Search found 849 matches

by Andy Avram
September 23rd, 2013, 8:16 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Frog ID help - blairi confirmed - new photos
Replies: 12
Views: 3329

Re: Frog ID help - Please

Looking at the characteristics of your frog: White-spot in tympanum = typical of Plains, unusual (but no unheard of) in Northern Broken Dorso-lateral Fold = key characteristic in Plains, other than Kory below, I have never seen it in a Northern (or at least not pronounced as your frog is displaying)...
by Andy Avram
September 21st, 2013, 10:28 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Hilton Head Island trip July 21st through the 28th UPDATED
Replies: 8
Views: 2616

Re: Hilton Head Island trip July 21st through the 28th of 20

Love that area. Haven't there in years but I am getting pressure to go back.

Your toads all look too large for Oak Toads. I would guess they are all Southern Toads.
by Andy Avram
September 20th, 2013, 12:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Quick Trip Through Kansas... (with Rattlesnake ID needed)
Replies: 7
Views: 4074

Re: Quick Trip Through Kansas... (with Rattlesnake ID needed

Cole, thanks. I have relegated myself to sauga. Never thought I would be so bummed to learn it was a Massasauga. I hate it when I ID sloppy. So, the story is that I was told to look out for Prairie Rattlesnakes at that locale. When I cruised that snake my initial thought was sauga, but judging off t...
by Andy Avram
September 20th, 2013, 11:33 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: The Fight for 500... (5/28/16 - FINISHED)
Replies: 29
Views: 35961

Re: 2013: The Fight for 500... (updated: 9/17/13)

Chris, I am hoping to get another 10 or more this year, but it won't get me to 500. Next year, depending on where I go should do it though (Alaska? Arizona?). Jared, The Lewis's were high on my list. I got them in a town on a lawn tree. A trio of them chasing each other around. The Rosy-Finch was th...
by Andy Avram
September 20th, 2013, 11:19 am
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Algonquin Provincial Park?
Replies: 5
Views: 12318

Re: Algonquin Provincial Park?

My buddy is the head naturalist (and runs a few other things) at Algonquin. He held a conference there where I told him to find me wolves (after all I found him Blue Racer and Northern Dusky when the conference was in the states). It ended up I couldn't go, but he did find wolves for the conference....
by Andy Avram
September 20th, 2013, 11:15 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Quick Trip Through Kansas... (with Rattlesnake ID needed)
Replies: 7
Views: 4074

Re: Quick Trip Through Kansas...

Justin, it was awesome. Be great to be back in the spring. Also, to anyone, there is question called into the Prairie Rattler. Maybe a large Massasauga (~2.5-3'). Both species are known from the area and both seem to display this pattern (at least according to a google image search). Any thoughts?
by Andy Avram
September 20th, 2013, 7:56 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Quick Trip Through Kansas... (with Rattlesnake ID needed)
Replies: 7
Views: 4074

Quick Trip Through Kansas... (with Rattlesnake ID needed)

As of last spring I knew I was going out to Colorado for my cousin’s wedding. I decided that if I am doing that I am herping my way through Kansas and birding my way through Colorado. So the trip as finally come and gone and filled with unexpectedness. I had to cut the trip short by nearly a week an...
by Andy Avram
September 18th, 2013, 1:52 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Camping recommendation - Louisville, KY or Cincinnati, OH??
Replies: 2
Views: 1292

Re: Camping recommendation - Louisville, KY or Cincinnati, O

This almost feels wrong coming from a Buckeye, but if it was between Cincy and Kentucky I would choose Kentucky. Nearly everything you can find in Cincy (aside from introduced Wall Lizards) you can find in Kentucky. I would shoot for somewhere there.
by Andy Avram
September 17th, 2013, 12:33 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Birder Humor
Replies: 3
Views: 2575

Re: Birder Humor

OK, that is too funny. "

Why else would anyone go to St. Louis?"
by Andy Avram
September 17th, 2013, 12:02 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?
Replies: 121
Views: 191318

Re: What was your last lifer?

A trip to Colorado/Kansas brought me 4 lifers:
Hispid Pocket Mouse
Colorado Chipmunk
Gunnison Prairie Dog (only 1 more species to go - Utah!)
Mountain Cottontail
by Andy Avram
September 17th, 2013, 11:54 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: The Fight for 500... (5/28/16 - FINISHED)
Replies: 29
Views: 35961

Re: 2013: The Fight for 500... (updated: 7/22/13)

Well I am not going to make it to 500 this year. My trip to Colorado was plagued with a shortened itinerary, lack of ability to find ANY grouse species, and maybe, just a little bit of rain. So, I still ended up with 116 birds for the trip, but only 8 were lifers. They are listed above in my main li...
by Andy Avram
September 4th, 2013, 3:27 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: how many examples of dual patronyms are there?
Replies: 28
Views: 7916

Re: how many examples of dual patronyms are there?

justinm wrote:So what does the "x-" signify?
At least for the fish, I believe it is for the X shaped markings on its side.
by Andy Avram
September 3rd, 2013, 7:22 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: how many examples of dual patronyms are there?
Replies: 28
Views: 7916

Re: how many examples of dual patronyms are there?

