» Site Navigation
1 members and 2,622 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.
» Today's Birthdays
» Stats
Members: 75,398
Threads: 248,766
Posts: 2,570,192
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
|
-
Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Bonus pic of a Great Blue Heron in Bluff Lake
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...afe1c16401.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Nice photos, thanks for sharing! :D
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
Nice photos, thanks for sharing! :D
Thank you! I’m going to try and make this more of a regular activity when it’s warm enough. I’ll post more pics as I find different species or individual variations within species
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
BTW, what did you "do" to those cottonmouths to keep them so calm? "Everyone" claims they get chased by them, lol. :rolleyes:
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Hah! Yeah, what vicious beasts they are!
Completely honest, they didn’t even gape at us last night or tonight. Never let that drop your guard though
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Of course no human onlookers EVER provoke them...:rolleyes:
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Very cool finds and thanks for sharing. That Pygmy is so colorful. Speaking of colorful, I find it interesting that the darkest part of an adult cottonmouth, the tail, starts out as the brightest part (neon green) when they are babies. Same with Copperheads. Got to love nature.
-
What a fruitful evening! Thanks for sharing your photos.
I’m not very good at identifying colubrids and may be mistaken, but pics 4,5,7 look like a Copperhead to me. I don’t mean to be petty or unappreciative, just curious since you didn’t mention them.
Looking forward to to your next excursion.
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reinz
...I’m not very good at identifying colubrids and may be mistaken, but pics 4,5,7 look like a Copperhead to me. I don’t mean to be petty or unappreciative, just curious since you didn’t mention them...
If you just google cottonmouth photos, you'll see the huge range of markings they can possess, from dark & hard to see, to lighter & more visible; note the eye stripe
on these (cottonmouths) above...copperheads don't have them.
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reinz
What a fruitful evening! Thanks for sharing your photos.
I’m not very good at identifying colubrids and may be mistaken, but pics 4,5,7 look like a Copperhead to me. I don’t mean to be petty or unappreciative, just curious since you didn’t mention them.
Looking forward to to your next excursion.
Those are cottonmouths. The difference isn't always easy to tell if you aren't looking in the right spot. The biggest giveaway for a cottonmouth is the dark stripe along/across the eye that copperheads lack. Copperheads also tend to have less "noise" in their banding, so at least in my area (TX) our copperheads would not have any of the extra spot markings.
Copperheads tend to be brighter with lighter background coloring than this also, less of a brown snake. Some areas, like where I am, they're quite vivid in the red/copper coloring.
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reinz
What a fruitful evening! Thanks for sharing your photos.
I’m not very good at identifying colubrids and may be mistaken, but pics 4,5,7 look like a Copperhead to me. I don’t mean to be petty or unappreciative, just curious since you didn’t mention them.
Looking forward to to your next excursion.
Yeah it was a younger adult cottonmouth. As they get older their pattern starts to diminish and they get darker. The dark band across their eyes is a pretty good way to distinguish between them and copperheads though
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Thank y’all for educating me on that, I didn’t know about the eye band. Like I said, I’m not good with colubrids.
And thank you JM for not being defensive! :)
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reinz
Thank y’all for educating me on that, I didn’t know about the eye band. Like I said, I’m not good with colubrids.
And thank you JM for not being defensive! :)
No prob man! Much like these snakes, I’m only outwardly defensive when provoked hah! [emoji6]
And now to continue the educational aspect of this thread. cottonmouths, copperheads, rattlesnakes and such are actually part of the Viperidae family, not colubridae.
Colubridae family covers rat snakes, racers, kingsnakes, hognose, garter snakes, mud snakes, etc.
I believe the only other snake family here in Mississippi is Elapidae with only one representative, the Coral Snake.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reinz
.... I didn’t know about the eye band. Like I said, I’m not good with colubrids...
