It's been too long since we've had an in situ theme thread..

Photography knowledge exchange.

Moderator: Scott Waters

User avatar
Antonsrkn
Posts: 971
Joined: June 10th, 2010, 2:38 pm
Contact:

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

Post by Antonsrkn »

Another type of herp that is almost always photographed in-situ
Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) right after she finished laying her eggs
Image
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26500525@N ... 5761613751
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

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

Post by Stohlgren »

Ambystoma cingulatum. The reason for this grass climbing behavior is yet unknown.

Image

Image
User avatar
ThatFrogGuy
Posts: 744
Joined: April 15th, 2011, 1:29 pm
Location: Southern Indiana
Contact:

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

Post by ThatFrogGuy »

Awesome Kevin. I've heard it rumoured that its to guide them to their ponds by the reflection of moonlight on the water? Super cool regardless.

Here's an insitu from last night I was excited to see, though I wish I'd gotten it a bit sharper.
Image
Eastern Newt Preying upon Jefferson's Salamander Eggs by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
User avatar
chrish
Posts: 3295
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:14 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX
Contact:

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

Post by chrish »

Here's one from a couple of days ago. I've been trying to get a photo of this species (Scaphiopus hurterii) calling for a few years, but there are always fences in the way in Texas. :x
This time I was able to shoot through the fence.

Image
User avatar
krismunk
Posts: 395
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:17 am
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

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

Post by krismunk »

Image
User avatar
TravisK
Posts: 774
Joined: July 8th, 2010, 11:14 am
Location: Eastern Washington

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

Post by TravisK »

Stohlgren wrote:Ambystoma cingulatum. The reason for this grass climbing behavior is yet unknown.


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5532/1096 ... 95b1_c.jpg
Prey perhaps? I noticed the locust to the right of the above pic

Image
User avatar
yoloherper
Posts: 151
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 8:57 pm
Location: Davis/Santa Cruz

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

Post by yoloherper »

Here's a Centralian Bearded Dragons P. vitticeps as found in NSW.
This guy was a very willing subject and after this picture, my dad reached down and gave him a pet
across the back. His response was to turn 180 degrees and then let me continue photographing for
another 5 minutes.
Image
User avatar
Rothdigga
Posts: 405
Joined: November 25th, 2010, 2:00 pm
Location: Long Beach, CA
Contact:

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

Post by Rothdigga »

Green Rat Snake from south AZ. Didn't bail on me when I went in for some photos which was nice.
Image
Green Ratsnake by jrothdog, on Flickr
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

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

Post by Stohlgren »

ThatFrogGuy wrote:Awesome Kevin. I've heard it rumoured that its to guide them to their ponds by the reflection of moonlight on the water? Super cool regardless.
A friend of mine who has been monitoring this species for a while thinks it may indeed be orientation related. Possibly that they are getting up there to look for the silhouettes of the cypress dome ponds they breed in. Apparently this silhouette orientation was shown in spadefoots or something like that. Getting up out of that dense wiregrass would certainly give them a better view of where they are going. I don't think I would buy the reflection theory, though. In the sea of dense vegetation they have to navigate, I don't think being a foot off the ground would give you enough elevation to see a reflection of the water. Even a person would have a tough time seeing that from any distance. Plus, they usually only migrate during rain events with heavy cloud cover (though this individual was found on a cloudless night).
TravisK wrote:Prey perhaps? I noticed the locust to the right of the above pic
That is another theory. I don't think that particular insect would be prey for this salamander, but there are certainly plenty of appropriately sized critters running around.
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

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

Post by Stohlgren »

Rothdigga - Great shot. They are such a cool looking animal.

Here is the east's version of the rat snake squiggle.

Image

Image
User avatar
umop apisdn
Posts: 395
Joined: June 13th, 2010, 6:06 pm

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

Post by umop apisdn »

Wow, Flickr's 800 px resolution sure looks like they've dumbed it down. Nevertheless, some pics from last year:

Lampropeltis getula
Image

Crotalus horridus
Image

This is in situ, despite the fact that it appears as though this tree might have been peeled shortly before I spotted it. No one else in the group reported seeing this snake.
Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides
Image

Pseudacris ocularis narrowly avoiding some flood-stricken fire ants.
Image

Confused Pseudacris nigrita with Pseudacris ornata amidst an identity crisis.
Image

Crotalus adamanteus
Image
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

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

Post by Stohlgren »

One more rat snake. This is my favorite flavor of obsoletus.

