Screaming Tree Frog

I don't mean to give the impression that only amphibians live in Western Mass, but here is a tree frog. It was living in one of my moms potted plants. She had begun to wonder what was making the insane shrieking noise in the dining room until I discovered it. We truly co-exist with nature in Williamsburg. In the second picture I have returned him to his natural environment: the tree.

In other news I have just returned from a lobstering expedition off beautiful Cape Cod. The sea monsters that we discovered on our voyage may shock or even disgust some of my more squeamish viewers. Coming soon "CREATURES FROM THE DEEP: CAPE COD."

SWEET HOME NEW ENGLAND

I'm back in New England for a few days. Every time I visit Western Mass part of me wonders why I ever left. Yesterday I walked to this pond (pictured above) where I used to play when I was a little kid. Even with winter approaching there were some frogs and newts swimming around.
Its funny to think that I probably was pulling this newt's ancestors out of the pond when I was just a wee lad! More to come.

Bull Frogger

The expedition to Lost Pines certainly did reveal some species I had not seen before in these parts. Here a Bull Frog watches me cautiously from her watery lounge.

They Can't Get Away From Me!

It was hot, very hot and humid. I was nominally on a fossil finding expedition in a mosquito infested forest next to a creek. Many people would have fled the onslaught of mosquitoes. I spotted this toad and caught him. The problem was holding on to him with one hand and taking a picture with the other (I was there alone, you see.) I managed it and paid dearly in the form of hundreds of mosquito bites. I know I've show you other toads in the past, but it was worth it. Even if the photo is not the best it proves a simple point: I insist on sharing my animal friends with you!

The Smallest Toad in the World!

Sometimes the animal world throws you a curve ball. It happened to me the other day while I was traipsing through the woods. I was in the market for a large animal to counter-balance some of the insects and smaller creatures we have been seeing lately. Instead I met this little guy. His size protects him from many predators. Fortunately I have the eyes of an eagle (literally.)