This is "Pick on Reinz Day"....:D Just remember, cottonmouths wear eye-liner. I didn't have the heart to mention the "colubrid" thing too...;)
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
This is "Pick on Reinz Day"....:D Just remember, cottonmouths wear eye-liner. I didn't have the heart to mention the "colubrid" thing too...;)
Hahaha, whoops! Didn't see your post before mine. I forgot to bring up the colubrids also
I just thought it was cool info to share. I would have never been able to tell a common water snake vs cottonmouth without someone to point out the differences. I've never mixed up with copperheads since my area has such bright ones. (It would be similar to mixing up the red/orange of a corn snake with a wild type coloring Texas rat snake)
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by pretends2bnormal
... I would have never been able to tell a common water snake vs cottonmouth without someone to point out the differences. I've never mixed up with copperheads since my area has such bright ones. (It would be similar to mixing up the red/orange of a corn snake with a wild type coloring Texas rat snake) ...
And it's always harder in the field too...critters aren't usually posing while we check our field guide and when colors/markings are variable, it's confusing. We have all
these in my area too, but I'm not into field herping. Around here so many ppl panic & kill these hapless water snakes out of confusion. :( It takes practice, then the
differences stand out more easily. I think copperheads are so pretty...I was offered one many years ago in another state, but I didn't want to deal with making it legal
& had plenty on my plate already. And I wouldn't catch one now, just to have it...I've never been into taking from the wild anything that is doing fine & enjoying a "life".
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
And it's always harder in the field too...critters aren't usually posing while we check our field guide and when colors/markings are variable, it's confusing. We have all
these in my area too, but I'm not into field herping. Around here so many ppl panic & kill these hapless water snakes out of confusion. :( It takes practice, then the
differences stand out more easily. I think copperheads are so pretty...I was offered one many years ago in another state, but I didn't want to deal with making it legal
& had plenty on my plate already. And I wouldn't catch one now, just to have it...I've never been into taking from the wild anything that is doing fine & enjoying a "life".
It was really good to know water snake vs cottonmouth since we happened to have a water snake pop up in the back yard a few weeks ago. Young adult, about 2 ft long and thick. Clearly had a meal out of the toads we usually have hiding under our downspout drip pans. (Found snake, then proceeded to not see the toads any longer) "He" slithered off pretty quick after we got some pictures.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...051abc0afe.jpg
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
-
I love toads & frogs, but I wouldn't begrudge a meal to a snake...:snake:
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
This is "Pick on Reinz Day"....:D Just remember, cottonmouths wear eye-liner. I didn't have the heart to mention the "colubrid" thing too...;)
That’s ok, whip me like a rented mule! Sometimes that’s what it takes for me to learn.
Thanks for your your teaching and patience.
-
Great pics! Thanks so much for sharing.
I only get to see garters around here. I don't remember seeing any other species in the wild in my life...boring!!! Hahhahaha
Unfortunately I can't think of anything to pick on Reinz about right now....I'm disappointed in myself, hehehehehe. :rofl:
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by pretends2bnormal
It was really good to know water snake vs cottonmouth since we happened to have a water snake pop up in the back yard a few weeks ago. Young adult, about 2 ft long and thick. Clearly had a meal out of the toads we usually have hiding under our downspout drip pans. (Found snake, then proceeded to not see the toads any longer) "He" slithered off pretty quick after we got some pictures.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...051abc0afe.jpg
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Those are fun snakes to see and look at. Catching them? Not so much lol! They bite and musk and are just kinda gross. After you’ve caught several you kinda get over them haha
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmcrook
Those are fun snakes to see and look at. Catching them? Not so much lol! They bite and musk and are just kinda gross. After you’ve caught several you kinda get over them haha
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We've only ever seen 3 snakes at our house despite living with a big green belt behind our house, and I've only seen 2 of those three.
This one that we just approached for photos and let slither off, what I think is a rough/smooth earth snake or something similar that darted into the dirt before we could even try (not dekays brown snake), and my husband saw a garter exactly once while mowing who did the same thing and hid before he could even approach.
I don't think I'd go out of my way to pick up a water snake for that exact reason, haha. But it is cool to see them and get some pictures.
