Salamander Hunting During Another Trip to the Study Area

By David S. (Intermediate)

Sept. 18^th, 2004

On Saturday September 18, 2004, we visited the study area and divided into two groups, one went one way, and the other group went a different direction. Our plan was to meet up at the same place to have lunch. We started out by wandering out towards a small pond where some baby turtles were apparently captured a few years ago. Unfortunately, we didn't have such luck on our field trip, and found only a few Northern Leopard Frogs (Rana pipiens).

We continued on through the forest, flipping logs and stones on our way, when my brother, Alex, found a salamander that was coloured black with blue spots on its side. I later found out that it was a Blue-spotted Salamander, or Ambystoma laterale.

Looking for salamanders

Talking of salamanders, the blue-spotted specimen wasn't our only find. We also found about five Red Efts: the terrestrial, larval stage of Notophthalmus viridescens, the Eastern Newt. The larvae are red, with tiny yellowish spots. As they grow larger, the upper portion of their body becomes dark brown, while their bellies become light orange. Eventually, they abandon their red colouration, grow a tail suitable for swimming, and take to the water.

We continued to work our way through the bush, and we finally came to a gigantic pond, where we saw a great blue heron. We went around the edge of the lake and also found a porcupine nest.

Sooner or later we made it to the lunch area, where we all had lunch.

After lunch, we each chose a study tree. Myself, I chose sedge.

Any ways, we had a great time at the study area. We also found a few garter snakes, some deer, a dead shrew, a dead mole, and a carrion beetle.

Blue-spotted Salamander

Back to Most Recent Field Trip

Past Trips

Would you like your articles, pictures, or artwork to appear on the Macoun website or newsletter? Email them to mfc-contribute@googlegroups.com! If possible, please save text in Rich Text Format (.rtf), and pictures or artwork in JPEG or GIF formats. You can also give your work directly to one of the leaders at a meeting or field trip. Thanks! Feel free to email me any questions about what to submit or how, or to ask what will be done with your work.