It was an excellent night in Hinckley tonight! I saw many Spotted salamanders migrating across the road and 1 Jefferson’s salamander. Wood frogs were abundant and I could hear them calling in the distance in a full chorus as well as many Peepers tuning up.

I went back to the Hinckley and Whipps Ledges pond to see what activity was there. I saw 2 Wood frogs in amplexus, but heard none calling. There were 3-4 Spring peepers calling intermittently dependent on where I was walking. I saw only one Spotted salamander and it swam under a log as soon as the light hit it. I was surprised to find 3-4 Eastern newts, they blend in perfectly with the vegetation. There were several juvenile Bullfrogs again and I did see what I believed was last years Bullfrog tadpoles due to the rear legs beginning to grow. Temps were in the upper 50s during the day and rain in the morning. By the afternoon, everything was dry. I then went to Red lock and didn’t find any Leopard frogs, so they may have moved on or were deeper in the vegetation due to the previous days cold temps.

Juvenile Bullfrog, note no dorsal folds

I found a surprising number of frogs this evening after traveling to Hinckley and then to Red Lock in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I found several juvenile Bullfrogs at Hinckley by Whipps Ledges. My guess is that they metamorphosed late last year due to their small size and hibernated in the pond. I was surprised at the number of adult Leopard Frogs that I found in the Red Lock off Vaughn Road and I suspect they hibernated there as well. As far as migration goes, the Leopard frog pic was taken in a grassy area which was next to the canal lock, so it was more then likely heading to an area nearby where I have heard them chorus in the past. I heard one Spring Peeper and one Midland Chorus Frog in the same area calling sporadically and I believe that Friday they should be more plentiful.

Male Leopard Frog, note thumb pads

First frog I saw migrating, it was crossing the grass by Red Lock.

Leopard frog on Riverview Rd.

Spring Peeper, male

Spring Peeper, note cross on back

Spring Peeper, note variation of pattern on back

Bullfrog, Hinckley