My yard is quite noisy with frogs, toads, crickets and katydids. Last night I went out with my flashlight to see if I could spot any of the choir in the act. Most all the sounds were coming from above and I had just about given up hope of spotting anyone when I turned to old faithful…my boneset. I was thinking either a katydid or moth, but I was pleasantly surprised to see this little Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) sitting on a leaf and hidden from above. He/she was so low that I shot this from a kneeling position.
I never did get to see him/her engage in song, but I think that once mating is past they vocalize a bit less.
I generally don’t “photoshop” beyond the basic contrast adjustments and sharpening. But for this one I did clone out the flash specular highlights. I don’t use flash often and have a learning curve in progress. I believe there is a way to control the speculars and possibly polarize the flash, but I haven’t got that far yet. I do place a diffuser over my 550EX.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
It is a fine looking specimen. How big would you say it was? I like the way the boundary between light and dark in front of and behind the eye continues through the eye.
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I’m happy to report we have these in IA, right behind our property is wet place where they have regular choir sessions.
http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=26
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This one was probably a little over an inch, so not a monster peeper. Glad you get to hear them too, Jim.
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You make a good observation about the continuation across the eye of the dividing line between light and dark. That adds a lot to the picture.
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That is one of the field ID marks for this species as it is in many birds and insects.
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Just a little over an inch: I’d conceived it a good deal larger, so I’m glad you mentioned its size in your previous reply. In my limited experience tiny frogs seem more willing to stay put than large ones, but I probably don’t have enough data to support that conjecture.
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There could be something to your hypothesis, Steve. I’ve found a few factors in their staying put….distance, height (as in not looking like a predator from above or below) and speed of approach. Then again, sometimes nothing spooks them and at others anything might. I’ve had times when I walked right up and shot and other times when I have approached at eye level and quite slowly over quite a while only to have one jump just as I am about to shoot. They are a lot easier than a turtle sunning on a log…now that is skittish.
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With turtles on logs as well as [presumed] frogs along river banks, I’ve sometimes heard the plunk as they jump into the water before I’ve even been able to see where they are.
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That is a very familiar sound, Steve.
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A pretty frog indeed and I love frogs- large or small. The itty bitty ones in my yard are seldom seen but I know they are around.Great photo, Steve.
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Frogs’ announcement of their presence is music for the soul, Yvonne. I love their chorus and I am glad that you do too.
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I am delighted to hear that you have peepers, and you, too, Jim! We used to have them in our are but their numbers took a dive. I was also noticing the markings that continue through the eye~ how beautifully you have captured that.
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Thanks, Melissa. Just one of the many wonders we can enjoy when not living in the city. Such a fine variety too. I am sorry that you don’t have them, or at least not as many, for your enjoyment and the obvious health of the eco-community there.
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He may have thought you were proposing Steve. Nice handheld flash capture. Beautiful frog markings.
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I was proposing for his posing, Rod. It is not a handheld shot, though. Thanks!
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I should have known kneeling didn’t equate to handheld.
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Okay, this is where I need to be! I lost my way inn Google+ for a while; that’s what was creating my confusion.
This little guy is quite the charmer. We don’t have spring peepers here – their native range ends a few counties east of us. We tend to have chorus frogs of several persuasions, presumably filling a similar niche but able to cope with our drier climate a bit more easily.
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Thanks for persisting and finding your way here, Cynthia. That’s good news that someone else has filled the choral niche in the absence of peepers.
How is their mating different? I assume they still need a body of water for amplexus?
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A very handsome specimen, Steve. Why are they called Peepers?
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He is a dapper dude, eh Andrew?
Why peeper? I’ll let them speak or rather peep for themselves.
🙂 !!!!!!
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Frogs or another session of Congress?
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Another nice shot Steve. D
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Thanks, David. Now that I have posted that YouTube audio, maybe I should try to capture the sounds of my yard too.
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I clicked on the audio … and, boy, did that catch J’s attention … ‘It’s not peeper season,’ she said,’ and leaned over for a look! D
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Oh, I wish it was a video then….I have never seen them singing, but it would be a great thing. On the to do list now.
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This really is a handsome specimen, and a fine photo. I might have missed that light/dark distinction, because I was more focused on his expression of bemused tolerance, but now that it’s been pointed out, I see it. After all the rain we’ve had, I think it’s time for a trip to a bayou for a frog fix.
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Go find yersef a frog, Linda. 🙂 The light/dark markings along with a kind of crucifix marking on the back are two keys for identification and where it gets its species Latin moniker. Thanks!
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I’d wondered about the crucifer and now you’ve explained it. Are there any species with a star of David on them?
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That would be quite the mark.
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Super shot of Froggy Steve!
Funny story, last month, we were hearing a weird buzzing noise by the wall where the TV is located. We started unplugging everything and could not make it stop. We eventually realized it was a frog outside right up against the wall of the house.
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Thanks, Phil. I can understand the vibration traveling through the wall from one of these guys.
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Steven, I don’t often comment, but I always enjoy your beautiful view of life on earth. Thank you. J.F. Riordan
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Thank you for those kind words, J.F. Good luck with you new novel.
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