. I could hear lone Spring Peepers calling off in the distance, but these herps were right in front of me, so I photographed them.

I wasn't the only one herping today - Red-tailed Hawk.

Here's male a Midland Painted Turtle courting a female. To express his affections, he scratches her cheeks with his extra-long front fingernails.

She did not seem impressed with his technique.

These Ground Beetles are cool. They have big jaws and "play dead" by freezing in this position when they feel that they're in danger.

Soon it began getting dark. I decided to track down one of those Spring Peepers that I'd been hearing throughout the day. Finding one can be tricky, they are very small and tend to stop calling as they are approached. But persistence paid off.

Not a bad outing for January 12th in the Greater Cleveland area!
Third Eye Herp

Cool bullfrog Tim.

Thanks, I don't know what it is that makes frogs seem more photogenic than other herps, but they do seem to exude an extra bit of "personality."

Tim

Awesome post Tim! Love the shots of all of the animals!!

Those Painted turtles are gorgeous as well. They were a dream of mine, when I was collecting turtles when I was young, to own. Never got around to getting one.

Isn't it amazing how many animals are out, in those temps?

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Genesis 1:1

Billy,

I never get tired of seeing Painteds, and fortunately they are very common. Though with a high temperature of 30 today, I think it will be awhile before I go on my next herping trip!

Tim

>>With temperatures hitting the mid-60s today, I decided to go outside and take a look around.

You had better luck than I did, Tim (though I've herped with you before and I know you work at it harder than I do, too--that's a compliment). It was mid-60s yesterday, and I went to a creek where i've only twice found streamside salamanders (if that's the ambystoma here in northern kentucky). Anyway, no sallies, no eggs under rocks. In the two years where i saw them, there was snow on the ground, maybe even some ice in the creek, not a warm day like yesterday, but I think it was about this time of year. Any idea whether it's the timing that's the problem? It's a fairly disturbed habitat, too, so they may simply be gone...

Hey Terry,

Yes, those would be Streamsides, unfortunately they live in extreme southwest Ohio and I live in extreme northeast Ohio, so I've never seen one in the wild (though I've found a few look-a-like Smallmouth Salamanders in my day).

Around here finding Ambystoma can be hit-or-miss. Some days when it seems good for a migration, there is none. Other times they seem to make their move in terrible weather. Also, their numbers seem sporadic. I saw a huge number in the early 80s and hadn't seen anything like it for 25 years. I thought the population was dying out. But then in 2007 I saw another huge migration.

If it's any consolation, I did check out a place on Saturday which is very reliable for Two-lined Salamanders and their larvae, but I didn't see anything.

Tim

A Smallmouth from Northwestern Ohio that I found in 2010:

Sounds like you had a great time! I caught many a spring peeper as a boy in E. Tennessee. Here in N. Fl. it has been a really warm winter so far. I have seen turtles basking all but a handful of days this year.

--Dennis

Great finds, Tim!

Went out a week or so ago and got the first snakes of the year in San Mateo county- Ringnecks, gophers, and two Coast garters.