Long-toed Salamanders are moving to ponds to breed right now. In some places, they've already laid eggs. In others, it's mostly males that have arrived a bit before the females. There aren't too many other amphibians breeding quite yet. Western Red-backed Salamanders aren't aquatic to any significant degree. So, salamanders with back stripes, in a pond at this time of year are almost certainly Long-toed Salamanders.

Kelly McAllister
Olympia, Washington
----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Vernon
To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 2:56 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Salmanders yesterday, also some birds


I had two Salamander encounters yesterday in the mild weather. The first was at Green River Community College. Some students noticed salamanders swimming in the so called "Gator Pond". These had a stripe running down their backs. A field guide suggested they were either Long-toed Salamanders or Western Red-backed Salamanders. I went to look for them today but failed to see them. The next encounter was later near the Riverview Marsh in Kent. An Ensatina had crawled out on some pavement and needed to be rescued, which I did.

Some birds ....lots of Northern Pintails were flying south over the Kent Ponds yesterday. Smaller numbers were swimming in the ponds. I found only one Canvasback at the Riverview Marsh. I had two Bald eagles swirling just above my head when I crossed the footbridge over the Green River.

The Northern Pygmy-owl was calling at GRCC again this morning at about 8 am.


Mark Vernon
Renton, WA
mailto ma_vern at yahoo.com


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