September 30, 2008    Vol. 13, No. 35

Q.  On Saturday, 9/20, I believe that I received a good, long look at a Prairie Warbler in the winterberry bushes on the shore of Shermans Mill Pond in Appleton.  My Peterson's (4th ed. 1980)  states that they are "expanding; colonizing".  Have others had sightings?  Is  this old news?  Thanks.  T. N.  Appleton (Map 14)


Q.  These spritely little frogs are all around in the grass here in Phippsburg, map 6. This was yesterday, September 18th. Does anyone know if this is a Leopard frog or what kind? The copper shine is beautiful! RRR

A.  In response to RRR’s questions, first let me say those are nice photos! The frog is a Pickerel Frog (Rana palustris), but it is easily confused with the similar Leopard Frog. I had to check my copy of “Maine Amphibians and Reptiles” (University of Maine Press) to make a positive identification. There are several characteristics that can be used to tell them apart. As seen in RRR’s picture, the pickerel frog is bronze brown in color with two parallel rows of squarish, dark spots down the back, whereas the leopard frog is usually green and its spots are more circular, and not usually arranged in 2 neat rows.  ARS
 
A. I think you have a pickerel frog, Rana palustris.  The spots are rectangles.  LH

Q.  Does anyone know what kind of spiders these are? Everytime I turn around I'm getting caught up in one of their webs! RRR

A. The spider in the second photo is a Cross Spider (Araneus diadematus), sometimes called a “garden spider”, although this is a name sometimes applied to other commonly-seen spiders. The spider gets its name from the distinctive cross pattern on the abdomen. The Cross Spider is often seen late in the season. It belongs to the Orb-weaver family, famous for their large, circular webs.

A.  The spider looks like Araneus diadematus, a European orb weaver that's cosmopolitan in the US. LH

A.  The frog is a Pickerel Frog (once used as bait for pickerel), Rana palustris.  They are much more common than Leopard Frogs, Rana pipiens.  Pickerels are more copper-colored, while Leopards are greener.  Also the spots on Pickerels are sort of squared-off, while those on Leopards are rounder.  Anyone interested in Maine frogs and other amphibians and reptiles should get a copy of Maine Amphibians and Reptiles by Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr., et. al.  It's not only a wonderful guide book but has a CD with all the frog calls so you can tell what you're listening to on those spring nights!  GR

Do you have Questions & Answers?  Please send them!