Hi Doug, No expert but i think that is a
salamander tadpole. I never saw one but
was interested about those gills near head.
Btw, great pictures.

http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1285/ohio-s ... hotos.html

Hi Carl * Thanks for looking in and posting with the link. I think that you are probably right about it being a salamander {newt} rather than a frog.
Those gills are unique.
I did a little research. This from Wikipedia .....

In newts there is not really such a thing as metamorphosis, because the larvae start feeding as predators always and continue to do so in the adult stage. The gills of newts are never covered by a gill sac and will be resorbed only just before the animal leaves the water. Just like in tadpoles the lungs are functional very soon also, but they don't make as much use of them as tadpoles do. Newts often have an aquatic phase in spring and summer and a land phase in winter. For adaptation to a water phase prolactin is the required hormone and for adaptations to the land phase thyroxin. The external gills do not return in subsequent aquatic phases because they are completely absorbed upon leaving the water for the first time.

Hi Doug, your scenery shots are fabulous I love the one of the Douglas Squirrel watching you from the tree trunk

Hi Kay * Thanks, I'm glad that you liked the scenic photos. It was a gorgeous day in the high country.
That squirrel was all excited and had a lot to say to me.
It ran circles around the tree and yelled at me and was very funny.

Hello Doug: Great photos from your hike at Damfino and Excelsior. I’ve never been to Damfino but was at Excelsior a couple of years ago on a foggy day so now I see what I missed. I always like those trail signs that provide lots of information. You certainly are correct about the views being more breathtaking than a photo can capture.

Whale Rocks, south of San Juan Island, 9-4-10. Time for one final wildlife cruise before summer ends. Observed about 15 Stellar Sea Lions on the rocks. Click to enlarge

Stellar Sea Lions, continued, 9-4-10. Three final photos. Click to enlarge

Orcas, west side San Juan Island, 9-4-10. Observed several orcas from L pod swimming near the shoreline. Click to enlarge