Search found 560 matches

by simus343
April 29th, 2017, 10:51 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Juvie southern pine and gopher tortoise
Replies: 1
Views: 1815

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.
by simus343
April 29th, 2017, 6:49 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: dark southern pine vs ???hybrid
Replies: 9
Views: 4302

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...
by simus343
April 28th, 2017, 12:47 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: dark southern pine vs ???hybrid
Replies: 9
Views: 4302

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...
by simus343
April 7th, 2017, 8:19 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: quick intro and a diamondback
Replies: 3
Views: 2365

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...
by simus343
April 7th, 2017, 8:16 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First Quarter 2017
Replies: 3
Views: 3626

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.
by simus343
April 7th, 2017, 1:54 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First Quarter
Replies: 8
Views: 4934

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...
by simus343
April 5th, 2017, 8:26 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First Quarter
Replies: 8
Views: 4934

Re: First Quarter

Yes but not many, and none by me. Not for a lack of trying either.
by simus343
April 5th, 2017, 7:52 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First Quarter
Replies: 8
Views: 4934

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.
by simus343
April 2nd, 2017, 6:33 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First Quarter
Replies: 8
Views: 4934

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...
by simus343
February 15th, 2017, 6:36 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Southern Mississippi in late march early April
Replies: 6
Views: 4467

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.
by simus343
February 4th, 2017, 1:15 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Beginner herper.
Replies: 9
Views: 5223

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.
by simus343
February 3rd, 2017, 4:06 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Beginner herper.
Replies: 9
Views: 5223

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...
by simus343
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: 838546

Re: It's been too long since we've had an in situ theme thre

This thread needs to be a thing again.

One of my favorite in-situ shots that I've ever taken.

Image
by simus343
January 10th, 2017, 6:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
Replies: 11
Views: 6230

Re: 2016 - A good year pt. 2

Ecto Hunter wrote:Wow, sensory overload! Killer stuff, favorite being the Conecuh pine...
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.
by simus343
January 5th, 2017, 8:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
Replies: 11
Views: 6230

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...
by simus343
January 4th, 2017, 6:26 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
Replies: 11
Views: 6230

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 ...
by simus343
January 4th, 2017, 6:19 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 1
Replies: 4
Views: 3089

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 ...
by simus343
December 30th, 2016, 7:10 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
Replies: 11
Views: 6230

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...
by simus343
December 30th, 2016, 5:01 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 1
Replies: 4
Views: 3089

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...
by simus343
November 29th, 2016, 10:04 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Year in Review - Part One
Replies: 10
Views: 4748

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...
by simus343
October 24th, 2016, 8:09 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Fall herping
Replies: 9
Views: 4772

Re: Fall herping

Tamara D. McConnell wrote:Your pictures are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your awesome finds.
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.
by simus343
October 21st, 2016, 5:10 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Fall herping
Replies: 9
Views: 4772

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.
by simus343
October 16th, 2016, 8:52 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Fall herping
Replies: 9
Views: 4772

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...
by simus343
October 14th, 2016, 5:24 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Fall herping
Replies: 9
Views: 4772

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...
by simus343
October 3rd, 2016, 6:36 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Third Quarter 2016
Replies: 6
Views: 3697

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.
by simus343
September 5th, 2016, 12:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: What Color is this Ribbon
Replies: 5
Views: 3764

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...
by simus343
September 1st, 2016, 7:51 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: What Color is this Ribbon
Replies: 5
Views: 3764

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 ...
by simus343
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...
by simus343
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...
by simus343
August 28th, 2016, 5:59 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: University of Tennessee - Student Chapter of TWS herp help
Replies: 4
Views: 2408

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...
by simus343
August 25th, 2016, 7:09 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping 8-14 through 8-18
Replies: 8
Views: 4943

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...
by simus343
August 23rd, 2016, 7:25 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping 8-14 through 8-18
Replies: 8
Views: 4943

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...
by simus343
August 22nd, 2016, 10:05 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping 8-14 through 8-18
Replies: 8
Views: 4943

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...
by simus343
August 10th, 2016, 10:05 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Some stuff
Replies: 8
Views: 3795

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 ...
by simus343
August 10th, 2016, 8:06 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Some stuff
Replies: 8
Views: 3795

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...
by simus343
August 8th, 2016, 10:04 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping Appalachicola National Forest
Replies: 16
Views: 5787

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...
by simus343
August 4th, 2016, 11:14 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: When is habitat restoration for herps a good thing?
Replies: 42
Views: 28219

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...
by simus343
July 18th, 2016, 10:04 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Borneo Dispatches #52: The Python and the Pussycat
Replies: 8
Views: 4664

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.
by simus343
July 17th, 2016, 8:39 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Happy World Snake Day!!!
Replies: 6
Views: 3485

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.
by simus343
July 16th, 2016, 11:48 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Happy World Snake Day!!!
Replies: 6
Views: 3485

Re: Happy World Snake Day!!!

That include June, or just July?
by simus343
July 13th, 2016, 3:28 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Conecuh NF
Replies: 4
Views: 3050

Re: Conecuh NF

Tamara D. McConnell wrote:I'll be there this upcoming weekend. Simus, if you want to collaborate, holler at me.
Awesome. PM sent.
by simus343
July 12th, 2016, 6:57 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Conecuh NF
Replies: 4
Views: 3050

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.
by simus343
July 12th, 2016, 7:57 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Conecuh NF
Replies: 4
Views: 3050

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...
by simus343
July 7th, 2016, 5:25 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Massive sea turtle deaths in Florida following fireworks
Replies: 23
Views: 9974

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 ...
by simus343
July 7th, 2016, 5:20 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: January-May critters
Replies: 6
Views: 4980

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. :)
by simus343
June 26th, 2016, 3:32 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First half of the year (2 added 6-26-16)
Replies: 3
Views: 2830

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...
by simus343
June 26th, 2016, 8:17 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First half of the year (2 added 6-26-16)
Replies: 3
Views: 2830

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...
by simus343
June 22nd, 2016, 6:00 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First half of the year (2 added 6-26-16)
Replies: 3
Views: 2830

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...
by simus343
May 19th, 2016, 10:04 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Blackwater River State Forest?
Replies: 6
Views: 4178

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...
by simus343
May 15th, 2016, 9:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Blackwater River State Forest?
Replies: 6
Views: 4178

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...