No amphibs yet

During the past global warming years, it was certainly not uncommon to have a spell of cold weather in mid-March—a chill that spawned a bit of clear, skim ice. What's different in 2014 is that the leaf litter on the vernal pool bottom would, most likely, already have been the site of salamander and wood frog courtship during less trying conditions. I have numerous pictures of Spotted Salamander spermatophores and wood frog eggs under the ice, along with images of the adult amphibians waiting patiently on the temporary pond bottom for better weather. Not so this year. While I have spotted adult Macs, I've yet to see or hear a Wood Frog. In this winter-that-won't-quit, most of our amphibians have not yet been tempted to emerge from hiding. This photographic tribute to Impressionism will, for now, have to lack appropriate fauna.