Out in the trails by our old apartment we saw a nice, big rat snake. "He" was clearly doing well for himself with the big complex and creek nearby. I'm not sure if being in Texas makes it a TX rat snake, or if it is just a western rat. Big one measured 5 to 6 ft with a pixel measurement of the picture (sidewalk is a big biking path).
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...83aa963616.jpg
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
-
That's ok, it's still a nice turtle, beautiful scenery & a stunning sunset. :gj:
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
That's ok, it's still a nice turtle, beautiful scenery & a stunning sunset. :gj:
The positive side is that we didn’t find anything dead on road. So at least all the snakes we didn’t see were alive somewhere
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Not a bad night at the refuge this evening. Even saw a few alligators in the lake
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c5bf709c88.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7b69324bbb.jpg
Not great pictures of the alligators but they weren’t terribly large and were probably 40’+ from the shore.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2e3f07237b.jpg
Cottonmouth showing its eponymous defensive display.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f73a90b065.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b03a7728e2.jpg
Second time in a row I ended the night on a DOR juvenile speckled kingsnake. Really want to find one of these alive soon. Such beautiful animals.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...564b99d773.jpg
Bluff Lake through some pines at the tail end of sunset
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
-
Gosh, that water looks SO peaceful...except for that cute little guy swimming out there, lol...
Beautiful timber...looks like he wasn't very bothered by you at all. So happy you didn't find any DORs...they make me so sad.
Nice photos, thanks for sharing! :cool:
I did some yard work (mowing) today & found 2 of my resident toads. They're used to me picking them up & moving them out of harms way. :)
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Great photos, looks a really nice place
Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Time to jump into this thread again!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...10a0a5519b.jpg
First cruise of the refuge for the year turned up two species I’ve never caught down here before
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...fe1b8d0e34.jpg
Mud Snake
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...1ee0552e7d.jpg
Neonate Grey Rat Snake
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...52510fd824.jpg
Stunning view of Bluff Lake on my way back
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Hey, really nice finds! :gj:
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
-
Beautiful finds! Last pic seems to be saying "I've got one nerve left, & you're ON it, mister!" LOL
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Fantastic pics
Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
-
How I miss finding critters in the south...
Nice photos and thanks for sharing.
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...18716835a5.jpg
From a few nights ago. Lots of DOR, one of which was a 4’+ speckled kingsnake. Only got pics of one living critter, another juvenile grey rat.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...da3fa12e1e.jpg
One DOR however was a glass lizard. Never seen one in person and unfortunately it was dead. Gorgeous pattern.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...82c4007d5e.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Nice work sir!
I'm glad I caught this post.
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
-
That looks like a great time.
Beautiful photos.
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
-
It’s always exciting to at least see some wildlife when out and about.
Thanks for sharing JM!
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reinz
It’s always exciting to at least see some wildlife when out and about.
Thanks for sharing JM!
Yeah getting skunked four consecutive times was discouraging but at least I didn’t see anything DOR. I’ve only cruised a turtle out there one or two other times so that was a fun surprise too.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Excellent night of herping along the road at Noxubee Wildlife Refuge tonight! Three water snakes; two that got into the weeds before I could get pictures and one huge DOR.
But the highlights were Sistrurus miliarius (Pygmy Rattlesnake) and Agkistrodon contortrix (neonate/juvenile copperhead)
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cf77d3fb5a.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...719badd715.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...032838b258.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...6750dba7eb.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...c65fecfa11.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...eb9bf08c27.jpg
Can see the yellow tail tip here that younger animals use as a caudal lure to attract small lizards, amphibians, insects, etc.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...329fb82b60.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Awsome pics
Sent from my ELS-NX9 using Tapatalk
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by richardhind1972
Awsome pics
Sent from my ELS-NX9 using Tapatalk
Thanks, mate! First two (living) venomous finds of the year is a treat for sure
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmcrook
Thanks, mate! First two (living) venomous finds of the year is a treat for sure
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I've never been lucky enough to snakes in the wild, not many in uk
Sent from my ELS-NX9 using Tapatalk
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
-
Re: Noxubee Wildlife Refuge
Awsome pics as usual, cool looking rattler
Sent from my ELS-NX9 using Tapatalk
|
