Some More SE Texas Herping! Lifer!

Hi,

Yesterday I did some herping without a camera. Came across some Nerodia and a dead Texas Rat Snake. It was dead in the water with no visible damage; I collected it and now it's in my freezer. Not sure what I'll do with it yet. Also found some nice cottonmouths in the morning; all in all, a pretty good day.

Today I went out again to a spot most of you SE Texas herpers will know. As far as snakes are concerned, the place seems dried up. In 5 hours of herping, I found four. It's a beautiful place for Americans Alligators though ;)

At 8am I went to a spot where I knew there were copperheads. I'm embarrassed to say that I'd never seen a copperhead before, and even though I always actively look for them, I had yet to find one. **NOTE** I don't drive, so I can't go out to spots where I know I can find them. I only have a few places where I regularly go where copperheads were a possibility /**NOTE**

Anyway, 30 seconds on the trail gives me my first copperhead (and last one of the day...)!

Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix LIFER

In situ

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5486.jpg

Find it!

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5490.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5493.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5495.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5497.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5499.jpg

Find it again!

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5501.jpg

Also, a box turtle (someone help me on the species?) on the same trail.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5503.jpg

Afterwards we come across a few nice American Alligators (Alligator mississipiensis. According to some people, if you give them a wide range you have SOME CHANCE of not getting attacked. ;)

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5507.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5509.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5515.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5516.jpg

While hiking a different trail, I spot some Chickadee and Titmouse flying around a tree. Binoculars on there gives me a pretty good sized Texas Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri) chilling about 30ft up in a tree. No photos unfortunately.

Another trail gives us two Broad-Banded Water Snakes (Nerodia fasciata confluens)

First one

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5530.jpg

This second one gave me a run for my money!

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5531.jpg

Wait a minute... I don't need that hook!

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_5533.jpg

This guy wiggled a little bit, resulting in me only grabbing his tail tip. When he twisted some more, it broke off! Anyone seen this happen before? I felt really bad about it...

Thanks for looking,
Matt

Great pics!

I miss texas :( All I've seen of interest here in MN was a frog a few days ago, and a couple turtles while fishing.

I'm so jealous! There isn't anything like that up here!:(

Nice finds!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...es/copper1.jpg





http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...es/copper2.jpg

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Nice pics, beautiful copperhead :) Thanks for sharing.

Great copperhead photos and I am jealous of the watersnake photos....I NEVER get good pictures of watersnakes ;)

Looks like an Ornate box turtle(Western box turtle)(terrapene ornata).

Surprised the alligator let you get so close. It must have been enjoying its basking :)

Ha ha.....the gators around here usually bolt once they realize I am watching.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

Great copperhead photos and I am jealous of the watersnake photos....I NEVER get good pictures of watersnakes ;)

Looks like an Ornate box turtle(Western box turtle)(terrapene ornata).

Surprised the alligator let you get so close. It must have been enjoying its basking :)

Ha ha.....the gators around here usually bolt once they realize I am watching.

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That first fasciata went right into the grass when I got closer. I had to chase the second one around before he got tired!

As for the box turtle, a dude on the fieldherpforum ID'd it as a Three-Toed Box Turtle. Not sure, though.

And it's a state park with a LOT of people. They're not very scared of people at all.