I have been late posting this week because I have little to post about.

I went again to the Pine Barrens, and I found even less than the week before. I saw one fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus) and found a pond with lots of calling green frogs (Rana clamitans melanota) and southern leopard frogs (Rana ultricularia).

That’s not much for four or five hours of herping. These Pine Barrens feel a little like hitting my head against the wall. I research where the herps certainly are, I get my hopes up, and then I walk around for several hours finding none of them.

I’d feel really pathetic if other herpers I know weren’t also striking out in the Pine Barrens. It seems that no one else is finding much besides racers (Coluber constrictor constrictor), worm snakes (Carphophis amoenus), fence lizards, and turtles.

I am ready to give up on daytime herping in the Pine Barrens for the summer. I won’t give up on the Pine Barrens entirely; I think I’ll shift my attention to the hills and urban Philly until it gets really hot and then get into road cruising at night.

Totals for May 14, morning and early afternoon (sunny sky, temps rose low 60s to low 70s):

- 1 fence lizard
- 10+ green frogs
- 5+ southern leopard frogs