X-ellent herpin' at Valley Forge Park Pt.1 the herps (lotta pics)

[4theSNAKElady]

I was herpin there the whole day mostly on Mt. Misery, packed my backpack, some supplies, and cause I took so many pics (like 200) it's gonna be in two parts. I took pics of other critters throughout the park too, but this will just be the herps. It was a great oppotunity to use the macro closeup feature on my camera too.

the first find of the day.....
..nothin like Onyx!!
..found lots of these....

...then my first snake.....
...can't see him?..lemme halp ya..

he was the only thing I took home..gonna give him a few good feeds, then return him when I come back....it's where he belongs.

...then the cutest find of the day....I wanted to take him home, but I haven't the faintest clue how to care for a little ringneck. So, I put him back under his rotten log home after a brief photo shoot. ...and I took a lot.these are a few..
...what a beautiful belly!!!!
...now for the macro closeup times....

I happened upon a spider's nest full of hatchlings....the babies were no bigger than the circles in this % sign..if that.


...don't know what kind this guy was....

I had a blast and can't wait to go back in a month or two. There was lots of diverse habitats, from tree groves, to open fields, deep woods, clearings,streams, and mountains. I was in the woods most of the day, and not a single tick!!!....I did find this little guy on my pants leg though......

ENJOY!!!!

[Mendel's Balls]

Macro...I've seen this feature before on my camera....what's it exactly used for? Isnt it some sort of Short-cut?

Looks like a fruitful day!

[xdeus]

Macro...I've seen this feature before on my camera....what's it exactly used for? Isnt it some sort of Short-cut?

Looks like a fruitful day!

No shortcuts, it's used for extreme close-ups.

BTW, Great herp pics. I love the Sallie, and ringnecks are awesome. We have some around here that I want to try and find within the next week. Hopefully I'll have as much luck as you did on your trip.

[Melicious]

BEAUTIFUL herp pictures. That's just so friggin' awesome. -Can't wait to go to Chickihominy.-

[ivylea77]

Wow... You have a knack for taking pictures...although you did strike me as the "artsy" type at Hamburg.


Take me..take me next time, I can't promise quality shots like yours, but I can bring two children along that make cute pictures.

[Mendel's Balls]

Thanks....just got a digital camera...still learning its in and outs....

IS this a particulary good time of the year to go herping? I guess it would depend on location as well...

[JLC]

Beautiful pictures!


(I moved 'em to our Field Herping/Wildlife forum for ya!)

[cueball]

Awesome!!


Thanks for sharing

I like this lil rascal the best

[4theSNAKElady]

Thanks Judy!! Wasn't sure where to put it......
Amber, I'd love to to go to Valley Forge National Park with ya!!!...and the kids'll love it!!! We can take them on a nature hike to go herpin', and take a picnic basket lunch!!!

[daniel1983]

Great pictures! Ringneck bellies are the best!

While walking the dog, I found the biggest common snapping turtle I have ever seen yesterday and did not have my camera with me.

...and this time of the year is great for herping. I think the times of year when the days are warm and the nights are still cool are great for herping.....especially if your doing some nighttime herping on roads....the herps will flock to a blacktop at night to get some heat. The beginning of summer is generally a good time to see mating displays, and adult animals out and about.....and the end of summer you usually start seeing all the young'uns.