Andy Avram
New member
Yesterday (April 15) I went out to hit up a few leads on Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) as I have only seen them in one area and they are fair uncommon in Ohio. My first stop was at a boardwalk but I was a little early and it was still cool out so I walked down the road and flipped a few pieces of concrete to get my first Northern Brown Snakes (Storeria dekayi dekayi) of the year.
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Back to the boardwalk and found a few Eastern Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis). Here is one that was in full sun and I didn’t get a great picture of.
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Finally after walking the boardwalk a few times and finding NO Smooth Green Snakes (I usually get them in the fall) I found my target turtle.
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Spotted Turtle
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Over to another location about 45 minutes away where some people on my conference saw a Spotted Turtle. As usual the Painted Turtles, Green and Bullfrogs were out in force and no trip there is complete without a few Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon sipedon).
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Arboreal one.
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Unfortunately, no Spotted Turtles so off to another area about 45 minutes away, where I have seen and worked with Spotted Turtles (I radio-tracked a few from this population a few years ago). As usual I was able to see one of the males with a little transmitter on his butt, but he burrowed into the leaves under water before I could get my camera out. A few peepers were calling and the Bull and Green Frogs were everywhere. A few Painted Turtles later and I decided to go a little into off-limits property and search for some salamanders in a very pristine, coldwater stream. This proved fruitful, although I struck out on erythristic Redbacks and Long-tailed Salamanders (both of which are found there), but I was able to amass this excellent group.
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Cup ‘o Manders.
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Can you name what’s in the cup?
Well, I'll give you the answers.
I wasn't able to pull off a shot of the Northern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata) before it escaped.
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Here are a few pictures of the individuals.
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Redback
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Comparison shot of two species.
Northern Dusky (Desmognathus fuscus) on top and Mountain Dusky (Desmognathus ochropheaus) on bottom.
Northern Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber ruber)<O
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Spring came too late this year, but at least it is turning out alright.
<O
Andy
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Back to the boardwalk and found a few Eastern Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis). Here is one that was in full sun and I didn’t get a great picture of.
<O
<O
Finally after walking the boardwalk a few times and finding NO Smooth Green Snakes (I usually get them in the fall) I found my target turtle.
<O
Spotted Turtle
<O
Over to another location about 45 minutes away where some people on my conference saw a Spotted Turtle. As usual the Painted Turtles, Green and Bullfrogs were out in force and no trip there is complete without a few Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon sipedon).
<O
<O></O>
Arboreal one.
<O
Unfortunately, no Spotted Turtles so off to another area about 45 minutes away, where I have seen and worked with Spotted Turtles (I radio-tracked a few from this population a few years ago). As usual I was able to see one of the males with a little transmitter on his butt, but he burrowed into the leaves under water before I could get my camera out. A few peepers were calling and the Bull and Green Frogs were everywhere. A few Painted Turtles later and I decided to go a little into off-limits property and search for some salamanders in a very pristine, coldwater stream. This proved fruitful, although I struck out on erythristic Redbacks and Long-tailed Salamanders (both of which are found there), but I was able to amass this excellent group.
<O
Cup ‘o Manders.
<O
Can you name what’s in the cup?
Well, I'll give you the answers.
I wasn't able to pull off a shot of the Northern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata) before it escaped.
<O
Here are a few pictures of the individuals.
<O
Redback
<O
Comparison shot of two species.
Northern Dusky (Desmognathus fuscus) on top and Mountain Dusky (Desmognathus ochropheaus) on bottom.
Northern Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber ruber)<O
<O
Spring came too late this year, but at least it is turning out alright.
<O
Andy