First of the New Year

crimsonking · 01-09-05, 09:50 AM

Had some time to kill so we decided to scope out some spots for future trips in the spring. We watched workers burn and harvest some sugarcane fields. Seeing all the birds working the edges of the fire waiting on anything flushed out was entertaining.
Here they are just ahead/behind of a cutter before the burn.

After a few minutes watching them we decided to go ahead and flip a few rocks in the area. Nothing under rocks, but under one of the small boards I lifted was this little guy. Maybe 24" or so?

Posed here on the sand.
Hopefully a good sign for some springtime herping down there.

:Mark

snakehunter · 01-09-05, 10:39 AM

NICE..........it was arm here yesterday

lolaophidia · 01-09-05, 01:07 PM

Happy New Year Mark. Nice looking King. Cool pic of the birds too! That's something I really enjoyed about my stay in Florida last year, was the pair of Sandhills nesting behind my hotel and the occasional visiting Roseate Spoonbills. I wish I could go south too! You've started the year off on a good foot (or under a good board). Our weather has been crazy here, from the upper 70's to the 30's in the span of a week. Rotten for getting the critters to brumate- just can't get a stable temp (looking for the 50's) so I'm keeping everything up to be on the safe side. Might delay my breeding projects, but I'd hate to lose the snakes I've worked so hard to raise up (especially the mandarins!). Nice to see your pics and remember what it's like to see the snakes outside.

GulfCoastherper · 01-10-05, 06:37 PM

Awesome mark. I've yet to catch any Getula other than Holbrooki. I was unaware Fl ahd rocks to flip. Are the Cane fields close to the coast ? Cool looking king not a bad way to start the new year if you ask me.
-sw