On the way there I spotted this Common Musk Turtle in the road (the first of three seen that day) and moved it to a safe area on the other side of the street.

One of the Vanderpoels spotted this tiny Ground Skink shuffling through the leaves on the forest floor.

The wet weather proved to be good for finding amphibians. This was the first of a few Marbled Salamanders.

Mole Salamander.

Another photo of this oddly proportioned amphibian.

A colorful male Eastern Box Turtle.

The swamp is a paradise for mushrooms, lichens and other kinds of fungi.

Ever have one of those "Golden Guides" as a kid and learned all the "classic" American snakes in it? Then when you grew up, you went in search of these reptiles? And you found many, except there was this one that was so odd, beautiful and elusive, you wondered if it really existed or was just a myth. But after a few decades of searching you see this.

Yes, the first snake of the day was the first "lifer" of the trip - a Western Mud Snake. I was speechless.

The Vanderpoel brothers celebrated.

It was an incredible experience to see one of these awesome snakes for the first time.

Eventually we went back to herping and found this male Marbled Salamander.

Common Snapping Turtle.

Cardinal Flower.

Female Eastern Box Turtle.

A female crayfish carrying her babies under her tail.

Chorus Frog.

We finished the day with another "lifer" - a Midland Water Snake.