Here are several weather observation grabs from CLE. These screenshots will be useful for noting general weather trends leading to the beginning of the 2018 migration. According to local weather broadcasts, it looks like this year will have above average rainfall, so the vernal pools should fill up and road observations can be made conveniently.

February 19th was my first night out. With daytime temps in the 60’s and lower 50’s in the evening, plus light rain, I figured I was sure to see some movement. A light rain was falling during my visit and wind was breezy. The pond I observe in Hinkley is bordered to the East by a runoff creek that dumps into the Hinkley Lakes feeder creek. To the North is Whipps Ledges Shelter access road and to the South is the Buckeye trail and Hinkley Lakes feeder creek. I do not know if they are named. The East is open forest. My observations are the creatures migrating from the North across the Whipps Ledges Shelter access road, and some on either side of that road.

For the first time, I was able to observe Red Back salamanders roaming freely through the leaf litter near the roadside. Approximately 5 were observed within a 1/2 hour period. A Red Eft’s appearance made my night! To my delight, I heard my first call of the 2018 season, a solitary Spring Peeper some distance from the general breeding pond area. He was South of the parking lot at the top of the hill. The calls were intermittent and only several “peeps” in duration.

There were no amphibian observations on the 21st. Temps were in the mid 30s and dropping as a cold front moved through the area. Light rain turned to ice pellets during my evening visit. I did find a raccoon jaw bone and a slumbering Woolly bear (Pyrrharctia isabella) though! This caterpillar turns into the Isabella tiger moth!

The pond itself had submerged ice cover in the middle, but the northern more sun exposed areas were open at the ponds edge. Fairy shrimp were scurrying across the submerged ice. By the 23rd all the ice has melted and the Fairy Shrimp are plentiful and easy observed.

Eastern Spotted Newts are present, but dive for cover as soon as the flashlights beam hits them! So far I haven’t observed any mole salamanders migrating or in the pond. Jeffersons come out first followed by Spotted Salamanders. Hopefully the month will end with some mole salamander observations!

My FrogWatch training program was Friday the 23rd at West Creek Reservation, and I look forward to getting the testing out of the way so observations can be officially recorded with the AZA FrogWatch program! https://www.aza.org/frogwatch