So, this is the last week of the semester and in between the rush to finish all of my over-due work, I decided to have a good herp session and try out my new camera. It is a Ricoh Caplio 500SE-W, made to take a beating. Nothing is better than a few hours break from madness to walk around on a warm rainy night in the high country! Conditions: 24 April 2010, Blue Ridge Parkway. 11:15 pm. Moderate, yet constant rain from ~6pm on, heavy fog, ~20C. 
Pseudotriton ruber nitidus Tons of these guys (along with several other plethodontids) seen crossing the roads. Cool thing about our sub species is that they retain their bright coloration with age! (or so I hear)
Gyrinophilus porphyriticus danielsi Spring salamanders also littered the roads and few trails we ventured on. Always a pleasure! Some of these guys get huge. I was sans camera/ruler/everything when I found a monster size one last year.....
Nerodia sipedon First big snake of the year(>2ft)! I also got to show my friends the wonderful odor I had on my hands the rest of the night. :/ So, now on to some interesting stuff. Last August I was in a creek (camera was broke) and found what I thought to be a Desmognathus orestes. It was for sure a dusky, the head and jaw-line are distinct features and were present in that individual. The thing that got me was the coloration. I knew they could vary, but that one little guy last year had the oddest pattern. A brown covered the head, quickly fading to a smoky grey before the hind limbs and continuing on down the rest of the tail. In between the eyes was a triangular 'manilla' patch. Needless to say I thought I would never see that again, but it must be a trait specific to a few of these creeks for I found two other examples last night!
D. orestes This individual was quite grey and large. The 'patch' is not very noticeable.
D. orestes A much better example of this 'patch'. The rest of the body looks typical (if there is such a thing...).
Plethodon cylindraceus Our local species from the slimy complex. This is a large individual too, great for first of the year!
Plethodon montanus Once again another individual from a species complex! Our local Jordan's salamander. These guys are everywhere when it is wet out. Literally.
Eurycea wilderae Brook salamanders may be my favorites out of them all. Two-lines show (IMO) as much phenotypic variation in the Blue Ridge as the desmos. This next little one was sitting on a rock less than a foot away!
To top it off, I sat on a moss covered stump to check my pictures, looked over and found this dusky waiting for some bugs... Cool!
Is it a green darner? I have forgotten all of my insect knowledge... One step off the path was a surefire way to come under attack from seemingly dozens of horse flies. None of those in the mountains.... I did find this little guy; 
Eumeces inexpectatus Also saw an adult male, but couldn't catch it... 
Found another Plethodon chlorobryonis which stayed long enough for me to get this shot. New desktop background! Now, back in the mountains. It was one of our hottest (and driest) days yet, but that didn't matter. 
A huge female Plethodon montanus. At least 14 cm. Found along a rocky seep. 
Diadophis punctatus edwardsii Found this tiny one in the same area. First ringneck that has tried to bite me. 
Desmognathus quadramaculatus This large individual stayed surprisingly still, until the camera flash went off. This day was also great for mountain duskies, some great color patterns. 
Desmognathus orestes 
Desmognathus orestes This one showing a "patch". Love 'em. To top it off, one more monster. 
Plethodon montanus These shots are from Rough Ridge Overlook. 