There is a hyphenated fish also. The Gravel Chub with the scientific name of Erimystax x-punctatus. I always thought it looked wrong and not like a real scientific name.
by Andy Avram
September 3rd, 2013, 11:06 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: how many examples of dual patronyms are there?
Replies: 28
Views: 7916

Re: how many examples of dual patronyms are there?

anolis carolinensis carolinensis and anolis carolinensis seminolus. ??? :? Northern and southern green anoles. The genus taxon sounds made up, the species and subspecies taxon sound made up and/or has the "ensis" ending. Not quite what Kevin was looking for. Carolinensis is named after th...
by Andy Avram
September 2nd, 2013, 7:14 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Skull ID....
Replies: 16
Views: 5938

Re: Skull ID....

I could agree to two things here.

1 That this is an armadillo pelvis.
2 That the length estimate of 8-9" is off.
by Andy Avram
August 30th, 2013, 6:01 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Queen Snakes and Artificial Cover (Same as NE Chapter Post)
Replies: 5
Views: 1740

Re: Queen Snakes and Artificial Cover (Same as NE Chapter P

I am mostly with Mark on this one. Unless you have a lot of natural rocks to flip, you are likely to be hard-pressed to find enough Queens for a study. However... they will use ponds and non-rocky areas (so the lake probably has them around it too) as the main thing that determines if Queen Snakes w...
by Andy Avram
August 27th, 2013, 4:00 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998698

Re: What was your last lifer?...

Chris, nice work on the Dusky Grouse. I have failed at finding them before, but hopefully I can get my eyes on one (or some) this year. I haven't seen nearly enough gamebird species. Black woodpecker - magnificent bird, looong overdue. I have read accounts of other people having trouble seeing this ...
by Andy Avram
August 27th, 2013, 3:55 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Timber Rattlesnakes mating in a drainage ditch
Replies: 12
Views: 3384

Re: Timber Rattlesnakes mating in a drainage ditch

Holy hillbillies, Batman, I just read the comments on that article.
by Andy Avram
August 25th, 2013, 7:01 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Melanistic morphs?
Replies: 23
Views: 29932

Re: Melanistic morphs?

My dad's cousin lives in Avon Park, Florida and in the early 90's they had a melanistic Bobcat running around. I guess it was pretty well documented. I have seen albino: Gray Squirrel Fox Squirrel - these were pie-bald with all white tails White-tailed Deer - both pie-bald and albino, almost hit the...
by Andy Avram
August 21st, 2013, 6:24 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: California newt life history and population status
Replies: 23
Views: 10359

Re: California newt life history and population status

This is the kind of posts I wish there were more of on this site. On nice in-depth look at a single species.

Excellent work!
by Andy Avram
August 19th, 2013, 3:56 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Spring-Summer in Ohio
Replies: 16
Views: 5846

Re: Spring-Summer in Ohio

Jared, awesome outings and awesome pictures. Good to see you back on the computer again - we need to get out sometime for some birding/herping/etc... And for the record I would likely "count" the Whooping Crane, just as I would "count" and California Condor I saw. Those are the o...
by Andy Avram
August 15th, 2013, 10:06 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Some of the Salamanders from 2013
Replies: 18
Views: 4239

Re: Some of the Salamanders from 2013

Love a good salamander post. Nice work, although one of those species does not belong... but I guess it can get a pass due to sheer coolness factor.

This makes me really want to get back in the S. Appalachians and further south and concentrate on finding some salamanders again.
by Andy Avram
August 13th, 2013, 3:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Oddly colored Chelydra Serpentina
Replies: 5
Views: 1727

Re: Oddly colored Chelydra Serpentina

I am sort of inline with what everyone else is saying, except I think that algae/mud or not that your two turtles there represent a darker and light one. You can really see the difference between the two tails and no amount of adding or subtracting of external mud/aglae/etc... is going to make them ...
by Andy Avram
August 7th, 2013, 8:19 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Join me in the Alleghenies???
Replies: 9
Views: 3284

Re: Join me in the Alleghenies???

