So this has been a wildly eventful year. I started it living in Portland Oregon with too much money and time on my hands so I, due to boredom, decided to herp Costa Rica. Now, here I am living in Michigan attending a masters program for philosophy. What a world. I'm doing well academically, so with that stress out of the way I thought it would be fun to do a year in review post. I saw tons of species this year, more than I ever have, so this will be long and sort of all over the place.
This will try to be in chronological order, so I'll jumping locations quite frequently. And, as well, my photography got much better as the year went on. It's a rewarding hobby, haha. All in all it was a wonderful year and I hope to make some more connections in SW Michigan. Seems like there are not too many herpers here, but a man can dream.
(FYI, I started this year without having species names but added them over time. I'm not interested in adding them post hoc. And many of these are going to be reposts, but I don't mind much. I love looking over other folks' posts and I want to spread the holiday cheer while we're all most indoors, haha)
Hope you enjoy the pics! I'm not big on stories., unfortunately, but I love telling them in person.
My highlights of the year:
Copperheads
Eyelash vipers
Eastern Massasaugas
And a big ass Fer-de-lance that swam away without a picture.
Oregon
I started the year looking for garters and chorus frogs. Portland has some wonderful sites that I miss so much being back in MI. It's hard to appreciate just how much *room* there is out west.
oregon_chorus_frog1_macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
oregon_long_toed_salamander_1_macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
oregon_gartersnake_macro2 by Derek Halm, on Flickr
oregon_chorus_frog2_macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
oregon_gartersnake_macro4 by Derek Halm, on Flickr
oregon_long_toed_salamander_2_macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Costa Rica
I stayed on the Atlantic side. The first few nights were at the CRARC. Everyone should go there if they can. The next few days were spent near Cahuita and the tip near Panama. I loved the heat. Loved the ocean. And, of course, loved the herps.
CRARC
agalychnis_callidryas by Derek Halm, on Flickr
dragonfly_in_flight by Derek Halm, on Flickr
rainforest_landscape by Derek Halm, on Flickr
denropobates_pumilio by Derek Halm, on Flickr
great_potoo by Derek Halm, on Flickr
dendropsophus_ebraccatus2 by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Red Eye Stream Frog Macro (duellmanohyla uranochroa) by Derek Halm, on Flickr
bothriechis_schlegelli by Derek Halm, on Flickr
hyalinobatrachium_fleischmanni_macro_2 by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Glass Frog Macro (hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni) by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Cahuita
Cahuita is calm and I met some wonderful people there. There was this french dude who was a herper and also a professional clown. What world!
Raccoon Siesta by Derek Halm, on Flickr
ameiva_quadrilineatia2 by Derek Halm, on Flickr
capuchin_3 by Derek Halm, on Flickr
iguana_iguana by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Eyelash Viper Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
bothriechis_schlegelli_macro_4 by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Back to Oregon
When I came back to Oregon, the weather was warm enough (March) for critters to be out. You'll notice things start to head out to the desert after a certain point. Eastern Oregon has to be seen to be believed. Most of these shots are either near Portland or near my snake site in Oregon.
jumping_spider_macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
garter_snake_macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Snail Waking Up by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Crotalus Oreganus Macro Juvenile by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Crotalus Oreganus Macro Adult by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Sunset in Wasco by Derek Halm, on Flickr
lazy_fence_swift by Derek Halm, on Flickr
crotalus_oreganus by Derek Halm, on Flickr
whip_snake_macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
deschutes_river_lanscape by Derek Halm, on Flickr
gopher_snake by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Baby Garter Snake Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Dragonfly Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Gopher Snake Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
(I went down to Corvalis and met R. Hoyer from the forums and he told me all about rubber boas and sharp tails. I recommend it for anyone here. Stand up dude with lots of knowledge)
Sharp Tail Snake by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Rubber Boa by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Idaho
I next went with the chapter trip out to Idaho with some awesome dudes. It was a wonderful time. Support your local chapter and get out there. I learned some interesting things and hope to reconnect with them when I come back after grad school (save the date spring/summer '18 guys)
Cut of the Earth by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Great Basin Rattlesnake - Crotalus Oreganus Lutosus by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Whipsnake Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Great Basin Rattlesnake - Crotalus Oreganus Lutosus by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Screech Owl by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Side Blotch Lizard by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Woodhouse Toad Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Kangaroo Rat Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Oregon one last time
Gopher snake at sunset by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Hatchling gopher snake at sunset by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Northern pacific rattlesnake - crotalus oreganus oreganus macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Michigan
I grew up in Michigan but was not much of a herper after a certain age. I guess it comes in waves or something. Now, I enjoy getting out there and seeing what I can find. Considering I had never found massasaugas when I was a kid, it made it all the more important to find them and other critters.
