Search found 560 matches
- April 29th, 2017, 10:51 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Juvie southern pine and gopher tortoise
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1819
Re: Juvie southern pine and gopher tortoise
Very nice! Pines definitely are on the move right now. I've found 3 this year in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa county. Two of which have been DOR sadly.
- April 29th, 2017, 6:49 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: dark southern pine vs ???hybrid
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4307
Re: dark southern pine vs ???hybrid
Those records are all pure Southern (Florida) Pines. Intergrades become more obvious when the pattern becomes under-toned to an almost solid brown-black shade like record 275404 that I put in last night. It was my first actual intergrade (and DOR too, sadly). I recorded it as a Florida Pine, becaus...
- April 28th, 2017, 12:47 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: dark southern pine vs ???hybrid
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4307
Re: dark southern pine vs ???hybrid
Those records are all pure Southern (Florida) Pines. Intergrades become more obvious when the pattern becomes under-toned to an almost solid brown-black shade like record 275404 that I put in last night. It was my first actual intergrade (and DOR too, sadly). I recorded it as a Florida Pine, because...
- April 7th, 2017, 8:19 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: quick intro and a diamondback
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2370
Re: quick intro and a diamondback
Welcome to the world of herping Mike. One caution that I would say with pitfalls is always close them off if you're going to be gone from home for over a day or can't check them. Small animals will get stuck in there and can drown if it rains and doesn't fill the bucket to an overflow point. Pitfall...
- April 7th, 2017, 8:16 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: First Quarter 2017
- Replies: 3
- Views: 3647
Re: First Quarter 2017
That's a nice assortment of Salamanders. I really need to put more effort into them this coming winter. That's also a really sweet looking corn. I love the gray ones, don't get a lot of them down here by the coast.
- April 7th, 2017, 1:54 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: First Quarter
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4946
Re: First Quarter
That's some great diversity, Nick! Wish I had spent more time in the panhandle. That Greater Siren is a monster! About how many more species in your area do you still have left to find? Thanks. I don't have too many left. Just a couple of Pseudacris, an Eastern King, both Earth Snakes, a Little Bro...
- April 5th, 2017, 8:26 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: First Quarter
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4946
Re: First Quarter
Yes but not many, and none by me. Not for a lack of trying either.
- April 5th, 2017, 7:52 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: First Quarter
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4946
Re: First Quarter
Thanks guys!
Hopefully there is more to come as spring gets warmer and I transition to night cruising / hiking as summer sets in.
Hopefully there is more to come as spring gets warmer and I transition to night cruising / hiking as summer sets in.
- April 2nd, 2017, 6:33 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: First Quarter
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4946
First Quarter
It's been a few months since I've been on the forum. I've decided to start splitting my herping up in sets of 3 months, though this installment will be an exception. So, without further ado, here's herping in NW Florida and South Alabama from January 1st through today, April 2nd. My first herp of th...
- February 15th, 2017, 6:36 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Southern Mississippi in late march early April
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4477
Re: Southern Mississippi in late march early April
Like Noah, I'm unfamiliar with the area. That time of year though, you may have luck hiking waterways for Nerodia. Other than that, I can't really be of much help sorry.
- February 4th, 2017, 1:15 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Beginner herper.
- Replies: 9
- Views: 5237
Re: Beginner herper.
Yeah, WMAs are good herping. Even if they have some messed up areas (like timber farms), you can be surprised at times. More hunting restrictions so less traffic and more herps.
- February 3rd, 2017, 4:06 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Beginner herper.
- Replies: 9
- Views: 5237
Re: Beginner herper.
A camera, as you'll want to take photos when you find stuff, I'd imagine. A flashlight, as many herps are more active at night. I like to have a good strong dipnet as well. A snake hook is good, if you're getting a venomous species off a road, otherwise it's unnecessary. I also always like to good s...
- January 27th, 2017, 4:03 pm
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: It's been too long since we've had an in situ theme thread..
- Replies: 212
- Views: 868721
- January 10th, 2017, 6:46 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
- Replies: 11
- Views: 6237
Re: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
Thanks. That was actually in Florida. We were all over Conecuh and all of Western Florida. I have yet to find a Pine in Alabama.Ecto Hunter wrote:Wow, sensory overload! Killer stuff, favorite being the Conecuh pine...
