I walked out to my truck this morning and felt the chill of nine degrees. With no thoughts of warm wet nights or sunny warm Saturdays, it is indeed time to reflect on 2015 and summarize my finds. It was my best herp year ever as far species counts are concerned. I found 25 different species of anurans in the surrounding Northeast, and added a few in Florida. Instead of a big story, I'm just going to hop to it.
Eastern Cricket Frogs - I have seen these in PA where they are endangered, as well as NJ, DE, and MD.
American Toad - one of my favorite Springtime activities is watching toads chase each other around in full daylight.
Southern Toad - I roadcruised a bunch of these guys in South Florida during my August trip.
Fowler's Toads - I do see these guys in PA, but mainly NJ and South. These two were seen in amplexus among fresh egg strands.
Cope's Treefrog - These can only be separated from grays through call. This was from a pool in Delaware where the majority were Cope's calling and this guy certainly was. As you can see, he is blowing up, getting ready to advertise for a female.
Carpenter Frog - I only see these in the Pine Barrens. They are a neat Sourthern-affinity species that reaches the Northern extent of its range in Southern NJ.
Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog - This is a newly described species. I have been fortunate enough to find some in PA and Northern NJ, however this particular individual was found among many on wet roads in Delaware.
Greenhouse Frog - I saw a few of these guys hopping around in different parts of Southern Florida.
Cane Toad - I cruised a few of these while hoping for Florida Kingsnakes along canals in South Florida. Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted my natural shots. This in-hand one will have to do.
Northern Greenfrog - I see these all year, however this individual was a December frog and one of the first subjects I shot with my new macro lens. :)
Spring Peeper - All of February, I anticipate the screaming chorus of peepers. By April, I can't fall asleep without hearing them in my head.
Barking Treefrog - If you knew what I had to go through to get this photo, you'd think I was nuts. I probably am. This is one of my favorite finds of the year! Endangered in DE and MD.
Cuban Treefrog - It's a shame to be out in the middle of the Everglades, yet find these with ease. These are an invasive that out-competes many of the natives and are here to stay. Regardless, they are damn cute.
American Bullfrog - These guys can be massive. Their size is impressive and they will eat whatever they can fit in their mouth.
Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad - I love these little guys. They can be quite variable, and their calls are hysterical. I saw these in Florida this year.
Pickerel Frog - These are one of the few frogs you can find in Winter by flipping rocks in springs and seeps. Just don't take them out of the water into sub-freezing air temperatures.
Squirrel Treefrog - I saw a few of these hopping around in North Carolina.
Pig Frog - I had these while spending a few days in Disney World with my daughter. They really do sound like pigs.
Southern Leopard Frog - I see these in the Pine Barrens more than any other frog. I also run into them in DE and MD. They can be variable in appearance. This is a nice bright green one.
Green Treefrog - This particular individual is from NJ, where they have recently been accepted by the state. Somehow they slipped under the radar by people who "care" about herps. I'm sure the residents nearby knew about them for years. I've seen these in DE, NC, and FL as well this year.
Wood Frog - These are one of the first herps to see in Spring. They are explosive breeders and sound like a pond full of ducks for a few quick nights.
New Jersey Chorus Frog - I find these in Southern NJ, outside of the barrens as well as the Delmarva peninsula. These are the size of peepers, but their call sounds like someone running their finger along a comb. Neat little guys.
Gray Treefrog - tons of these in PA, NJ, DE, and MD. I don't care how many I see, I will always enjoy them. They probably have the coolest demeanor of any herp in the Northeast.
Eastern Spadefoot - Spadefoots are so goofy, what's not to love? I find these EVERYWHERE except, my home county where they are endangered but local. Go figure.
Pine Barrens Treefrog - Arguably our best looking frog in the entire US. Night shining for these is something I look forward to every year.
That wraps it up. I also have vouchered Oak Toads calling, but failed to get a photograph. ...My frog failure of the year. That makes 26 species spread across a few different states. Not bad. I hope to get West or down into Central America this year and really see some diversity. Thanks for reading. Next up, I'll do lizards. Staying on the East Coast this year, that should be a quick entry.