A Gem of the Southeast — Northwest River Park

Author: Ty Smith
County: Chesapeake 
Survey Time: 11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Basic Weather: Clear, Temps in the 80’s
Party Members: Ty Smith & Evan Spears

This park is truly exciting. We herped this park early and hard. We flipped mostly, but we found quite a few species by scanning. We walked a few miles of trails, but boy was it worth it. These are the species we had: 

Southern Toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) {2}
Two juveniles on trail.

Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) {2}
Calling briefly from trees.

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) {4}
Two calling from swamps and two juveniles in a puddle.

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) {1}
Seen around pond. 

Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) {3}
In a grassy swamp along the trail.

Atlantic Coast Slimy (Plethodon chlorobryonis) {3}
Flipped along a hardwood stretch of trail. All found within five minutes of one another. 

Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) {1}
Foraging along shallow, swampy creek.

Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) {3}
A few basking on pond.

Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) {2}
Basking with Painted Turtles.

Striped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon baurii) {1}
Older adult male foraging along swampy creek. Photographed and released. 

Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus) {1}
Basking on a log near the grassy area near the river. 

Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis) {34}
Several scurrying through the leaves throughout the whole forest.

Southern Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus punctatus) {3}
Flipped under bark on pine logs. 

Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) {1}
Very red individual found crossing the trail near the river. Photographed.