Herpin' Pensylvania for Easter - Allegheny National Forest

Allegheny National Forest is a large nationally managed forest bordered by Allegany State Park (yes spelled differently) and various state game lands. It is situated in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. The forest was established in 1923 and has been historically logged. Parts of the forest are protected as hiking areas, used as campground and some are still actively logged.

Allegheny National Forest

The national forest has a well-developed trail system going through lovely mixed forests.

Indian Poke (Veratrum viride)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica looks similar to Round-leaved Hepatica. Flower colour is white to light purple. The stem and leaves are evergreen and hairy. The leaves have three pointed lobes. This early blooming flower is a beautiful sign of spring.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba)

Carolina Spring Beauty is another symbol of spring. This small early blooming flower flower is a light pink or purple - white. The leaves are thinner than Virginia Spring beauty but otherwise it looks very similar.

Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana)

Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana)

Violets were blooming and there was Round-leaved Violet blooming on the wet slopes.

Round-leaved Violet (Viola rotundifolia)

 Yellow Trout Lily is a common spring blooming under-story plant across eastern North America. It is common in Ontario and was a dominant in the under-story.  As we walked down the trail and back along the same path we actually noticed some Trout Lily opening that day.

Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)

Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)

Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)

 Trilliums, Wood Anemones and Twin-leaf Toothcups weren't blooming yet but their buds were ready to pop. I am sure in a few days these species would grace the travelers along that trail as well.

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia)

The Allegheny National Forest is another great spot for salamanders and I found three species on our very short walk. Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander was a lifer for me and I was lucky enough to find a few individuals. This species has a light stripe down the back with darker spots along the middle of the light stripe. They look very similar to Eastern Redback Salamanders. I am not sure if it is diagnostic or not but they are a bit thicker and have a flattened head. The Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander lives in mountainous areas with springs, seeps and headwater streams. In Canada this species lives in Quebec and the Niagara region.

Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus)

Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus)

Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus)

Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus)

Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus)

 Red Salamanders are still one of my favorite Appalachian species. They just look so chunky and fat. It's like a gaudy fat red santa salamander.

Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber)

Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber)

Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber)

 Eastern Redback Salamanders are a common species but still always a cute find. This one individual was particularly tiny.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

Herpin' Pensylvania for Easter - Colonel Denning State Park and Waggner's Gap

With the prospect of a cold dreary Easter my family decided to head down south where the weather was warmer and spring was more along the way. The weekend was full of promise and we had a loop planned to visit a whole lot of State Parks and National Forests in Pennsylvania.

Colonel Denning State Park

Our first stop was Colonel Denning State Park near Carlisle, PA. The deciduous oak forest was scattered with witch hazel and tulip trees.

Colonel Denning State Park

Colonel Denning State Park

Colonel Denning State Park

The forest floor was littered with leaves and moss. One of the first critters I spotted was a Tiger Beetle hunting in the dead leaves.

Six-spot Tiger Beetle

The Appalachian area is really well know for its salamander diversity. Colonel Denning State Park is a great place for finding salamanders. Finding this very chunky Red Salamander was definitely a highlight of the trip and a lifer for me.

Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber)

Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber)

 Eastern Redback Salamanders are common in eastern Canada and the United States. Their color is variable with a slate grey background with lighter flecks. Some have a red stripe on the back while others are a grey "Leadback" colour phase.

Eastern Redback Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus)

Eastern Redback Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus)

Eastern Redback Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus)

 Slimy Salamanders live in moist soil/ leaf litter in deciduous forests. This species isn't found in Ontario, but I have seen them before in southern Illinois. Like Redback Salamanders, this species doesn't use vernal pools to breed and the females will guard the clutch.

Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)

Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)

Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)

In Ontario spring flora hasn't really sprung but the trip down we had pleasant views of Eastern Redbud in full bloom along the edges of woodlots. The under-story 

White Violet (Viola blanda)

Hepaticas are early blooming species that vary from white to light purple in colour. The leaves and stems are hairy and evergreen with three lobes.

Round-leaved Hepatica (Anemone canadensis)

Round-leaved Hepatica (Anemone canadensis)

Round-leaved Hepatica (Anemone canadensis)

Round-leaved Hepatica (Anemone canadensis)

 Rue-anemone is a lovely spring flowering plant. The white flowers site atop a whorl of leaves with rounded teeth.

Rue-anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)

Rue-anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)

Rue-anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)

Rue-anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)

Rue-anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)

Waggner's Gap is close to Colonel Denning State Park. It is a local birding hotspot and in particular a spot for viewing raptor migration. The forest was a mix of oak and cherry trees. The area was rockier than thh trail we had gone on in Colonel Denning State Park and it wasn't as good for salamanders.

Waggner's Gap

Waggner's Gap

Waggner's Gap