Image
User avatar
krismunk
Posts: 395
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:17 am
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

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

Post by krismunk »

Image
User avatar
asher1027
Posts: 29
Joined: June 8th, 2013, 10:29 am
Location: Florence, CO
Contact:

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

Post by asher1027 »

Sceloporus undulatus I found a couple days ago in Colorado. In situ.
Image
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

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

Post by Stohlgren »

Probably the prettiest timber I saw all of last year. And perfectly coiled, too.

Image
User avatar
soulsurvivor
Posts: 530
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:09 am
Location: NE Florida
Contact:

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

Post by soulsurvivor »

A few people mentioned the difficulty of getting Little Grass Frog calling shots. I struggled with this guy last fall. There were other brighter colored individuals, but they were quick to hop away when I got too close. This one was pretty cooperative, but it was overcast and I was having camera issues. This is the best I could get.

Image
grass frog calling by soulsurvivor08, on Flickr
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

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

Post by Stohlgren »

I believe this is the only time I have seen a coachwhip coiled on the surface like this.
Image

And a young coachwhip periscoping out of a burrow along a fence line.
Image
User avatar
krismunk
Posts: 395
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:17 am
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

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

Post by krismunk »

Crappy pic but hey...

more intraspecies interaction

Image
User avatar
ospr3y
Posts: 4
Joined: March 13th, 2014, 12:06 pm
Location: Hephzibah, GA
Contact:

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

Post by ospr3y »

Relatively new herper - haven't free-handled too much so pretty much all my pics are in situ.

I usually only find Cottonmouths or the occasional Rat.

Image

Image

Image
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

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

Post by Stohlgren »

A beautiful blacktail from southeast AZ.

Image
User avatar
Soopaman
Posts: 924
Joined: March 18th, 2012, 7:34 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

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

Post by Soopaman »

Image
User avatar
chrisr
Posts: 108
Joined: August 16th, 2010, 7:02 am
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

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

Post by chrisr »

First frog in situ for me this year:
User avatar
Owen
Posts: 1924
Joined: June 11th, 2010, 12:35 am
Location: San Jose', Northern Catcrapistan

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

Post by Owen »

C. o. oreganus peek-a-boo rock outcrop.

Image
User avatar
Antonsrkn
Posts: 971
Joined: June 10th, 2010, 2:38 pm
Contact:

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

Post by Antonsrkn »

Grass Frog (Fejervarya limnocharis)
Image
User avatar
JAMAUGHN
Posts: 1131
Joined: May 15th, 2011, 12:16 am
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Contact:

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

Post by JAMAUGHN »

Happy to see this little one today.

Image
Coast Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma blainvilli by J. Maughn, on Flickr
hellihooks
Posts: 8025
Joined: June 8th, 2010, 8:12 am
Location: Hesperia, California.
Contact:

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

Post by hellihooks »

Nice Find Jim...from your 'paper-grading' spot? I'm seeing lots of HL's this year... :D
Image
I think this is my favorite shot, this year...
Image
:beer: jim
User avatar
umop apisdn
Posts: 395
Joined: June 13th, 2010, 6:06 pm

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

Post by umop apisdn »

A couple more stump snakes...

Image
Southern Black Racer

Image
Eastern Hognose with a Southern Toad that couldn't find the stumphole.
User avatar
krismunk
Posts: 395
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:17 am
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

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

Post by krismunk »

Image
User avatar
Antonsrkn
Posts: 971
Joined: June 10th, 2010, 2:38 pm
Contact:

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

Post by Antonsrkn »

Some species pose so well on their own, it would seem a shame to disturb them...
Image
User avatar
Owen
Posts: 1924
Joined: June 11th, 2010, 12:35 am
Location: San Jose', Northern Catcrapistan

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

Post by Owen »

Another C. o. oreganus.

This golden one just emerging in the morning last weekend:

Image
User avatar
Antonsrkn
Posts: 971
Joined: June 10th, 2010, 2:38 pm
Contact:

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

Post by Antonsrkn »

One thing that surprised me about Gopher Tortoises were how wary they were of people, it was surprisingly tough to snag a photo of one going about its business, they would spot me and make a dash.
Image
User avatar
ThatFrogGuy
Posts: 744
Joined: April 15th, 2011, 1:29 pm
Location: Southern Indiana
Contact:

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

Post by ThatFrogGuy »

One small glimpse of a field pond thick with chorus frogs.
Image
Midland Chorus Frogs (Psuedacris triseriata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
User avatar
Soopaman
Posts: 924
Joined: March 18th, 2012, 7:34 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

