Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

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walk-about
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Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by walk-about »

2014 brought many blessings and wonderful experiences for my daughter Jessica and me. Every day something 'new'. Something beautiful! And something to build upon in life's experience. It was a lots of fun. And I am ready for some warm weather to get back out there again, and especially with her...my 'partner in crime' as they say. LoL. No 'lifers' here, just some good times and experiences with her and others. Here is a little of what we saw around here. Hope you enjoy.









ImageMidland Water - Calloway Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageMidland Water - Calloway Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageMidland Water - Calloway Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageCottonmouth - Graves Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageAtomic Possum Fulton Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageTim Johnson @ Reelfoot Fulton Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageNorth Reelfoot - Fulton Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageW. Ribbon Snake (gravid female) Fulton Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageE. Ribbon Snake (male) Calloway Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageMidland Brown Snake - Edmonson Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageSE. Crowned Snake (male) Calloway Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageW. Mud Snake - Fulton Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageW. Mud Snake - Graves Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageMarsh - Henderson Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

Image'Dead tree Slough' Henderson Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageJessica Frymire & female W. Mud Snake from north Reelfoot by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

Image'Firebelly' N. Copperbelly Water (male) Henderson Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageN. Copperbelly Water (female) Henderson Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImagePrairie King - Hardin Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageRed Milk - Trigg Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageScarlet King - Trigg Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageKing (Speckled X Black) Graves Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageW. Smooth Earth Snake (female) Hardin Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageCorn Snake - Edmonson Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageRat Snake - Graves Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageMidland Water - Calloway Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageCottonmouth - Calloway Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageCottonmouth - Graves Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageCottonmouth - Graves Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageCottonmouth - gravel stream habitat - Graves Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageCottonmouth - Graves Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageN. Copperhead - Edmonson Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageTimber Rattlesnake - Edmonson Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageTimber Rattlesnake - Lyon Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageTimber Rattlesnake (blue) Edmonson Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageFive-lined Skink - Trigg Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageE. Fence Lizard (gravid female) Trigg Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageFive-lined Skink (turning & brooding her eggs) Trigg Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageJessica & Slender Glass Lizard - Edmonson Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageBroadhead Skink (big female) Graves Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageBroadhead Skink (hatchling) Graves Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageSix-lined Racerunner - Calloway Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageBig Mike's!! by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageRat Snake - Edmonson Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageClinton @ Kentucky State Fair Expo @ Looville by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageVisitor's Center at MCNP by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageJerry Bransford - 5th generation tour guide @ Mammoth Cave National Park by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageRainbow over Hardin Co. KY by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageExploring creekside with Nico, Tim, Tyler, Clint by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageJessica @ campsite - Kentucky Lake by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageCampfire smoke & drink by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

Image'Snake Road' rock facing by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageTim Johnson by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageEvan Brown by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageClinton & Tim fending off a huge snake by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageCottonmouth - Union Co. IL by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageKentuckians on 'Snake Road' by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageYellowbelly Water - Union Co. IL by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageRichard by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageTimber Rattlesnake - Union Co. IL by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageClinton Cunningham by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

ImageThat little gravel road.... by Dave F. Frymire, on Flickr

Thanks for taking this little trip with me. Good luck and Be safe in 2015!!

Dave
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IllinoisGuy
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by IllinoisGuy »

Great post, I love that huge glass lizard!
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Berkeley Boone
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by Berkeley Boone »

Great photos, Dave. I really like all the midland waters, and the female skink with the egg in her mouth.
Those muds were pretty sweet too. Thanks for taking us along with you!
--Berkeley
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justinm
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by justinm »

Sweet post, I loved the Midlands, Prairie King, cool Milks, and skinks brooding, the Glass lizard was a monster. Do you have a headshot? I've been told large males have a different pattern on top of their head that breaks up as they grow.


Justin Michels
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walk-about
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by walk-about »

Thanks guys for taking the time to comment. Sorry I did not provide much of a 'narrative' to either post.

IllinoisGuy - Yes indeed. I can never get enough of those things. We have found several really big ones the last few years around old field/cedar edges.

Justin - That particular lizard was indeed a male. I am not sure about the 'head pattern' per say as a sexually dimorphic character here, but what I can tell you is that overall (from my observations at least) is that males are typically more marked over all than females, and often have the transbars running longitudinal.

Berkeley - I second the 'Midlands'. For such a common snake, they show so much beauty within that variation of color and even pattern. This is often quite regional here.

Rock ON!

Dave
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Andrew G
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by Andrew G »

I have to agree with the other guys- that glass lizard is ENORMOUS! They grow 'em big in Kentucky, the ones I have seen in Kansas are 18 to 20 inches at most.

Loved the mud snake, the scarlet, and of course the various timbers. The water snakes there seem to be quite attractive. I usually think of Nerodia as fairly unattractive snakes, but those midlands are lookers for sure.