- January 5th, 2017, 8:23 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
- Replies: 11
- Views: 6237
Re: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
I'd like to say I submitted all my finds for the year to HERP, but that'd be a lie. I try to keep up with it though. I can say though, that I've recorded all my finds of research significance in Florida. I am gradually trying to update everything as I'm using my HERP records with GIS technology to p...
- January 4th, 2017, 6:26 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
- Replies: 11
- Views: 6237
Re: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
Thanks. As for amphibians Carl, I've never had much luck dip-netting except for aquatic salamanders. I catch more turtles by random chance than I do amphibians haha. All the frogs were found by playing "macro-polo". Listen, shine, take a step, light off, repeat. Daniel, I think the appeal ...
- January 4th, 2017, 6:19 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 1
- Replies: 4
- Views: 3093
Re: 2016 - A good year pt. 1
Thanks guys. The turtle diversity was pretty standard minus actually getting a Macrochelys photograph. Usually when I see them I've just got my swim trunks on and no camera or phone. I'd love to make it a few hours west to where the biodiversity increased. I can't remember which one, but one of the ...
- December 30th, 2016, 7:10 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
- Replies: 11
- Views: 6237
2016 - A good year pt. 2
To kick off part 2 of my year review, I picked this photo to mark the first herps that I found with a new herping friend that lives near me. We went out and started herping around Santa Rosa county and he showed me a nice spot. We quickly began finding Pine Woods Tree Frogs and a couple Barking Tree...
- December 30th, 2016, 5:01 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 1
- Replies: 4
- Views: 3093
2016 - A good year pt. 1
I hear so many people cry about 2016. While it has been a rough year in some respects (vehicle issues, academic strife, headaches of life in general), this year has been absolutely fantastic for herping. While I didn't find as many individual herpetofauna that I usually do, I found a significantly i...
- November 29th, 2016, 10:04 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Year in Review - Part One
- Replies: 10
- Views: 4764
Re: Year in Review - Part One
A very nice assortment of pictures Matt! Also, I agree with Coluber. Having worked with Gopher Tortoises for 5 years and participating on several surveys, I'd definitely be willing to wager that the burrow at the end is a Armadillo burrow. The shape of the roof of the burrow, the width, coupled with...
- October 24th, 2016, 8:09 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Fall herping
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4782
Re: Fall herping
You're welcome and thanks Tamara. I'm still meaning to make it to Alabama! I haven't forgotten your offer haha. My workload just piled up so I haven't been able to drive as far as I'd like to lately.Tamara D. McConnell wrote:Your pictures are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your awesome finds.
- October 21st, 2016, 5:10 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Fall herping
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4782
Re: Fall herping
Thanks all. It is definitely a nice place, though the habitat is a bit wonky. I'm just hoping that the snakes care more about the soil type than they do the vegetation or I fear that time may be limited on the site's productivity.
- October 16th, 2016, 8:52 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Fall herping
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4782
Re: Fall herping
Fall has been good to me over the past few weeks. I have to agree with you. Nicely done and shown! Nice looking EDBs in that area, I like the amount of yellow. Funny you mentioned looking for pigs and have no pics. Lotta hoggies is awesome tradeoff. I hope winter is good to you too. Got any targets...
- October 14th, 2016, 5:24 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Fall herping
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4782
Fall herping
I decided it is about time for another post. Fall has been good to me over the past few weeks. I had not been herping much since my Alabama excursion back in August because I messed my vehicle up, but I just couldn't help myself. I was driving to class one day and decided to take a detour. That deto...
- October 3rd, 2016, 6:36 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Third Quarter 2016
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3708
Re: Third Quarter 2016
Very nice find with the MK under the pine log! It has been some time since I've done much log rolling, but it looks like I'll have to take it up again.
- September 5th, 2016, 12:35 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: What Color is this Ribbon
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3768
Re: What Color is this Ribbon
Looking back at my Peninsular Ribbon Photos, I now see the dorsal stripe on them and agree that the snakes in question may be blue-stripes. That being said, as you mentioned that the designations are a little hairy, there is something that many naturalists working around the bend of Florida call the...