Yup, back from the trip already. It was semi-successful. 9-10 years ago I camped at an area and found a Mountain Smooth Earth Snake. I decided to head back that way again as the area seemed good for Coal Skinks. I flipped a bunch of rocks, found some snakes and then BAM! Lizard! Five-lined Skink... ...
by Andy Avram
July 29th, 2013, 8:11 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Fall Herping in March South African style!
Replies: 12
Views: 3454

Re: Fall Herping in March South African style!

Great post with an awesome variety of wildlife and scenery. So cool to be able to visit a country where you can see elephants, penguins and nile crocodiles! I need to get over there...
by Andy Avram
July 26th, 2013, 5:47 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: US Flamingo and nesting stilt- UPDATED with new photos 7/22
Replies: 12
Views: 8846

Re: US Flamingo and nesting stilt- UPDATED with new photos 7

I have always wanted to see a wild Flamingo - any species, anywhere. Very cool to see some pictures of Florida birds. Do you know if they are present every year in the Everglades? I know they aren't easy to get to much of the time (like kayak/canoe out to where they are), but with a little bit of ef...
by Andy Avram
July 21st, 2013, 6:24 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Join me in the Alleghenies???
Replies: 9
Views: 3284

Re: Join me in the Alleghenies???

Thanks for the tips Jake. Wehrle's are known to inhabit pretty dry areas, even drier than Redbacks, so not surprising you found them far away from water sources. If I go it alone I am only looking for Wehrle's, V&R and Coal Skinks, as those are the species I have never seen before. All the other...
by Andy Avram
July 21st, 2013, 5:46 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Join me in the Alleghenies???
Replies: 9
Views: 3284

Re: Join me in the Alleghenies???

Sorry for not being more specific on the location. I was thinking the National Forest Area so mainly PA, but if need be I would head into New York. Yeah, August isn't always the best month, but it has been a really, really wet year and sometimes you have to take the time when it is available. Also, ...
by Andy Avram
July 20th, 2013, 5:09 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Join me in the Alleghenies???
Replies: 9
Views: 3284

Join me in the Alleghenies???

I sent out a request for help in the Alleghenies in May for my honeymoon. Getting away after the ceremony for the weekend = successful, finding target herp species = not successful. Well, it is only 3 hours or so from my house and I have some time in August where I can make a run back there for my 3...
by Andy Avram
July 20th, 2013, 3:54 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: new to the forum
Replies: 18
Views: 5819

Re: new to the forum

Welcome to the forum. Nice to see other Ohio people. Love that orange Hognose. One of the nicest I have seen. I didn't know NW Ohio had too many black Hoggies either. I would love to see that color phase. Also, if that Ringneck is from NW Ohio, than nice find. I am not sure they are easy to come by ...
by Andy Avram
July 16th, 2013, 5:40 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Is this a Little Gull or a Bonaparte's Gull?
Replies: 2
Views: 2312

Re: Is this a Little Gull or a Bonaparte's Gull?

I'll bite, although this is a weird post. Little Gull - while a Eurasian species does not have white around the eye, has dark legs and black underwings. Clearly this gull is not a Little Gull. Bonaparte's Gull - White around the eye, pale legs, BUT not found in Asia except for accidental (I believe)...
by Andy Avram
July 14th, 2013, 5:00 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: What do you think made this wound? (Latest Updates).
Replies: 30
Views: 45510

Re: What do you think made this wound? (Latest Updates).

Didn't look at Owen's avatar. I was commenting more on how serious an ecological problem wild pigs are in this country, and a problem that is growing by leaps and bounds. Their spread needs to be stopped as quickly and efficiently as possible.
by Andy Avram
July 14th, 2013, 3:40 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: What do you think made this wound? (Latest Updates).
Replies: 30
Views: 45510

Re: What do you think made this wound? (Latest Updates).

The only way they are worth seeing in this country is through a gun scope.
by Andy Avram
July 14th, 2013, 3:39 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Need an ID on a small salamander
Replies: 17
Views: 3830

Re: Need an ID on a small salamander

I would sleep easy documenting that as a Marbled Salamander.
by Andy Avram
July 8th, 2013, 4:45 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Here's a strange way to add a bird to the ABA list
Replies: 3
Views: 2396

Re: Here's a strange way to add a bird to the ABA list

Too cool. How lucky of that guy. Wonder if he knew what he videoed at first?

On a side note, I saw my lifer Least Bittern at Bosque also!
by Andy Avram
July 2nd, 2013, 1:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Weird N. Watersnake?
Replies: 15
Views: 4794

Re: Weird N. Watersnake?

MIke, do your Northerns typically have red on them like that? I have only ever seen a handful with the red and wish I saw them more often. Very cool looking water snake.
by Andy Avram
July 2nd, 2013, 1:20 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Weird N. Watersnake?
Replies: 15
Views: 4794

Re: Weird N. Watersnake?

