This weekend in the North East looks like conditions may provide for the "big Night"
The first rainy night over 45 degrees Fahrenheit, after the ground has thawed, is sufficient to trigger a migration. Hundreds of spotted salamanders (and other amphibians) migrate to their seasonal breeding pools. It is going to pour this weekend and if temperatures stay warm enough, the salamanders could be on the move!!
So get the rain gear and strong flash light and get out there!!!

Can't wait!:yessir:

Matt

A friend of mine is a grad student at Towson, where I am an undergrad, and he was out last night doing his research. Mind you the temps. here have greatly increased over the past week, but there is still some snow on the ground from the last blizzard. He got a really cool picture of a spotted moving across the snow. Ill see if I can snag the picture.

He got a really cool picture of a spotted moving across the snow. Ill see if I can snag the picture.

That would be awesome!! I would love to see a that picture!!

A friend of mine is a grad student at Towson, where I am an undergrad, and he was out last night doing his research. Mind you the temps. here have greatly increased over the past week, but there is still some snow on the ground from the last blizzard. He got a really cool picture of a spotted moving across the snow. Ill see if I can snag the picture.

...put it up !


wish i could see some spotteds out by my place.
only things spotted by me are the livers of the local alcoholics...and that's got nothin' to do with the weather.
ck

...put it up !


wish i could see some spotteds out by my place.
only things spotted by me are the livers of the local alcoholics...and that's got nothin' to do with the weather.
ck

thanx for the heads-up anyways crucifer !
ck

Look forward to the pictures

I saw some last year around northeast Pa...I'll see if I can find the pic's again

maybe i'll head out this weekend also

I found this newt last year at our summer house after several days of rain...actually quite a few of them...


http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp184/JOHNS6068/IMG_5698.jpg

[QUOTE=JOHNS6068;372497]I found this newt last year at our summer house after several days of rain...actually quite a few of them..

johnno !
nice pic.
that a red eft, genus Notophthalmus if i recall (and if i can spell it !...)
the original poster is referring to an Ambystoma. it's bigger, and black with yellow, or even my fave, blue spots.
look for them, you might see some out by your place if you can get out there during the rains, or soon after.
good luck,
ck

Not a migration but a couple of large males in the vernal pool last night.
Temps dipped into the upper 30s.
The rains have continued though and temps are keeping in the forties today!!!
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/45643/2213266750044328243S600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/44932/2699527150044328243S600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/30242/2915333550044328243S600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/7038/2647667930044328243S600x600Q85.jpg

Very cool!

[QUOTE=JOHNS6068;372497]I found this newt last year at our summer house after several days of rain...actually quite a few of them..

johnno !
nice pic.
that a red eft, genus Notophthalmus if i recall (and if i can spell it !...)
the original poster is referring to an Ambystoma. it's bigger, and black with yellow, or even my fave, blue spots.
look for them, you might see some out by your place if you can get out there during the rains, or soon after.
good luck,
ck

Yeah I now it wasn't the one...but it's the closest thing I had seen...I will look here tonight and see if I see any...lots of frogs and toads came out during this last storm...I see them everywhere now

Best of luck catching the migration.:yessir:

[quote=constrictorkeeper;372649]

Yeah I now it wasn't the one...but it's the closest thing I had seen...I will look here tonight and see if I see any...lots of frogs and toads came out during this last storm...I see them everywhere now

get any good pics brovine ?
ck

[quote=JOHNS6068;373306]

get any good pics brovine ?
ck

I was out last night....but didn't see any....couldn't even find any frogs....I hear them everywhere but can't find them....and how common are these guys (spotted salamanders that is) cause it will be a first for me if I find one around here...All I ever see here is the all gray/black ones and the ones with the red stripe on their back...and once a long long time ago a mud puppy even...but that's all I have ever seen around here...

Very cool stuff!!!!

Wish I could get out, we have lot's of spotted's in NJ.

Sorry guys, I was camping in South Carolina. Here are the pictures of the "arctic spotted" as well as some other cool pictures of the migration here in MD. My friend is a grad student doing research and has permits to put pit fall traps around some of the parks. These pictures are pretty impressive.

Arctic Spotted
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk84/onelifetolive45/3-10OregonRidge-1.jpg

I believe these are "four toed salamanders" Someone correct me if I'm wrong
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk84/onelifetolive45/3-12Hscutatumd.jpg

16 Spotteds in one pit fall trap
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk84/onelifetolive45/3-12gasline16spotteds.jpg

This was the collection of I believe 30? wood frogs from one pond, they were disbursed between 4 pit fall traps. My friend is doing research on these guys
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk84/onelifetolive45/3-12millpond.jpg

This was all from the traps around one pond. Over 60 Spotteds
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk84/onelifetolive45/3-12millpond62spottedsb.jpg

Enjoy!!

That's a TON of salamanders man!

That's a lot of salamanders. A lot of wood frogs too :eek:

[quote=constrictorkeeper;373900]

I was out last night....but didn't see any....couldn't even find any frogs....I hear them everywhere but can't find them....and how common are these guys (spotted salamanders that is) cause it will be a first for me if I find one around here...All I ever see here is the all gray/black ones and the ones with the red stripe on their back...and once a long long time ago a mud puppy even...but that's all I have ever seen around here...

they are secretive little suckers...
ck

Sorry guys, I was camping in South Carolina. Here are the pictures of the "arctic spotted" as well as some other cool pictures of the migration here in MD. My friend is a grad student doing research and has permits to put pit fall traps around some of the parks. These pictures are pretty impressive.
Enjoy!!

nice haul !
thanx for posting,
ck

Holy cow that is a lot of salamanders.....

Wow lotsa of spotted and wood frogs....

It was pretty awesome. Ill throw some pics up of the South Carolina trip maybe tonight.

It was pretty awesome. Ill throw some pics up of the South Carolina trip maybe tonight.

I wonder if I could collect toads for snake food that way.

*scratches chin thoughtfully*

I wonder if I could collect toads for snake food that way.

*scratches chin thoughtfully*

What is funny is that as I was looking at those pics, all I could think was "Wow, Quiq's going to see this and have ideas for some frog catching!":lmao::lmao::lmao:

That is a lot of sallies. Would make great Bass bait :eek:

funny you say that i am in north east p.a and opened my front door to these guys passing threw right about time according to this post.now if i can only figure out how to add an image to this reply .Figurd it out but Actually my post count is not high enough to share a link so guess i cant share my image of the spotted salamanders at my front door lol....