Oaks Bottom
We went for a ramble at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge on a sunny day that was warm for January. We moseyed around the northern end of the park looking for wonders. The tadpole pond looked empty and still. Looking closely, we discovered that fairy shrimp and water fleas (both tiny crustaceans) and diving beetles were happily going about their business. Oaks Bottom is a favorite spot for birders and is justly famous for this. But it's also a great spot for herpers to find amphibians. In a short amount of time we found gobs of salamanders. These exquisite and gentle creatures never fail to charm us.
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| A tiny water flea. |
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| Fairy shrimp and water flea. |
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| Diving beetle. |
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| Ensatina. |
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| Ensatina. |
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| Ensatina. |
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| Two red-backed salamanders and a long-toed salamander (center) discovered together. |
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| Lancetooth snail. |
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| Red-backed salamander. |
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| Red-backed salamander. |
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| Teeny baby! We think it was a red-backed. |
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| Red-backed salamander. |
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