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| One of the first salamanders I've captured and learned to photograph as they "escape" the container I place them in. I photographed this northern red on July 28, 2013, along Little Jelloway Creek near Apple Valley. (Photo by Don Comis) |
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| Probably the first frog I've photographed successfully. This northern leopard frog was quite a ham, once I learned I couldn't use the salamander release trick to photograph him or her. He would just jump out of sight when the container was opened. So I just followed him along the banks of the Kokosing River in Millwood, Ohio, until he "froze", hoping I wouldn't see him. (Photographed on August 7, 2013 by Don Comis) |
But the mass migration triggered by the combination of night, rain, and warm temperatures hasn't happened yet. He believes it will happen in a week or two. Right now, I'm guessing Thursday or Friday, based on weather forecasts.
In taking a back route the other day to a pond near my house to photograph a flock of redhead ducks, canvasbacks, and scaups, I found a mini-pond near wet woodland near the big pond. This mini-pond is much bigger than the vernal pool I'm looking at in Gambier, Ohio. Last year, I dismissed it when it looked only like a drainage gully. The major snows of this winter must have swelled this vernal pool, if that's what it is.
I can confirm it by asking questions of the neighbors of the pool or by checking for eggs or waiting to see if it dries up in late summer as vernal pools do. If it turns out to be one, it would be the first vernal pool I found on m own. And it will be in my neighborhood, which I wished for.
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| This was the best I could do as I hid from this skittish flock of redheads, canvasbacks, and scaups on a recent evening. The possible vernal pool in my neighborhood is near this full-sized pond. (Photo by Don Comis) |
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