The map below shows the location of several different wetland types:
View Wetlands of the Rock Point Area in a larger map
Red Maple Swamp
The Red Maple Swamp (outlined in red) occurs along the shores of Lake Champlain, just at the end of North Beach. You can see how the height of the water varies throughout the year by looking at the waterline at the base of the red maple, black ash, and green ash trees. This is good habitat for amphibians and fish (one can often see minnows swimming at all times of the spring, summer, and fall), but there is also a high degree of trash blowing in from the beach.
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| Red Maple Swamp at Rock Point (Julie Nash) |
Cattail Marsh
The Cattail Marsh (outlined in green) is located adjacent to the Red Maple Swamp to the north of North Beach, just beyond a sand berm vegetated with the rare and unique Champlain Beach Grass (Ammophila breviligulata subspecies champlainensis). A pair of beavers live here in a den that has changed location over the years, but is currently along the eastern edge of the marsh, not too far off from the pedestrian trail. This marsh is also an excellent space from which to view wood ducks, beavers, muskrat, and mink.
The several wet old fields (light blue shading, dark blue outline) at the end of Rock Point and adjacent to the parking area by the Diocese office are in the early stages of eventually becoming a forested wetland. The silt-clay soils here keep these areas wet throughout most of the year. Their being adjacent to forest also makes them an excellent place for viewing the American Woodcock (a species of concern identified by Vermont Audubon) as the males need an expansive open area to perform their elaborate mating dance.
There are a few seeps - areas where groundwater pools at the surface (dark blue shading with dark blue outline) and potential vernal pools - temporary spring ponds (outlined in yellow) within the Arms Grant Property near the Alliance Church on North Ave. These are very important areas for amphibians, as frogs and salamanders will lay their eggs in these pools before hatching and beginning their amphibious or terrestrial lives.
Due to the amount of different wetland habitats, many amphibians should be able to found in the Rock Point Area, including: Gray Tree Frog, Wood Frog, Spring Peeper, Northern Leopard Frog, Green Frog, American Toad, Spotted Salamander, Red-backed Salamander, and Red-spotted Newt.
The best times to look for amphibians is after (or during!) a warm rain in the spring at a vernal pool site. The frogs and salamanders will be migrating to these pools to breed and lay their eggs. Bring a powerful flashlight - not just a small headlamp if you want the best viewing!
If you are listening for frog calls on warm nights (dry is okay, but rainy is preferred), train your ear to the calls of the suite of songs listed above, and then go to the Cattail Marsh or Red Maple Swamp for the best odds of hearing them. The following chart maps out the general times of year that you can expect to hear our more common Vermont amphibians calling:
In Vermont, the best resource for learning about and reporting amphibian sightings is The Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas created by James Andrews of Salisbury, Vermont. Please download and use the online forms on the website to submit records of your findings.
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| Cattail Marsh at Rock Point (Julie Nash) |
Wet Old Fields
The several wet old fields (light blue shading, dark blue outline) at the end of Rock Point and adjacent to the parking area by the Diocese office are in the early stages of eventually becoming a forested wetland. The silt-clay soils here keep these areas wet throughout most of the year. Their being adjacent to forest also makes them an excellent place for viewing the American Woodcock (a species of concern identified by Vermont Audubon) as the males need an expansive open area to perform their elaborate mating dance.
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| American Woodcock (Wikimedia Commons) |
Seeps and Vernal Pools
There are a few seeps - areas where groundwater pools at the surface (dark blue shading with dark blue outline) and potential vernal pools - temporary spring ponds (outlined in yellow) within the Arms Grant Property near the Alliance Church on North Ave. These are very important areas for amphibians, as frogs and salamanders will lay their eggs in these pools before hatching and beginning their amphibious or terrestrial lives.
Amphibians at Rock Point
Due to the amount of different wetland habitats, many amphibians should be able to found in the Rock Point Area, including: Gray Tree Frog, Wood Frog, Spring Peeper, Northern Leopard Frog, Green Frog, American Toad, Spotted Salamander, Red-backed Salamander, and Red-spotted Newt.
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| Green Frog (Wikimedia Commons) |
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| Spotted Salamander (Wikimedia Commons) |
The best times to look for amphibians is after (or during!) a warm rain in the spring at a vernal pool site. The frogs and salamanders will be migrating to these pools to breed and lay their eggs. Bring a powerful flashlight - not just a small headlamp if you want the best viewing!
If you are listening for frog calls on warm nights (dry is okay, but rainy is preferred), train your ear to the calls of the suite of songs listed above, and then go to the Cattail Marsh or Red Maple Swamp for the best odds of hearing them. The following chart maps out the general times of year that you can expect to hear our more common Vermont amphibians calling:
 |
| Source: The Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas, James S. Andrews |
In Vermont, the best resource for learning about and reporting amphibian sightings is The Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas created by James Andrews of Salisbury, Vermont. Please download and use the online forms on the website to submit records of your findings.