- September 1st, 2016, 7:51 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: What Color is this Ribbon
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3768
Re: What Color is this Ribbon
It looks akin to the peninsular ribbons that I saw in Wakulla county back in 2013. A friend of mine has blue-stripe ribbon pictures from Jefferson county (so there could be apparent phenotypic variation), but the Jefferson ones are very obviously blue. Not quite similis garter snake blue, but still ...
- September 1st, 2016, 7:48 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Noah M. - Cottonmouth range and proposal for new taxon.
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2460
Re: Noah M. - Cottonmouth range and proposal for new taxon.
No problem. It's taken me a few years to get it but as I get closer and closer to the snakes it becomes more and more apparent. It was rather coincidental timing too because I just finished talking with other herpers about differentiating the species. :P An interesting note though that just occurred...
- August 30th, 2016, 5:52 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Noah M. - Cottonmouth range and proposal for new taxon.
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2460
Noah M. - Cottonmouth range and proposal for new taxon.
Noah, here's the range maps I'm currently using from Snakes of the Southeast by Whit Gibbons and Mike Dorcas. http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab255/ophidian_43/DSCN8027_zpsh5oar3bt.jpg http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab255/ophidian_43/DSCN8028_zpsqrdavbmx.jpg Also, a link to a new paper propos...
- August 28th, 2016, 5:59 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: University of Tennessee - Student Chapter of TWS herp help
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2409
Re: University of Tennessee - Student Chapter of TWS herp he
I don't know of any events off the top of my head. That being said, you could try to coordinate something with local officials if you are University affiliated. If you have a professor that can sponsor the event, permits can usually be obtained to give special privilege / permission to a student eve...
- August 25th, 2016, 7:09 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Herping 8-14 through 8-18
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4946
Re: Herping 8-14 through 8-18
Yeah, probably best to focus on school right now if you're about to graduate. As for the fence, I would recommend a less-trafficked area as well. Areas of frequent human activity can deter some animals from moving through, keeping them away from the fence. If you finish and get it up this winter (wh...
- August 23rd, 2016, 7:25 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Herping 8-14 through 8-18
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4946
Re: Herping 8-14 through 8-18
Thanks guys. Pines are probably one of the more common "rare" snakes in W. Fla. Heck this year I have more pines than eastern hogs. They're kind of like Diamondbacks though in that I can't find them if I target them, only when I'm doing something else. I don't know where you're based Jeffe...
- August 22nd, 2016, 10:05 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Herping 8-14 through 8-18
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4946
Herping 8-14 through 8-18
Last week I had some people come down from the South Carolina and farther north in Alabama to Conecuh to do some herping. As I'm still new to Conecuh, we also spent about half of our time in West Florida, where I'm familiar with a majority of the places to herp. While we missed our primary targets w...
- August 10th, 2016, 10:05 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Some stuff
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3800
Re: Some stuff
I get bluish ones over here. Not super blue but still a nice turquoise hue. If I was spending time over there, personally I'd be targeting the similis. As for regular eastern garters I would agree that uplands would be better. I only ever see sirtalis in upland areas, never down near the water like ...
- August 10th, 2016, 8:06 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Some stuff
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3800
Re: Some stuff
From people that I've talked to that have good luck finding similis garter snakes, down by the coast in wet areas is actually better of the true- similis than uplands. A friend of mine has found them in drift traps set up in wetlands along the bend area as well as seen them just swimming. I've not g...
- August 8th, 2016, 10:04 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Herping Appalachicola National Forest
- Replies: 16
- Views: 5790
Re: Herping Appalachicola National Forest
Cool & thanks. I can't be 100% sure, but it looks like an eastern slender glass lizard. Florida has 4 species of glass lizard and I think the eastern slenders are the longest of them. Close tie, and it looks to be a O. attenuatus to me as well based on the photo. Ophisaurus ventralis (Eastern G...
- August 4th, 2016, 11:14 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: When is habitat restoration for herps a good thing?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 28346
Re: When is habitat restoration for herps a good thing?
Much habitat management is also done for economic benefit. I.E. coastal management is often to support migratory birds to produce national, state, and local income as a result of bird watching. Dikes were initially put into coastal management places to increase the amount of available habitat to wat...
- July 18th, 2016, 10:04 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Borneo Dispatches #52: The Python and the Pussycat
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4668
Re: Borneo Dispatches #52: The Python and the Pussycat
This post was well before my time, so I never saw it haha.