Andrew
cherper
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by cherper »

Dave,

Beautiful post! I'm also a midland watersnake fan from over here in Georgia! I love their color variation. We have some over here that can be Blood Red! You had some great finds up there in KY! Thanks for sharing.

Cary
Barry R
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by Barry R »

awesome post Dave!
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Eric East
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by Eric East »

Dang that glass lizard was huge; I didn't know they got that big! God was feeding that thing steroids! :-)
garry
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by garry »

Great photos with some beautiful herps. Those midland waters look fantastic, nothing like the northerns seen around here.
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walk-about
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by walk-about »

Thanks Andrew G., Barry R., garry, Eric East and cherper - and taking the time to look around on my post.

Cary - I'd love to see any of those pics if you would show them. They really are some pretty critters.

Rock ON!

Dave
Tamara D. McConnell
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

I loved this post!
I did not know glass lizards got so big! Also did not know dillos were in KY.
My favorite shot is the moc with only head and tail appearing out of the murky water.
The skinks-with-eggs shots are so cool. Also the water snakes and the enormous mud.
Looks like you & Jessica had a blast!
sjohn
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by sjohn »

Yes.... that is a great post and like everyone else I was blown away by the big glass lizard.
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walk-about
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by walk-about »

Tamara - Thank you so much for taking time to look. Yes the dillos started showing up here in the mid 1980's and have continued to migrate east across the state. There are more than 40 county records for them up here now. Yes that cotton shot is one of my favs as well. See ya on Flickr, girl!

sjohn - Thanks! THey can get some size on them. I find the big ones under cover. And the smaller ones I seem to encounter when they are moving around. They are surely cool critterz no doubt.

Rock ON!

Dave
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pjfishpa
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by pjfishpa »

Super post and love those mud snakes! Agree w that glass lizard, very cool! I got down into DBNF last spring and can't wait to get back there this spring. KY has a ton of diversity and you captured quite a bit of it for sure!
Your "partner in crime" looks like she really digs it. I have two of those (now 13 and 15) and they still love getting out w me looking or herps or deer/turkey hunting, etc. Would be a cool thread ... "your herping helpers" or something to that effect! Thanks for posting.
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walk-about
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by walk-about »

pjfishpa - Thank you for the comments. Yes you are right about the thread idea of parent's and their children/herpers. That would be a good one for sure. I am going to hit the RRG/DBNF area this spring as well. It has been many years since I 'herped' there. So I am very excited about this upcoming trip. Thanks again for the comments.

Dave
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Carl Brune
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by Carl Brune »

Nice post. In addition to herps, lots of nice people pics. I guess I am not surprised to hear armadillos are in KY -- makes me wonder if they will make to OH....?
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mfb
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by mfb »

Very enjoyable post - lots of great photos! And it is fantastic you are getting your daughter out to herp.
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walk-about
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by walk-about »

mfb - Thanks for the comments. My daughter I think has influenced me as much as anyone and getting to spend any time in the outdoors with her is the best!

Carl - I would speculate that based upon the dillo's movements across KY and the proximity to the Ohio River in southern OH, that they would indeed be there by now.

Rock ON!

Dave
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Noah M
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by Noah M »

Male eastern glass lizards have a different pattern than females as they age. Pictured was a ginormous eastern slender glass lizard (I think), and I don't know about age/sex differences in them.

Overall a great post. I loved that glass lizard.
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walk-about
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by walk-about »

Captainjack0000 - Thank you very much for the kind comments. Yes, it was an E.Slender GLass and a very large male for sure. I have seen some nice size females over the years as well, but overall males larger.

Rock ON!

Dave
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Nigel Smith
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by Nigel Smith »

Killer post Dave! I was smiling the whole time I looked at it. Loved all of those nerodia. Especially the first one. I also really enjoyed the habitat shots. That slender glass lizard looks incredible! Congrats!

I had high hopes coming into this thread. You didn't disappoint.

8-)
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mitchyboy
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by mitchyboy »

Awesome post! Love that glass lizard, as everyone else has said. Good variety of animals. Makes me miss kentucky.
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walk-about
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by walk-about »

Mitchyboy - Thanks so much. Never been to OK, but I have always wanted to see it and maybe that little place just south of there too. LoL

Nigel - Thanks for the kind words; and I am proud to put a big smile on your face. We have got to hit it again this year. I will be coming your way this spring, so lets make it happen.

Rock ON!

Dave
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Nigel Smith
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by Nigel Smith »

Hell yeah Dave. Just give me a heads up.
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ahockenberry
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by ahockenberry »

A+++
Amazing gallery of superb images - great work
Thanks for sharing !
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walk-about
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Re: Kentucky and the Little Gravel Road in Illinois 2014...

Post by walk-about »

Ashley - Thank you sir for the kind words.

Nigel - I am thinking early April. I will let you know.

Dave
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