I went to Red lock in the Cuyahoga Valley tonight. The main pond was all but silent with 1 Wood frog calling. The vernal pools to the east had Wood frogs and Chorus frogs. There are 2 ponds and 1 vernal pool North East of the main pond, each had a diffent species calling and all had Spring Peepers. The first had mainly Chorus, the next had Peepers and Leopard an the last had Wood frogs. I have never heard Leopard calling so soon. We are only 2 days into 50 degree weather and the last stretch above 40 degrees was for 2 days ending on March 11th. I will get some sound recording links up within the next several days.

Temps reached up into the 50’s for the first time since March 11th, so I went out to see what was calling. Wood frogs and Spring Peepers were going full tilt and it made me wonder if they were calling sooner. My past experience has shown that if temps stay in the upper 30’s and lower 40’s, nothing but an isolated Peeper will be calling. In fact, I’ve witnessed a Spring Peeper calling 03/29/2011 after 3 inches of snow had fallen during the day and the pond surface was glazing over. The leech was an interesting find as was the Predaceous Diving Beetle making short work of the Spring Peeper. Cleveland is supposed to be getting some showers today so I’m curious to see if any more Spotted Salamanders will be migrating like they were on the 11th.

A Predaceous Diving Beetle and Spring Peeper

Can you find the Peeper?

Leech

Eastern Red Spotted Newt

Spring Peeper

Spring Peeper

Wood frog calling

Wood Frog

Wood frogs

Wood frog

Vernal Pool, Hinckely, OH

Here is the beginning of the 2013 migration in Northern Ohio. Temps were in the 50’s all day long and an inch of rain fell throughout the day. As the showers passed in the evening, things quieted down as a cold front was moving through. Seen were Spotted salamanders, Jefferson’s salamanders, Wood frogs, Pickerel frog, American toad and Spring peepers. I heard Spring peepers, a chorus frog and the Wood frogs were tuning up. My best guess is that things will come to a grinding halt due to temps in the 30″s and 40″s for the next 7 days or so.

I went to Hinkley, OH tonight and was pleased to hear the Whipps Ledges pond wake up. I hear 2 Spring Peepers calling from different sides of the pond and I could barely hear 2 Wood Frogs tuning up. Interstate 271 was pretty loud and masked some of their vocal range. I was able to get video of some Red Spotted Newts swimming around and a couple breeding. I found it interesting that the males rear legs secured the female vs. the front legs like a frog. A juvenile Bullfrog also made an appearance, and I’m guessing that it over wintered in the pond. Temps went above freezing Friday with a high in the mid 40’s, 50’s Sat and Sunday was mid 60’s. Monday should be in the 50’s, and I’m curious if more Wood Frogs are going to be calling. Good start to the 2013 season!

It finally climbed above 40 degrees today! The temp tomorrow is supposed to be 66 and in the 50’s Monday. So… my best guess is that MAYBE Monday night there might be an early riser hopping around to start off the Spring migration. Temps will be falling into the 40’s the rest of the week with snow predicted and that will bring and end to any migration real fast! I’m getting anxious to get out and do some herping!

I went for a night walk in the Valley last night to see what was active given the temperature finally rose above 60. After a couple weeks of temps in the 40’s, the activity picks up where it left off, in much smaller numbers. Last time out, I heard the Green frogs tuning up, but none were calling last night. The anura that start calling later in the spring are much more sensitive to the weather and temperatures then the early spring species. Most abundant were choruses of Spring Peepers followed buy 5-6 Pickerel frogs and lastly 2-3 American toads. I was surprised that I didn’t hear any Western Chorus frogs, they sound like dragging your thumb across a comb, but did see one on the towpath. Once it warms up, I’m curious to see if the toads begin calling again. One thing for sure, we need rain. The ponds and pools are pretty shallow right now. When the climate is dryer and the pools dry up faster, the tadpoles will speed up their metamorphosis.

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