I'll be doing a daytime walk for Manchester/Essex Conservation Trust on Sunday April 7. We meet at Andrews Street and Southern Avenue in Essex at 3pm. Go to our activity calendar or Manchester Essex Conservation Trust page for more information on the Vernal Pool Exploration event.

We had a nice field trip last night at Nugents Stretch.  We heard a fairly good chorus of spring peepers and wood frogs.  We saw spotted sals, wood frogs, fairy shrimp and caddisfly larvae.  Matt Curran spotted a lone spotted sal egg mass.  There's going to be colder temps for a while and no rain until Monday, but there's a lot more action to come..   Keep watching your e-blasts.

We had a nice field trip last night to Nugent's Stretch.  Good choruses of wood frogs and spring peepers.  We saw plenty of wood frogs and a few spring spring peepers, a few dozen spotted salamanders including a congress complete with spermatophores, caddisfly larvae and fairy shrimp.  I think the forecasted cooler temps will shut things down for a while.  Keep watching your e-blasts.

Looks like we're going to get some rain today.  I think it will taper off by evening... however the forest floor should remain wet for a while.  Some of our observation pools are free of ice.  So... I'd say let's do a field trip tonight at 9pm.  If you haven't ever gone on one of these, check out the field trip guidelines on our website. Dress for the weather and bring your best flashlight.

I've been checking the pools.  Heard some wood frogs this afternoon at Ravenswood and Nugent's Stretch. First time this year.  Our viewing ponds are still at least 80% frozen. The rain is supposed to stop.  I don't think its going to be a good night for frog and salamander action.  Right now its looking like Sunday night might be good.  Keep checking your e-blasts.

We are looking for a couple of items for THE SHOP including a nice wooden bookshelf and a few small entryway rugs with rubber backing or a large one about 4 feet wide by 6 or 8 feet long. Let us know if you would like to donate them to our office/store. If you know of someone who is downsizing and has some cool stuff for THE SHOP please tell them about us and the work we do.

Your newsletter is on its way to your houses... if you're on our snail mail list.  If you're not... and you want to be, just email us your address.  Or... you can read it on our website, capeannvernalpondteam.org for your perusal.

Meanwhile, I've been checking the vernal ponds.  Some have less than 50% surface ice. Others have more than 85% surface ice.  I haven't heard any wood frogs calling yet.  So it looks like we are at least a couple days away from any nighttime field trips.  Keep watching your e-blasts and try to join us for one of these trips.  They are amazing.

Nighttime field trips could be happening soon.  I've been checking the pools. Most still have about 75% ice. But, the warmer weather is on the way.  I think we're still a few days away.  Keep an eye on your E-Blasts.

Our Annal Meeting is Monday, March 25 at 6pm at our new office at 242 Main Street #5 in Gloucester.  Right next to Nelsons Clothing Store.  Please let us know if you plan to attend.  We're just getting set up and we want to know how many chairs to bring.