Among the roots

  

Quick photo of a large Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) on Bodega Head today, 27 October 2025.  Although we only received ~0.2 inches total of rain this weekend, it was pretty nice salamander weather with consistent moisture for a couple of days.

At home in the rain

  

Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) in the rain in Cotati on 28 December 2024.  

Twinkle toes

  

A quick snapshot of a juvenile Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) — only ~3 cm long, photographed in Cotati on 14 March 2023.

We've had quite a run of rain recently.  I'm rounding off a bit, but here are some numbers for rainfall amounts in Bodega Bay:

During the last 24 hours = ~1.5"
During the last week = ~4"
During the last month = ~7"
Since January 1st = ~20"
Since October 1st = ~30"

Which means we're very close to our average annual rainfall at this time (98%).

Salamander weather

  

Today's rain reminded me of this salamander that I photographed earlier in the month.  I think this is a Speckled Black Salamander (Aneides flavipunctatus).  I haven't seen this species before, so if you disagree with my i.d., please let me know as I'm open to feedback!

I'm still learning about this species, but it appears to have a fairly restricted distribution, e.g., from about Sonoma County north to southern Humboldt County.

Here's a view of the entire animal (below).  Note the very dark background color:

 

 

From the forecast, it sounds like we'll be seeing salamander weather for a little while!

Gold in the rain

  

I wandered outside tonight with salamanders on my mind.  This is the first one I encountered — a young Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) in Cotati on 27 January 2021.  We received ~1.5-2" of rain during the last 24 hours.

New Moon stroll

  

An Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii) out for a New Moon stroll on 15 November 2020, just before the rain started.

At home under a log

During a neighborhood walk a couple of days ago, Eric peeked under a log and was surprised to see quite a gathering:

 

Arboreal Salamanders, a Sierran Treefrog, isopods, and a spider!  There must have been something special about that spot.  We gently replaced the log, but it's hard not to wonder how all of them might have been interacting.

Salamander weather, at last

 

After ~2 inches of rain during the past 48 hours, I looked outside and spotted a couple of Arboreal Salamanders (Aneides lugubris) near our front steps.  The adult (above) was over 6 inches long, but there was also a juvenile that was only ~1.5 inches long:

 

I'm so glad they're finally enjoying some rain!

 

One foot

You might remember that last week I tried to find a salamander and failed.  Tonight (16 January 2019), I was successful!  

It's quite stormy (lots of rain and wind), but I went out for a few minutes to see if an amphibian might be out and about.  I bumped into this beautiful Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) in our backyard:

 

Here's a close-up of one front foot:

 

I think this brings us up to ~12 inches of rain so far this winter?

Wet weather?

Hmmph.  I thought it would be raining more tonight, and that I might be able to go out and find a salamander fairly quickly.  Perhaps there will be heavier rain later this evening?  For now I've gone back to the archives for one of my favorite little salamanders — a juvenile Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii) taken in February 2013:

 

Moonlight stroll

 

Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii) out for a moonlight stroll in Bodega Bay on 26 November 2018...perhaps in anticipation of tomorrow's rain?

 

In the puddles

 

A few days ago we were walking in the woods in New Hampshire when Eric noticed some movement in pools of water on the trail. 

We couldn't see what it was at first, but then our eyes adjusted to the dim light and we spotted these wonderful Red-spotted Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens).  

Their scientific name means "greenish with eyespots" — and you can see why, with the greenish-brown background color and the bright-orange-ringed-with-black eyespots on the body:

 

Red-spotted Newts have an interesting life history — they're aquatic as adults.  Note the flattened tail (for swimming) in the photos above.  However, the juvenile stage (called an "eft") is terrestrial, spending 1-3 or more years on land before returning to the water.  

Efts are more reddish in color, have rougher skin, and more rounded tails.  Interestingly, we found one newt that might have been a juvenile transforming into an adult.  Note the reddish-orange color, the rougher skin texture, and a tail that appears to be undergoing metamorphosis into a more fin-like shape:

 

It was fun to visit with these wonderful salamanders!

Summer meander?

It's been foggy and a bit humid lately, but I was still surprised to see this little salamander approaching our front steps this morning:

 

It was early (~5 a.m.), so perhaps it was wrapping up a nighttime excursion?