I for one enjoy the lighting of the photo. I prefer the night-shots that fade to black outside of whatever artificial light we provide. In my opinion it adds to the "effect" and "story" of herping at night.
I for one enjoy the lighting of the photo. I prefer the night-shots that fade to black outside of whatever artificial light we provide. In my opinion it adds to the "effect" and "story" of herping at night.
- July 17th, 2016, 8:39 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Happy World Snake Day!!!
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3492
Re: Happy World Snake Day!!!
That's a very productive month compared to up here haha. I've had a lot of luck, but not this many snakes. I'm hoping that will change though as Timber nocturnal activity picks up.
- July 16th, 2016, 11:48 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Happy World Snake Day!!!
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3492
Re: Happy World Snake Day!!!
That include June, or just July?
- July 13th, 2016, 3:28 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Conecuh NF
- Replies: 4
- Views: 3057
Re: Conecuh NF
Awesome. PM sent.Tamara D. McConnell wrote:I'll be there this upcoming weekend. Simus, if you want to collaborate, holler at me.
- July 12th, 2016, 6:57 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Conecuh NF
- Replies: 4
- Views: 3057
Re: Conecuh NF
I don't know. I do know that people go herping there all the time. I joined Facebook last year and I'm constantly seeing posts about people herping there with no negative repercussions.
- July 12th, 2016, 7:57 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Conecuh NF
- Replies: 4
- Views: 3057
Conecuh NF
Does anyone here making it to Conecuh often? I've been going lately on my own, night cruising, but I chicken out down some of the dirt roads because I don't know how hairy they become, so I've been sticking to paved roads in the region. If anyone here has experience in Conecuh, how safe am I using a...
- July 7th, 2016, 5:25 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Massive sea turtle deaths in Florida following fireworks
- Replies: 23
- Views: 10002
Re: Massive sea turtle deaths in Florida following fireworks
I've not seen or heard anything about this until now, despite living in Florida and knowing a lot of people that try to keep up to date with conservation-disaster news. Damn. As far as protected areas, there is a sea turtle nesting beach near me that was abandoned simply due to a lack of access and ...
- July 7th, 2016, 5:20 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: January-May critters
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4988
Re: January-May critters
That's some great variety there! I've been trying to find more salamanders but I seem to have stagnated in what I can find. Hopefully I can turn that around later this fall and winter.
Keep up the good work turning up a nice diversity of species.
Keep up the good work turning up a nice diversity of species.
- June 26th, 2016, 3:32 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: First half of the year (2 added 6-26-16)
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2834
Re: First half of the year
After spending about an hour of vocal hide and seek, I found this critter last night. Making lifer #11 for the year. Hyla andersonii - Pine Barrens Tree Frog. http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab255/ophidian_43/259573-338454_zpsh1ir1pi8.jpg Then early this morning, while not a lifer, still a welcom...
- June 26th, 2016, 8:17 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: First half of the year (2 added 6-26-16)
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2834
Re: First half of the year
Some of it is just a short bit away. I've seen some records in HERP that you have submitted from the same county as several of these. Might have to travel a bit for the Apalachicola Snapper or Swamp snake though. The Gulf Salt Marsh can be found down in Mobile Bay (though this one wasn't), I don't k...
- June 22nd, 2016, 6:00 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: First half of the year (2 added 6-26-16)
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2834
First half of the year (2 added 6-26-16)
So, while I'm not much of one for writing stories, I've done plenty of herping this year and have had a fantastic year for polishing up some lifers for NW Fla. Personally I'm just game for pictures, and spend my extra seconds herping rather than sitting down for story time. So, enough talking, hoppi...
- May 19th, 2016, 10:04 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Blackwater River State Forest?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4189
Re: Blackwater River State Forest?
I usually do most of my herping there in spring or summer at night. I've never had the chance to herp there in fall. EDBs and Copperheads (in northern regions) are still moving in October. I know copperheads may not be too special for you being in Alabama, but they're a real treat for us here in Flo...
- May 15th, 2016, 9:17 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Blackwater River State Forest?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4189
Re: Blackwater River State Forest?
I'm there all the time. When are you coming through? It's got a lot of neat snakes, including pines and mole kings. It's just bad for road cruising is all because of high traffic, so hiking often becomes "required" unless cruising at night, during which it slows down but for cottons and py...