These pics will be in a rough chronology.
Northern Water Snake Nerodia sipedon
Salamander in situ
This was a vertical rock wall, in case you can't tell. I didn't get very close, but does anyone have an ID?
Went up to Max Patch for my aunt and uncle's wedding; no herps, but it was pretty.
Baby Ringneck Diadophis punctatus
Habitat
I really liked this guy.
Northern Water Snake Nerodia sipedon
View from John Rock
Supercrop Bird ID?
Momma and Daddy Five-lined Plestiodon fasciatus
Pretty Appalachian river habitat:
Now, here comes the part that makes me mad. I have found plenty of dead black rats, but no live ones for months. This one was just seconds from my house.
Pantherophis obsoletus
Here's mama wren sitting on her nest under my stairs. the babies have hatched now, but no pics
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Five-lined skink Plestiodon fasciatus
Here is a baby black rat shed on the edge of this tree cavity, but still no live animal.
This is my baby water snake friend. This is his favorite rock.
Nerodia sipedon
Habitat
Another ringneck Diadophis punctatus
in situ garter Thamnophis sirtalis
It was darker in color than most I find, but she had a beautiful pale green between her scales.
Deer track
Again, nothing but dead black rats *sigh
Pantherophis obsoletus
Here's my little friend on a different day
Nerodia sipedon
Ringneck Diadophis punctatus in situ
Every guide I have checked shows my area as having northern ringnecks. Almost every one I find is an intergrade, and I would side with southern over northern for most.
Here is a ventral of the above animal.
Great blue heron Ardea herodius
A different, strongly southern ringneck Diadophis punctatus
Water snake in shed Nerodia sipedon
Here is a different one with a particularly beautiful pattern
Nerodia sipedon
Red newt eft Notophthalmus viridescens
Box turtle Terrapene carolina in situ
And the ugliest snake award goes to...
My lifer racer!
Coluber constrictor
"Am I prettier on this side?"
I swear these things are not as common as they are outside of the mountains. I would still like to find one that doesn't look like a zombie. But hey, I got him while he was in shed at no extra cost!
in situ
ID?
This is my little buddy again, this time he was under his favorite rock.
Nerodia sipedon
Pretty moth; ID anyone?
I was looking for one of my queen snake friends, but all I found was this water snake
Nerodia sipedon
Snail
Garter Thamnophis sirtalis
Well, that's all that I have seen for a while that I had my camera for. So, does anyone have any advice for finding live black rat snakes, particularly in the southern Appalachians? They are by far my favorite, but I guess I have bad luck with timing.
Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
Moderator: Scott Waters
-
- Posts: 2248
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:42 am
Re: Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
I really like the second sipedon, the snail, and the habitat shots. Nice post.
Re: Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
Moth ID: Giant Leopard moth (Hypercompe scribonia)
Great pics
Great pics
Re: Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
Very sorry I can't help with the black rats but I have to say how cool it is that you have a little water snake friend that you can keep finding! Sounds very fun to watch him grow and learn his habits. -Neil
Re: Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
I understand your frustration with the black rats... I found a lot of DOR adults before finally getting my first live adult earlier this Spring. This probably doesn't help you but in central Kansas at their edge of their range they are most common in river bottom habitat.
Andrew
Andrew
Re: Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
Holy crap that racer is hideous.
Re: Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
I nominated the racer for picture of the week.
Re: Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
I didn't know racers could be fugly, but I guess they can.
-
- Posts: 457
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 8:30 pm
- Location: St Louis, MO / Hartford, CT
Re: Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
I've only done a little herping in Tn/NC but I've seen black rats crossing the road. I think it's merely a matter of time before you do, too. In Mo, I mostly commonly encounter then under boards in old field habitat or crossing roads. I've found some in wooded areas hiding in logs or in trees. Black rats tend to be capable of living in many conditions. Try searching debris in old fields and around barns or just wait one for one crossing the road. Never know where you may see one, look at this
Rocky areas during emergence can be good too such as under/around bridges if there are lots of rocks up high on land. In the hotter parts of summer, I've found them in cool ravines. I'd recommend spending time looking for venomous and you'll turn up black rats as a matter of course.
Rocky areas during emergence can be good too such as under/around bridges if there are lots of rocks up high on land. In the hotter parts of summer, I've found them in cool ravines. I'd recommend spending time looking for venomous and you'll turn up black rats as a matter of course.
Re: Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
Great pics!
I love this area with everything I have (even with a lack of snakes). That salamander you have is for sure a Desmognathus sp., could be D. monticola.
I love this area with everything I have (even with a lack of snakes). That salamander you have is for sure a Desmognathus sp., could be D. monticola.
- copperhead
- Posts: 27
- Joined: June 19th, 2012, 5:35 pm
- Location: Shenandoah Co. Virginia
Re: Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
Nice pics - could that be a green frog DOR? I have a ringneck population (north western VA) that shows a paler belly with spots absent or scattered, with only a few showing those big prominent dots on every belly scale. Kudos for befriending a sipeodon, didn't know that was possible!
Re: Late Spring/Early Summer in Western NC
Thanks for the compliments/IDs everyone.
Maybe I wasn't really clear, but I have found live black rats in the past. It's just that I haven't found any for the past several months (alive that is, I've probably seen 15 DOR). My problem seems to be that I haven't known how to target them. Almost all of my previous finds seem to have been by pure chance while looking for other species, driving to places, etc. Thanks for the advice though. I am sure I can use it to focus my search.
Yeah, and if you had seen that racer in person, you'd probably still be having nightmares.
Maybe I wasn't really clear, but I have found live black rats in the past. It's just that I haven't found any for the past several months (alive that is, I've probably seen 15 DOR). My problem seems to be that I haven't known how to target them. Almost all of my previous finds seem to have been by pure chance while looking for other species, driving to places, etc. Thanks for the advice though. I am sure I can use it to focus my search.
Yeah, and if you had seen that racer in person, you'd probably still be having nightmares.