Winter 2015

Dedicated exclusively to field herping.

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Adam Cooner
Posts: 247
Joined: July 8th, 2010, 3:50 pm
Location: Calera, AL

Winter 2015

Post by Adam Cooner »

It's been a while since I've posted, so I'll share my winter finds with the vernal equinox (March 20) nigh.

Chris (Darkhorse) and I met up with a fellow herper in North Alabama in mid-January to flip for smallmouth salamanders, a real rarity in Alabama. After systematically flipping logs, branches, and leaf litter with no luck, our host was able to produce one just as we were resigning ourselves to trying another time.

ImageSmall-mouth Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageSmall-mouth Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

On the way back to the car, we were surprised by a yellow-bellied watersnake who had decided that a temperature in the low 50s was warm enough.

ImageYellow-Bellied Water Snake by adamcooner, on Flickr

Seal salamanders have been ubiquitous, as usual, in Talladega National Forest and surrounding areas.

ImageSeal Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

On a trip to Conecuh National Forest in early February, I turned up a dwarf salamander and Southern red salamanders.

ImageDwarf Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Red Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

I really like the look of the adult reds I find in Conecuh:

ImageSouthern Red Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

Early March trips to Tuskegee National Forest have been fairly productive:

So, this first one may actually turn out to be some undescribed species of dwarf salamander, but I haven't bothered to change the ID in Flickr.

ImageChamberlain's Dwarf Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageSpotted Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageMole Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageMarbled Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageFour-toed Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageCottonmouth by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Black Racer by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageSmooth Earth Snake by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageEastern Mud Turtle by adamcooner, on Flickr

I found a nice lead phase Southern zigzag in my parents' flowerbed in Northwest Alabama.

ImageSouthern Zigzag Salamander (Lead Phase) by adamcooner, on Flickr

Recently, I've been visiting the Oakmulgee District of the Talladega National Forest.

ImageYellow-Bellied Water Snake by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageSpotted Dusky Salamanders by adamcooner, on Flickr

. . . and the Bibb County reds have not disappointed.

ImageRed Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageRed Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageRed Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageRed Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

ImageRed Salamander by adamcooner, on Flickr

And that brings us up-to-date. Thanks for looking! Hopefully I'll be posting more often this spring and seeing more of everyone else's finds too.
Tamara D. McConnell
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Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:42 am

Re: Winter 2015

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

Luminously beautiful images, Adam. Thank you for the visual delights.
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Berkeley Boone
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Joined: June 8th, 2010, 4:02 am

Re: Winter 2015

Post by Berkeley Boone »

Great photos!

Are you sure that is a midland water? It looks to me more like a plainbelly (or yellowbelly, as you'd called it on the adult a little higher up in the post).

Just curious.
--Berkeley
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Daniel D Dye
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Location: New River (Brooker), Florida
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Re: Winter 2015

Post by Daniel D Dye »

Good stuff here, Adam.

We found out recently the Chamberlain looking dwarfs found in that area are actually undescribed Dwarf Salamanders (Eurycea cf. quadridigitata). Get with Chris M., he'll give you more info.

DDD
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Adam Cooner
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Joined: July 8th, 2010, 3:50 pm
Location: Calera, AL

Re: Winter 2015

Post by Adam Cooner »

Berkeley Boone wrote:Great photos!

Are you sure that is a midland water? It looks to me more like a plainbelly (or yellowbelly, as you'd called it on the adult a little higher up in the post).

Just curious.
--Berkeley
Y'know, I just ID'd this on autopilot, but you're right on review of other photos. The change will be made. Thanks!
Tamara D. McConnell wrote:Luminously beautiful images, Adam. Thank you for the visual delights.
Thanks, Tamara!
Daniel D Dye wrote:Good stuff here, Adam.

We found out recently the Chamberlain looking dwarfs found in that area are actually undescribed Dwarf Salamanders (Eurycea cf. quadridigitata). Get with Chris M., he'll give you more info.

DDD
Thanks, Daniel. I saw that Facebook exchange and have been meaning to look into that a little more.
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Noah M
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Re: Winter 2015

Post by Noah M »

Great stuff.
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ScottAL
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Joined: March 1st, 2011, 6:01 pm
Location: North Alabama

Re: Winter 2015

Post by ScottAL »

Nice shots Adam! Glad I was able to help on the texanum.
You've found some really nice animals lately. Love the rubers.
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Adam Cooner
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Joined: July 8th, 2010, 3:50 pm
Location: Calera, AL

Re: Winter 2015

Post by Adam Cooner »

ScottAL wrote:Nice shots Adam! Glad I was able to help on the texanum.
You've found some really nice animals lately. Love the rubers.
Thanks, Scott! I hope we're able to meet up again.
Barry R
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Joined: March 16th, 2011, 11:27 am
Location: Shawnee Hills, IN

Re: Winter 2015

Post by Barry R »

good stuff Adam
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