2016 Herping Thread

Bandit · 01-04-16, 10:26 AM

Well, I figured since it's a new year, I'd make a new thread for my finds in the field. After having a very warm December, it did finally cool down. I went out on January 2nd and managed to spot a few things even though it was 50 degrees and overcast.

One of two Broad-Banded Water Snakes. Both of them were found out and about regardless of the cooler weather.

Western Ribbon Snake

Western Rat Snake (formerly Texas rat snake)

I also saw quite a few Green Anoles when flipping various things.

Albert Clark · 01-04-16, 12:37 PM

Wow! Now that's what I call a positive outing. Congrats and thank you for sharing that.

Handyhens · 01-04-16, 02:08 PM

Cool! I don't live near very good herping places, but I will be traveling this year and will document what I find!

Bandit · 01-04-16, 02:24 PM

Thanks guys. I will keep updating this thread throughout the year. I will mainly be herping in southeast Louisiana, but will also be exploring some areas of other Gulf Coast states from time to time. I have a few goals for this year, but the one species I really would like to see is the Pygmy Rattlesnake.

Bandit · 01-08-16, 07:28 PM

Well I went herping a couple days ago and saw a few snakes, but didn't get any pictures. I had seen some western ribbon snakes, broad-banded water snakes, and a large black-masked racer. I went out today and didn't see much, but I was able to to get some pictures this time

Mississippi green water snake

Diamond-backed water snake

Here's a different angle that really captured his brown coloration.

An unidentified frog if anyone wants to help me out! Found in SE Louisiana.

Bandit · 01-08-16, 10:32 PM

Just an update, I got confirmation that the frog is a cricket frog.

Bandit · 01-09-16, 12:44 PM

I'm visiting my parents for the weekend (about an hour away from me) and found this dead in the dog's water bowl. It's a Greenhouse Frog, which an exotic species. This is the first one I've ever seen. From what I hear, they can't survive the colder temps, but this very mild winter we're having is probably allowing them to survive - pretty much every day it at least gets to the upper 50s, but it usually makes it into the 60s and some days still 70s.

NMIherper · 01-14-16, 10:24 AM

Cool finds. Love me some Nerodia!

Bandit · 01-14-16, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NMIherper

Cool finds. Love me some Nerodia!

Thank you! I definitely see more Nerodia than any other species...western ribbons might be tied though. It was nice to see a couple MS greens though, I hadn't seen one in a couple of years. I see broad-banded and diamond-backed water snakes all the time, and then yellow-bellied water snakes pretty frequently as well. I'll hopefully go out herping tomorrow since it's supposed to get to about 70 degrees any sunny. I'll update on if I find anything!

Bandit · 01-15-16, 05:52 PM

Here are a few finds from today. There were others, but these are the only pictures.

A couple of young Broad-Banded Water Snakes

Western Cottonmouth

And this wasn't found today, but another Greenhouse Frog

Bandit · 01-17-16, 11:02 AM

Here are a couple of my finds from yesterday. I can't really complain about this January weather considering that we have at least one day a week that's warm enough for things to start coming out.

Broad-Banded Water Snake - I'm going to try to limit my pictures of these guys since I find so many of them. I'll just post the really impressive looking ones. In my opinion, this one was gorgeous.

And my first Common Garter of the year. This picture really didn't do him justice. His orange stripe was much more vibrant in person. He was fairly beat up. He had a bunch of scars, tail was clipped a little at the end, and his face was sort of mangled as well.

NMIherper · 01-22-16, 07:52 AM

Great finds. I haven't seen a cotton since I was like 17. Good luck limiting yourself to the really impressive broad-bands. They're ALL impressive to me.

Bandit · 01-22-16, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NMIherper

Great finds. I haven't seen a cotton since I was like 17. Good luck limiting yourself to the really impressive broad-bands. They're ALL impressive to me.

The only reason I say that is because I see a lot of them. Like A LOT of them. Easily the most common snake in my area. We also have a good bit of cottons, however you really have to go in the more isolated areas to see them. Otherwise it's just chance that you might see one where people frequently go.

I went out yesterday and saw a few things, so I'll upload pictures later today.

Bandit · 01-22-16, 04:48 PM

Had a surprisingly warm day yesterday, so I went out. Here are a few pictures:

Dekay's brown snake

Big softshell turtle, featuring a couple red-eared sliders...sorry for the low-quality pic

Bronze frog

And of course I have to throw in a broad-banded water snake

Sublimeballs · 01-28-16, 11:58 PM

Nice finds so early in the year. So jelous you're finding snakes already. Only thing I can target now is salamanders; but there should be some migration to the vernals this upcoming week I'm excited about. I might need to make a 2016 herping thread aswell. ill be going out alot this year with my son.