I think this is a juvenile Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris), but it's paler than most of the individuals I've seen, so let me know if you think it's something different. 

The little adventurer

I was working in the dunes today, when a small movement caught my eye:

 

A small newt (Taricha sp.) was walking across the sand!

I kneeled down to get a closer look:

 

I tried to get a close-up of the eye, because I know the coloration of the eyelid can be helpful when trying to identify local newts:

 

 

I was thinking this might be a Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa), but I'm not sure, and I don't have much experience identifying different species of Taricha.  So if you've looked at a lot of newts, and can identify which species this is, please let me know.  (And if you confirm that it's Taricha granulosa, I'll be able to say, "I knew't!")  

Here's the newt walking quickly into some nearby shrubs...continuing its after-rain adventure!

 

Stepping out

  

Well, after receiving almost 3 inches of rain in the past 24 hours, I stepped outside to see if any salamanders were out and about.  It didn't take long to find one!  In the photo above, note the expanded tips of the toes — a feature that's apparently helpful for climbing.

 

This is a fairly large Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris), the most common salamander in our backyard.  I'd estimate this individual was ~15 cm (~6 inches) long.

I'm so glad they're finally experiencing some rain!

1.5 and counting

It's been raining for most of the day, so after dinner I thought I'd take a quick look outside to see if there were any amphibians around.  I said to Eric somewhat hesitantly but hopefully, "Maybe I can find a salamander..."  Then I opened the back door with my headlamp on, looked down and said, "There's one!"

About 1.5 inches of rain has fallen so far today.  I'm sure many salamanders, frogs, and toads are taking advantage of the wet conditions!

Three quick images of an Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) in Cotati on 24 October 2016:

 

 

 

Enjoying the rain

Have you been enjoying the rain this weekend?

You're not the only one!

 

Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris), ~6 cm (~2.4 inches) long, photographed 8 February 2015

After the rain

After the rain last night, how could we resist looking for amphibians?  We took a quick walk around the yard after dinner and were glad to see this Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii) among the redwood branches and needles:

 

Although I've posted about Ensatinas before, this is the largest one we've found so far.  It was at least 12 cm (~4.5 inches) long.  

For previous posts about this wonderful salamander, see 10 February 2012 and 15 February 2013.

Thirsty

On the radio today, I heard that a task force is considering whether to declare a statewide drought in California.

This may be the driest year on record in California.  When trying to learn more about this, one of the most helpful graphics I encountered was offered by the Wall Street Journal, illustrating precipitation by year since the late 1800s — you can see it here.

The San Jose Mercury News also provided some useful statistics comparing 2013 rainfall amounts in a few California cities with previous record lows — for those images, click here.

No wonder I've felt thirsty lately!  And never mind me, I've been thinking about the amphibians, along with lots of other animals and plants and fungi that have been waiting for the rain.

Tonight I went to check on the local salamanders.  We live near redwood trees, which are expert fog collectors, so there was a little moisture among the downed needles.  But I'm sure these salamanders would like some more.

 

 

California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus)

P.S.  Locally, only 3 inches of rain have fallen on Bodega Head since July 1st (2 inches since October 1st.)  The average annual rainfall amount is ~30 inches. 

Ensatina eyes

Perhaps it is the Year of the Salamander!

 

Eric found this small Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii) in our yard in Sebastopol tonight.  It was only ~4 cm long.

You may notice that it looks fairly similar to the Arboreal Salamander that I found yesterday.

Here's a view from above.  Note that it has brightly colored patches where the legs meet the body, but they're glowing orange rather than metallic gold.

 

From the side, you can see one of the most distinctive characteristics of an Ensatina.  The rounded tail is constricted, or narrowed, at the base.  Note that the tail is also reddish-orange in color.

 

A close-up of the face shows the large, dark eyes and the beautiful purple speckling.

 

 

P.S.  Now you're really going to think I'm crazy.  Do you know the song, "Bette Davis Eyes"?  I'm thinking it might be fun to write a song called, "Ensatina Eyes."  Can you hear it now?  

Her skin is speckled bold

Her lips near redwoods lie

Her hands are always cold

She's got Ensatina eyes 

P.P.S.  Last February we found a larger Ensatina in our yard.  It looked a little different than this one.  To compare, review last year's photos here.