One Herper

2011 Herp Photo Blog

2011-12-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

This guy is captive but still awesome! American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)

That wraps up 2011. In the coming year I predict big changes for me and a lot more time in the field. Stay tuned.

If you have any questions on the animals posted please feel free to leave a comment.

2011 Lifers

2011-11-13T18:47:00.000-08:00

Another year in the field has come and gone. Mid November pretty much signals the end of the major season (although herping never really ends, as most amphibians can be found year-round with a little effort).

My full year-end update will come some time in December. So, until then, I will briefly highlight the species that I encountered for the first time this year (A.K.A. "Lifers").

Florida Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys nelsoni)

The Red-bellied Cooter is one of the most common turtles in Florida, but it took me 3 times to finally see one. I saw my first FRBC at Disney's Animal Kingdom in one of the small creeks that run through the park, and then several more at Epcot.

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterdon platirhinos)

In 2010 I came closer to seeing a living specimen of the Eastern "Hoggie"...probably a day or so too late in the form of a flattened melanistic specimen down in rural Maryland. In 2011 I finally made contact with a living snake as it crossed a road through a pine forest one early morning on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps)

This is a frustrating one because I was unable to get a picture. Several of us were flipping through some debris in Maryland when 3 or 4 juvenile Broadheads shot out of the junk pile. Although they are pretty much indistinguishable from the similar Five-lined Skink (unless in hand in which you make a count of the labial and post-labial scales), I was assured the specimens at this particular spot are, indeed, laticeps.

I will be back for pictures!

Honorable Mention - Unknown Skink (Plestiodon sp.)

I saw this juvenile Skink running across a sidewalk in Orlando, Florida. Because there are three very similar species native to the area, it is near impossible to ID the species from this photo. The reason being that the juveniles of the three species are nearly identical. I like to think that it was a juvenile Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus)...making it lifer number 4 for the year. (Wishful thinking, I know).

Baby Steps

2011-05-26T18:21:00.000-07:00

Not everyone is into field herping, obviously. I often have to do a lot of explaining to people who ask me about it. The questions are usually the same no matter who it is. "Why would you look for reptiles?". "What do you do with them when you find them?". "Have you ever been bitten?".

Often, people will tell me they love turtles and frogs. Lizards are OK. Snakes scare the hell out of them. Then there are the people who show interest in field herping and ask if they can come out with me sometime. Well, it just so happened that a long-time friend of mine went out into the field with me a few weeks ago in New Haven County, Connecticut.

The spot was a local reservoir surrounded by mix woodland and some wetlands. I had previously been to this spot, mostly in 2010, and had not seen much other than some Green Frogs and Red-backed Salamanders. I also saw a few DOR (Dead on Road) Painted Turtles and scored a personal county record with a DOR Northern Ring-necked Snake. (pictured below - to this date I still haven't found a live ringneck there).

Hoping for some different species we headed out the night before to walk the waters edge. Soon after arriving we began hearing the call of several Bullfrogs. Using my high powered spotlight, I soon exposed a large bullfrog in the shallows. Getting down on my hands and knees I grabbed the slippery amphibian as my friend kept the light directly on the frog.

As I've mentioned, most folks don't have a problem with frogs. Well, my friend would not hold the big bullfrog but he was very interested as I explained the sexual dimorphism in the species. We saw several more bullfrogs and also heard the snoring call of a pickerel frog, which often call from under water.

The next morning we got up early, had breakfast, and headed out to the reservoir. The weather was perfect as we started walking the small trail that circled the water. One part I forgot to mention is that this reservoir has a lower and upper portion. The upper portion is larger and so after a quick walk around the lower portion we headed up to the larger reservoir.

Along one side of the reservoir was a spill that let water down into the smaller water body. A concrete ledge went from the spill and curved around the reservoir about 100 feet. As we walked along the edge I noticed several spots looked good for Northern Watersnakes. Sure enough...

This is a watersnake "threesome". One male is copulating (mating) with the larger female, while another male waits his turn. My friend had a lot of questions about the snakes and I was able to explain the misconception that this species is venomous. Just like in many other New England states, any snake seen in water is referred to as a "water moccasin".

Finding the watersnakes was a thrill and on the way back I spotted a tiny Eastern Painted Turtle in the water. This is one of the smallest turtles I've ever seen.

That concluded our quick trip around the reservoir. Although my friend was reluctant to hold even a Bullfrog, it is a first step to appreciating Amphibians & Reptiles.

It's Time

2011-04-21T17:06:00.000-07:00

We had a miserable winter here in New England. Numerous blizzards, ice and all the other pleasantries that come with the season. So, with that said, spring and the 2011 field herping season has been highly anticipated.

On a recent sunny weekday afternoon, I got the chance to get out into the field and turn a few logs. Of course, under those logs, the most common amphibian in Connecticut will normally be found.

The Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) can normally be found under logs and rocks in any woodland setting. The particular salamander pictured above is ready to lay eggs.

