Back to school day after tomorrow, so it’s time to make a summer post. I visited my sister in Massachusetts. She does not herp, but she agreed to drop me off at various places. After I had been there a few days, she even volunteered to drop me off in New Hampshire. She was either trying to be helpful, or else she was getting real tired of me being there. To her credit, she did always show back up to pick me up, even after we had words about her obstinate refusal to cross several lanes of traffic to stop for a look at a roadside groundhog.
wood frog by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
green frog by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
erythristic redback salamander by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Eastern newt by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Desmognathus fuscus by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
juv garter by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
redback sally by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Wood frog tadpole by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Massachusetts bullfrog2 by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
I had never seen any part of the northeast before. It is dazzlingly beautiful. In New Hampshire, I climbed a mountain. On the one hand, it was a small mountain. On the other hand, when you are a chain-smoker like I am, there is no such thing as a small mountain. My herp finds there were modest but since I managed to get up and down the mountain without a cardiac event, I considered it a successful mission. Habitat:
nhamp habitat2 by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
nhamp habitat1 by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Next, I decided to inflict myself on my Kentucky/Ohio relatives.
ohio garter by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
My family does not herp. They were, however, willing to accompany me to a creek one day. They watched in horror as I played with some creekbed denizens. Afterwards, my brother canceled our planned post-herping trip to the local ice cream parlor on the grounds that I was allegedly “way too dirty to be seen in public with.” Non-herpers have funny notions. Thank God I have you people.
Nerodia sipedon sipedon by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Regina septimvittata by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Regina septimvittata2 by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Laurel Co., KY garter by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
I really wanted to see Podarcis muralis, because of the interesting story behind the local population. Thank you, Jake Scott, for the help.
Podarcis muralis by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
In north Alabama, Matt Arnold graciously showed me around. He took me to some awesome limestone bluffs and I found the coolest thing I have seen all summer:
milk snake by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Back in south Alabama, there were the usual frog suspects:
Hyla squirrella by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Cope's gray on gladiola by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Hyla gratiosa by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
oak toads in amplexus by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Hyla femoralis by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Miscellaneous critters:
Slimy sal and rose by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
A. sagrei by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
gator by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Hatchling Anolis carolinensis:
hatchling2 by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
hatchling by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Turtles not previously posted:
Graptemys ernsti by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
periscope up by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
slider face by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
We went to Baldwin County one evening with James (aka Coluber Constrictor) and he found this, which is the first live one I have ever seen:
scarlet snake by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Other snakes:
shy mamba by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
cranky youngster by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
king by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
flower king by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Garter on rock by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
garter closer by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
garter by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Farancia abacura by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
corn by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
corn up close by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
juv Nerodia fasciata by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
snake in the grass by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
juv rat by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
ratsnake by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
ratsnake1 by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
ratsnake scales by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Our regular chicken-coop visitor still comes around. We always leave an egg or two in there for him. The chickens don’t seem at all bothered.
ratsnake by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
Nonherps:
hummer4 by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
little blue heron by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
raccoon face by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
caterpillar by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
As always, thanks for having a look. And to the wonderful herp folks who came to visit and herp with Ray and me, come on back any time. It was purely a blast.
030 by Tamara McConnell1, on Flickr
summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Moderator: Scott Waters
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Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Those Alabama garters are fantastic! Great post.
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Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Those Alabama garters are fantastic! Great post.
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- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:25 am
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Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
I'm curious about the story behind the wall lizard. If I remember correctly, the Italian wall lizards in Long Island were purposefully introduced by an immigrant because they reminded him of the old country.
That scarlet snake was my favorite find of the year so far. Your photo turned out better than any of mine.
That scarlet snake was my favorite find of the year so far. Your photo turned out better than any of mine.
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- Posts: 276
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Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Great shots. That last photo of your hen sharing the watermelon with the boxy is priceless.
Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Those macro shots are great! Love that kingsnake head pic -- really nice work. Looks like you had a pretty good year!
Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Great pictures!!
Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Article about the P muralis introduction in Ohio and Kentucky:
http://www.lacerta.de/AS/Artikel.php?Article=85
http://www.lacerta.de/AS/Artikel.php?Article=85
- Mike VanValen
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Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Agreed. Those garters are exceptional.John Williams wrote:Those Alabama garters are fantastic! Great post.
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Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Tons of wonderful photos!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Great post and pics. I really liked the slimy pic a lot. I lived in Ohio (Northeastern) and it took me awhile to find a queen snake, so nice work.
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Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Thanks for the kind words, guys.
Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Great stuff! That first redback is pretty wild.
- Tim Borski
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Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Tamara, that orange Garter is insanely attractive, as is the roja-ythristic Red back!
You photography skills have climbed so much in the past year or so that I'm giving up; my next camera will be yet another Cannon point and shoot.
PS: Josef began 8th grade last Monday and turned a teenager 2 days ago...where's the time going?
Tim
You photography skills have climbed so much in the past year or so that I'm giving up; my next camera will be yet another Cannon point and shoot.
PS: Josef began 8th grade last Monday and turned a teenager 2 days ago...where's the time going?
Tim
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Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Josef will be an awesome teenager. He will have none of the stereotypical negative teen qualities. He will be all goodness and light and fun. Btw, your story about the day you rode the schoolbus with him still makes me chuckle. Does Josef find it funny yet?PS: Josef began 8th grade last Monday and turned a teenager 2 days ago...where's the time going?
Thanks for the kind words about the photos.
Hey, I read your wife's book. It is wonderful. Tell her to please hurry and write another one.
Re: summer herps 2013 (same as SE chapter post)
Fantastic Post That erythristic redback salamander and the orange colored garter are AWESOME!!!! Of of a kinds for sure!!???!!
Dave S.
Dave S.