Brian, All, except maybe the tan one are in the range of normal. When they are babies they are dark blotched with a gray background. As they age they usually dull or darken up so the pattern is pretty obscured (although I have noticed river inhabiting Northerns tend to keep their patterns longer). A...
by Andy Avram
July 2nd, 2013, 12:59 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Weird N. Watersnake?
Replies: 15
Views: 4794

Re: Weird N. Watersnake?

I agree with Justin. I usually see over 100 Northern Water Snakes per year and that looks like every other one I have seen.

Although, to be fair, what do you think is strange on it?

Andy
by Andy Avram
June 26th, 2013, 11:37 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Possibly a NEW SPECIES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Replies: 16
Views: 5892

Re: Possibly a NEW SPECIES!!!!!!!!!!!!

umop apisdn wrote:I saw the hugest bullfrog...
That made me bust out laughing! Tried to find that post but cannot.

Well done.
by Andy Avram
June 21st, 2013, 10:28 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: IL dark headed Common Musk Turtle
Replies: 6
Views: 2710

Re: IL dark headed Common Musk Turtle

Matt, I don't find many stinkpots in Ohio, but I have seen them throughout the state and have a few nearly slam dunk locales for them. I recently found one in my county (one of the few ever found there) by seeing it's little nose sticking out of an algae mat. I seem to find them that way a lot. Espe...
by Andy Avram
June 21st, 2013, 10:22 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Elf Owl
Replies: 3
Views: 2937

Re: Elf Owl

I have not seen nearly enough owl species. Hopefully I can add this one this fall in Colorado.

Nice picture.
by Andy Avram
June 21st, 2013, 10:21 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: photographing the release of birds
Replies: 2
Views: 2415

Re: photographing the release of birds

I had to watch it 4 times to figure out what kind of flycatcher the women caught. Thought she was saying pig-necked or pin-necked flycatcher.

Figured it out now...

Cool pictures.
by Andy Avram
June 21st, 2013, 10:14 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: RFI: Herps, Mammals and Birds in Costa Rica please...
Replies: 4
Views: 1902

RFI: Herps, Mammals and Birds in Costa Rica please...

Please, if you are a friend of mine of Facebook, I would like to keep this a surprise, so please don’t post suggestions to me on there. Thanks! I recently tied the knot and this summer is just too crazy to take any sort of official honeymoon. I have been kicking around the idea of taking a honeymoon...
by Andy Avram
June 17th, 2013, 11:54 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Can you help me solve yet ANOTHER mystery ?!?!
Replies: 6
Views: 2024

Re: Can you help me solve yet ANOTHER mystery ?!?!

Welcome to my experience with Smooth Green Snakes. Their range covers a substantial portion of Ohio and to date I have only found them at 2 locations where there are known to be fairly large numbers (for a total of <10 individuals). I cannot find them in my county, or any surrounding, even though th...
by Andy Avram
June 13th, 2013, 6:27 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Need help FAST!!!!
Replies: 17
Views: 3708

Re: Need help FAST!!!!

You get even get sidewalk view of the enclosure! I wonder what species is in that pit?
That was well played Bill.

edit: I was "walking" around. Looks like a Spiny-tailed Iguana.
by Andy Avram
June 13th, 2013, 5:59 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A different kind of snake hunter
Replies: 5
Views: 2428

Re: A different kind of snake hunter

Now that is a pretty cool observation. Looks like an Eastern Milk Snake.
by Andy Avram
June 10th, 2013, 5:51 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: How many hours/day per year do you herp?
Replies: 20
Views: 4743

Re: How many hours/day per year do you herp?

I like this survey. I have found all of my local species and have to make a 2 hour or more drive to try and see the few other species I am missing so I have recently spent more time birding, starting to learn dragonflies, seining for fish or just getting out with the dogs. That being said the answer...
by Andy Avram
June 8th, 2013, 11:49 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Snake ID...
Replies: 4
Views: 1732

Re: Snake ID...

I have a dream that one day people will post locality data with their ID questions.
by Andy Avram
June 8th, 2013, 9:41 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Some birds from Puerto Rico
Replies: 4
Views: 4207

Re: Some birds from Puerto Rico

Those are really some cool birds, Chris. Loved the ducks (except Masked Duck), but those Pintails have always been a duck I would like to see, maybe one day the wife will drag me to the Caribbean and I'll see one. You mention that Black-whiskered Vireo is accidential in Florida. I thought they were ...
by Andy Avram
June 7th, 2013, 7:45 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Vegas are bird ID needed
Replies: 9
Views: 3691

Re: Vegas are bird ID needed

tspuckler wrote:They clearly do not have black throats.

Tim
Only the adults have the black throats. As a juvenile (like these) they will have pale throats that will turn black in a later molt.