I ended up finding 6 salamanders but I really wanted to see a snake, so I went to a specific spot where I've always had luck finding one. Sure enough...

The Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) is a very common resident of a wide variety of habitat in Connecticut.

In the early spring days they can often be seen basking at the forest edge, in clearings and hunting for prey at stream margins. The snake I found on this day was hunting along a small woodland stream in open sunlight.

Further into the woods I came upon several vernal pools which hold a ton of interesting wildlife. I scanned the pools and spotted what I had hoped for. Scattered about the pool were several Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) egg masses.

The size and placement of these egg masses caused me to pause for a moment. Something about them reminded of Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) masses. But because I have never seen those egg masses I wasn't sure. The Jefferson Salamander is a very rare species in Connecticut and it would be a significant find for the area.

Spring is finally kicking in after a dismal early April. Up next, Easter Sunday field herping!

Spotted Turtles in Connecticut

2011-01-06T17:49:00.001-08:00

The Spotted Turtle (Clemmys Guttata) is a small, inconspicuous, semi-aquatic turtle from the family Emydidae.

This species is widespread across Connecticut in a variety of wetlands and upland habitat. The Spotted Turtle is more common in low-lying portions of the state and is rare above 900 feet.

Spotted Turtles are one of the first turtles to emerge in early spring. I've seen them actively foraging in the first week of April. Spotted Turtles feed on a variety of aquatic invertebrates and carrion.

Spotted Turtles often bask with only their carapace exposed, resting atop aquatic vegetation. I've found that these turtles prefer shallow margins of wetlands, often avoiding deep water.

In early June, 2009, I witnessed a female Spotted Turtle digging a nest in loose soil adjacent to a temporary wetland (pictured above). Spotted Turtles lay 3-4 eggs in late spring, with hatchlings emerging in about 11 weeks.

Pictured above is a hatchling Spotted Turtle I found in early October. Spotted Turtles often prepare for winter in October by resting in leaf litter at the bottom of a dry vernal pool. When autumn rain begins to fall, the turtles burrow into the muck and wait out the winter in a state of hibernation. Spotted Turtles may also overwinter in an upland site, away from water. The following spring, they emerge and head for water.

Perhaps more so than the Robin, Spotted Turtles are one of the first signs of spring in the Northeast and are a very interesting species to observe in the wild, which is where they should stay.
Protecting the fragile ecosystem in which they live is the only way to ensure that this active little turtle remains a part of Connecticut's wildlife.

In The Field 2010

2011-01-06T17:47:00.000-08:00

Since I'm sitting here with a partially torn lower back muscle, I figured it would a good time for my yearly report. It's not as if I'll be herping any time soon

2010 was similar to 2009 in many ways. Crazy New England weather patterns and other annoyances kept me from visiting many of my spots, in turn I did not see the sheer numbers that I had seen in 2008.

If it wasn't for the N.A.F.H.A. Delmarva trip this would have been a dismal year. I have to again thank all who attended for the great time and great results we produced. I hope we all can do it again real soon.

No month by month re-cap here. Just images and a few brief descriptions.

Amphibians

American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) - Connecticut

Spotted Salamander Egg Mass (Ambystoma maculatum) - Connecticut

Always the first and last herp seen up in Connecticut...

Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) - Maryland

Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) - Maryland

These are everywhere on Delmarva

The ever present twang...

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans melanota) - Connecticut

Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularius) - Maryland

Another commonly seen animal

Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) - Connecticut

A very cool lifer for me

Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) - Virginia

Another lifer

Eastern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans) - Virigina

This Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) went for a swim on Easter Sunday in Connecticut.

Reptiles

My favorite herp ever

Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) digging a nest in Connecticut.

..and escaping the heat

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) - Connecticut

I found this girl in 2008 and again this year in the same spot

Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) are a sure sign of spring in Connecticut.

Northern Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys rubriventris) - Delaware

This was a common site on Delmarva.

Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) - Maryland

Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) - Connecticut

Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) - Juvenile from Connecticut

and an adult from Maryland.

Northern Rough Greensnake (Ophedorys aestivus) - Maryland

Eastern Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae) - Maryland

a tough species to photograph.

Eastern Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) - Maryland

Old one eye

In 2010 I finally got to see the king...

Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) - the beast pictured above is from Virginia.

and this smaller specimen is from Maryland.

not to be outdone, here's a yearling pair from New Jersey.

Here's a juvenile Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) to wrap up this section.

People & Places

Coastal Dunes in Virginia.

An early April morning in Connecticut.

NAFHA Northeast Chapter members explore a roadside - Delmarva Peninsula Trip.

Photo session with an Eastern King - NAFHA Northeast Chapter Delmarva Trip.

New Haven County, Connecticut

Late Autumn in Fairfield County, Connecticut

That brings us to the end of the 2010 field herping season. The gears are already turning for 2011, including a return trip to the Delmarva Peninsula.