Frog Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Honeybee Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale) Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Northern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis) Detail in Tree by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Mantis Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Bumble bee macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Juvenile Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) Macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) in duckweed by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Hatchling Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Whitford Lake by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Hatchling blue racer (Coluber constrictor foxii) by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Snake Road
And, finally, in between classes I made the drive down to the chapter meet on Snake Road. Lots of cool people willing to talk shop and enjoy the climate. It made me quite happy to see so many people so excited to see the one baby timber.
Neonate Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Neonate Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Neonate Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) macro by Derek Halm, on Flickr
Neonate Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) closeup by Derek Halm, on Flickr
2016 review: Oregon, Costa Rica, Idaho, Michigan, Snake Road
Moderator: Scott Waters
- technoendo
- Posts: 112
- Joined: December 13th, 2014, 5:27 pm
Re: 2016 review: Oregon, Costa Rica, Idaho, Michigan, Snake
What a year Derek! You have seen some great herping adventures sir.
When I met Derek in May the first thing that blew me away was how good his macro photographs are compared to anything I shoot. He goes for the shallow depth with the bokeh/blurred background and zooms right up the subjects nostrils as you can see. It had enough impact that I've been studying DSLM's, lenses, and plotting my move to incorporate these capabilities into my video work.
It was a bummer that you moved out of the pacific northwest as it was good fun herping with you, but I was impressed that just 2-3 weeks after arriving in Michigan you were already finding blue racers and massasaugas! I thought massasaugas were more elusive than that and that it would take you time to work up to it! Then you got out to snake road and met up with my favorite youtube herper Smetlogik (so jealous)!
Any lifers or sights on your list for 2017 you plan to chase?
When I met Derek in May the first thing that blew me away was how good his macro photographs are compared to anything I shoot. He goes for the shallow depth with the bokeh/blurred background and zooms right up the subjects nostrils as you can see. It had enough impact that I've been studying DSLM's, lenses, and plotting my move to incorporate these capabilities into my video work.
It was a bummer that you moved out of the pacific northwest as it was good fun herping with you, but I was impressed that just 2-3 weeks after arriving in Michigan you were already finding blue racers and massasaugas! I thought massasaugas were more elusive than that and that it would take you time to work up to it! Then you got out to snake road and met up with my favorite youtube herper Smetlogik (so jealous)!
Any lifers or sights on your list for 2017 you plan to chase?
Re: 2016 review: Oregon, Costa Rica, Idaho, Michigan, Snake
Thanks man. technoendo is an awesome guy and if you make it up to the PNW anyone should look him up. Stand up dude. I hope you find the elusive ground snake one of these times.
I think the targets this year in SW Michigan are rat snakes, hognose, and ring-necked. These are all very difficult to find in this part of the state. On my last trip out to a site here near where I live I found a large shed by a field. I figure the racer had to be over 2 feet, which is quite nice. It's filled with toads and is quite sandy, so I'm hoping it delivers come April(ish). In the midwest, the winter gods have quite a bit of sway, haha.
I think the targets this year in SW Michigan are rat snakes, hognose, and ring-necked. These are all very difficult to find in this part of the state. On my last trip out to a site here near where I live I found a large shed by a field. I figure the racer had to be over 2 feet, which is quite nice. It's filled with toads and is quite sandy, so I'm hoping it delivers come April(ish). In the midwest, the winter gods have quite a bit of sway, haha.
- Will Wells
- Posts: 275
- Joined: June 18th, 2010, 5:32 am
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