Place and Time:  Portland Arch Natural Area near Covington, Indiana, June 1st 2003

Weather:  Sunny and cool, 57F to 65F

Others Present:  Steve Coogan, Tracey, Cindy and Christopher Mitchell, Glen and Stacey Davis.

An official C.A.S.H. field trip - a hike around Portland Arch.  Our first stop was a small vernal pool, where we found some Cricket Frogs, and three species of ambystomids - Smallmouth, Spotted and Marbled Salamanders!  Further down the trail a small creek yielded a Green Frog, and under a submerged flat rock we saw a clutch of salamander eggs, probably Two-Lined Salamander eggs (no Two-Lined sallies in sight however).

As the trail wound uphill we came across the first of several Northern Ringneck Snakes, and some Slimy Salamanders under rotten logs.  At the top of an open hill we managed to scare up a large Broadhead Skink who had been residing on a fallen tree.  Said skink making a quick dash to safety. 

Some good birding - a pair of Belted Kingfishers, some Eastern Phoebes, Carolina Wrens and a Wood Thrush who called quite nicely for us. Quite a pleasant day in the woods!

Herp Species Observed:

Green Frog (Rana clamitans melanota)
Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi)
Fowler's Toad (Bufo woodhousii fowleri)
Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum)
Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
Northern Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsi)
Broadhead Skink (Eumeces laticeps)