Spring Peeper

This spring peeper was translucent with the back light.

Morgan Monroe Ecoblitz

Last Saturday I joined the botany team for their monthly foray into the backcountry area of Morgan Monroe. It is fun to learn new plants, refresh old ones, and spend time with other botanists.

Downy Skullcap (Scutellaria incana)

Great Indian Plantain (Arnoglossum muehlenbergii)

Long-awned Woodgrass (Brachyelytrum erectum)

Starry Catchfly (Silene stellata)

Pretty Sedge (Carex woodii) is rhizomatous with a purple base.

Bosc's Panicgrass (Dichanthelium bosci) had a downward pointing beard at the nodes.

Dittany (Cunila oreganoides)

Broad-leafed Sedge (Carex platyphylla) was a glaucous blue-green on the slopes.

Carex virescens had fuzzy perigynia and a long spike.

Carex virescens had a fuzzy sheath.

Pinesap (Monotropa hypopithys)

Heart-leaf Hedgenettle (Stachys cordata)

Sanicula trifoliata (Large-fruited Blacksnakeroot) was trifoliate, with large, bristly fruit.

Swan's Sedge (Carex swanii) has fuzzy perigynia and short spikes.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) had bright red berries.

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

Herping Eglin at Night

Kelly took Kirk and I out to see his research area at Eglin. We went a little before sunset to get some birding in, and then stayed to see what we could find in the marshes after dark. The birding was glorious in the day, but the night was magical. Chuck-wills-widows and Barred Owls were calling, in addition to all the frogs.

Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means)

We waded through an emergent marsh under a powerline corridor. The water wasn't too deep in most places. We found some Grass Pickerel and some frogs. We were looking for Sirens, but we never found any. Kelly did find us a Two-toed Amphiuma, though. I had never seen one, so I was excited. The photos of him are not ideal, but we could see him helplessly flailing his legs.

Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means)

These eel like salamanders can get pretty large. There are reports of almost four feet long individuals. This one was much smaller. An old name is 'conger eel'.

Eastern Mudsnake (Farancia abacura abacura)

After a while of looking, we had about decided to wrap it up. Kelly went back to look at something, and came back with this gorgeous Mudsnake. Calling it a mud snake might be an appropriate description of where it resides, but does nothing to describe its appearance.

Eastern Mudsnake (Farancia abacura abacura)

This snake also had a very unique feel to its scales. Even after it dried, it feel as smooth as snot. Maybe that is where the idea that snakes are slimy came from. We held it for a while, and then watched it swim off in the marsh.

Eastern Mudsnake (Farancia abacura abacura)

Eastern Mudsnake (Farancia abacura abacura)

Northern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)

Of course, we kept our eyes open for Cottonmouths (aka Water Moccasins). We each found one. This was the smallest one and the one that Kirk found along the fence. It had the nice yellow tail of a juvenile. Kelly's Cottonmouth was the biggest, and we respectfully admired them safely.

Small-mouthed Salamander

Ambystoma texanum
I found this mole salamander in the sandy soil of an emergent wetland in Terre Haute, Indiana.  I was glad I hadn't hurt him while digging, and felt lucky to get to see him.  After taking some pictures, I let him dig back into the sand.  It is nice to think that spring isn't too far off.

Streamside Salamander

It's not the best picture, but I wanted to share a male Streamside Salamander. It was fun to see this guy up close. It was a pretty cool temperature out when he was found.

Kankakee Sands BioBlitz 2012

This weekend was the Kankakee Sands BioBlitz 2012 in Newton County, Indiana. It was a wonderful opportunity to see the land, learn about the flora, and spend time with other biologists. The weather was good, sunny with a breeze; the ticks and other pests weren't too bad, and tons of flowers were blooming. I didn't take near as many pictures of some of the amazing flowers as I should have, but I spent a lot of time taking notes and trying to absorb it all. Of course, I did not force myself to stay focused on only plants.

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) was blooming abundantly in the wetter areas of the sand prairie at Unit D.

This Carrion Beetle (aka Burying Beetle or Sexton Beetle) caught my eye while walking through the sand prairie on Friday. These insects bury the carcasses of small animals. Apparently, they can release an awful smell when picked up, but I was not chosen. I did make sure it didn't crawl up my sleeve, though. This individual is possibly Nicrophorus marginatus.

Old Plainsmen (Hymenopappus scabiosaeus) was just about done blooming on the edge of the sand blow-out.

This strange little plant was something I had never seen before. Sand Jointweed (Polygonella articulata) was blooming in the sand blow-out.

I was taken aback when I spotted these Lark Sparrows Friday evening. Since these are prairie birds, I do not think of them in Indiana. I found out later from TNC staff that they breed on site.

We found a Fowler's Toad as we were heading in for the day on Friday.

I am pretty sure that this little fellow sitting in a willow clump is an immature Orchard Oriole.

The State Endangered Henslow's Sparrow welcomed everyone to the headquarters on US41. These birds serenaded us all day long, trying to get a song in edgewise with the Grasshopper Sparrows and Dickcissels.

Lobelia spicata confused us the first day when we found several plants in fruit, but not with flowers.

Fall Herp Wrap-up

I was digging a soil pit on the edge of an agricultural field near Crawfordsville, IN, when this Western Chorus Frog caught my eye. I thought it was interesting to see it outside of breeding season.

I run across Spring Peepers quite regularly while walking in the woods, but I less frequently see Wood Frogs. This Wood Frog was near beautiful wooded wetland in south central Michigan.

This Gray Treefrog seems to be transitioning from green to gray. Maybe that is the color it wanted to be. It would have been fun to observe to see if it was changing and in which direction.

A Gray Treefrog rests on a Boneset leaf.

This full Garter Snake was relaxing on an island in the Kalamazoo River.

This large (~5')snake was out on a warm October day on reclaimed mine land near Terre Haute. I didn't get a great look at it before it disappeared, but I am pretty sure it was a Black Rat Snake*.


*Much thanks to Kelly for his identification of this Racer. I stared at pictures for a while without coming to anything definitive. It was quite a large Racer.

Northern Redback Salamanders

Either Northern Redback Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) are relatively common, or I find them frequently. I found five or six of these guys at Spring Mill underneath logs. I am pretty sure that the salamanders that aren't the red-backed morph are still Plethodon cinereus, but any suggestions are appreciated.

Northern Zigzag Salamander

I was so excited to find some salamanders after a long winter while we were at Spring Mill. This lungless salamander (Plethodon dorsalis) had a very pretty pattern.