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

Post by Soopaman »

Something from yesterday:

Image
NACairns
Posts: 372
Joined: December 30th, 2013, 7:27 am

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

Post by NACairns »

Antaresia stimsoni, Ningaloo WA
Image
DSCF0510-1 by nacairn, on Flickr
NACairns
Posts: 372
Joined: December 30th, 2013, 7:27 am

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

Post by NACairns »

Nerodia sipedon, Eastern Ontario
Image
IMGP5187 by nacairn, on Flickr
Image
IMGP0494 by nacairn, on Flickr
User avatar
IllinoisGuy
Posts: 55
Joined: June 14th, 2013, 2:17 pm
Location: St. Louis

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

Post by IllinoisGuy »

I like to come up on these guys all squiggled up.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

And a garter snake from this spring.

Image
User avatar
krismunk
Posts: 395
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:17 am
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

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

Post by krismunk »

Image
bgorum
Posts: 619
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:46 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Contact:

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

Post by bgorum »

Image
Gorum_140323_1634_5_6 by bgorum, on Flickr
Three Black-tailed Rattlesnakes laying out at a den in the Magdalena Mountains, New Mexico yesterday.
User avatar
Soopaman
Posts: 924
Joined: March 18th, 2012, 7:34 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

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

Post by Soopaman »

Texas holbrooki as found:

Image
User avatar
chrish
Posts: 3295
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:14 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX
Contact:

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

Post by chrish »

Here's a young Cottonmouth I found in Arkansas one very cold night while I was photographing some Spring Peepers. I almost waded right into it because it was almost completely under water.

Image
User avatar
Soopaman
Posts: 924
Joined: March 18th, 2012, 7:34 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

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

Post by Soopaman »

Almost didn't see this diamondback awkwardly splayed out in the cordgrass in coastal dunes, 10-20yards from the breakers:

Image
User avatar
Antonsrkn
Posts: 971
Joined: June 10th, 2010, 2:38 pm
Contact:

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

Post by Antonsrkn »

I'm jealous of all you guys posting herps from this year,we thought spring was here but just got dumped on with snow again a few nights ago.

Lizards at night tend to be pretty easy to get in-situ shots of, this lizard never budged while I was photographing him.
Image
User avatar
JAMAUGHN
Posts: 1131
Joined: May 15th, 2011, 12:16 am
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Contact:

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

Post by JAMAUGHN »

Here's a California Striped Racer doing it's best "Blade-of-grass" impression:

Image
Zach_Lim
Posts: 1607
Joined: June 10th, 2010, 8:37 pm

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

Post by Zach_Lim »

Lots of in-situ shots of NorPac Rattlers (San Mateo County) from this past weekend:

Image
Image
Image

SF Garter

Image
Image

SF Gator

Image
User avatar
Stohlgren
Posts: 603
Joined: November 6th, 2010, 10:59 am
Location: Athens, GA (Columbia, MO)

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

Post by Stohlgren »

Diamondback found on a cool morning a few meters from a tortoise burrow last week.

Image
User avatar
umop apisdn
Posts: 395
Joined: June 13th, 2010, 6:06 pm

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

Post by umop apisdn »

Just about a foot from the stumphole...

Image
User avatar
Soopaman
Posts: 924
Joined: March 18th, 2012, 7:34 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

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

Post by Soopaman »

Image
FlyingSquirrel
Posts: 16
Joined: March 28th, 2014, 11:46 pm
Location: North of Seattle WA
Contact:

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

Post by FlyingSquirrel »

Greetings. I am new to this website / forum. This is my first post; I plan to join conversations in other areas of the forum shortly. Here is my contribution to this thread...

Although it is a close up and doesn't show the environment (and it is on a boardwalk trail), this shot is natural and was not set up at all. I was laying on the ground for 15 minutes without moving until this Garter snake returned to its sunbathing area. Taken with a Sigma 150mm macro on a Canon 7D, hand held...

Image
bgorum
Posts: 619
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:46 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Contact:

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

Post by bgorum »

FlyingSquirrel wrote:Greetings. I am new to this website / forum. This is my first post; I plan to join conversations in other areas of the forum shortly. Here is my contribution to this thread...

Although it is a close up and doesn't show the environment (and it is on a boardwalk trail), this shot is natural and was not set up at all. I was laying on the ground for 15 minutes without moving until this Garter snake returned to its sunbathing area. Taken with a Sigma 150mm macro on a Canon 7D, hand held...
That's really quite nice. I like the composition, the tongue, well done.
Post Reply