Search found 360 matches

by Carl D. May
April 5th, 2017, 3:57 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First Quarter
Replies: 8
Views: 4940

Re: First Quarter

Whew! Thanks for giving me my panhandle fix.
That greater siren was surely impressive.
by Carl D. May
January 29th, 2017, 5:24 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: EOY 2016 (FL, MI, Canada)
Replies: 8
Views: 5108

Re: EOY 2016 (FL, MI, Canada)

Thanks for the visits to my old stomping grounds! I've always felt that many of the corn snakes from the Devil's Garden area resemble Okeetee corns. Some (like one you posted a photo of) have very thick and clean black borders to the red blotches resulting in a nicely contrasting pattern.
by Carl D. May
January 3rd, 2017, 4:24 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 2
Replies: 11
Views: 6235

Re: 2016 - A good year pt. 2

Another totally absorbing thread. I need to start dip-netting when I'm up that way as I'm missing a lot of amphibians.
For me there is nothing cooler than being on a remote creek or river and just seeing whatever turns up.
Thanks!
by Carl D. May
January 3rd, 2017, 4:07 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2016 - A good year pt. 1
Replies: 4
Views: 3093

Re: 2016 - A good year pt. 1

Wonderful finds! As a turtle nerd I really appreciate seeing species that I typically have to drive 7 or more hours to find.
That clear seepage was awesome!
by Carl D. May
October 20th, 2016, 12:21 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Fall herping
Replies: 9
Views: 4778

Re: Fall herping

Agree with everyone else. Wonderful finds and cool narrative.
All too familiar with 'curious locals' showing up just as I find something neat I want to photograph.
by Carl D. May
September 5th, 2016, 10:07 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Brooks Kingsnakes and a Pygmy
Replies: 3
Views: 2490

Re: Brooks Kingsnakes and a Pygmy

Nothing like finding brooksi. Especially 'out of season' !
by Carl D. May
August 15th, 2016, 4:33 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A Cali Boy's Trip to Southern Arizona (Az forum repeat)
Replies: 4
Views: 2812

Re: A Cali Boy's Trip to Southern Arizona (Az forum repeat)

Spectacular finds Jeremy. The final cactus bloom photo was a great ending too. I've only been to that region twice and it was in the late 80s. Everything I saw was a lifer needless to say. It's hard to explain but southern Arizona has an appeal unlike anywhere else in the country...I think it's the ...
by Carl D. May
August 11th, 2016, 4:21 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Some stuff
Replies: 8
Views: 3797

Re: Some stuff

Bluish or more accurately, turquoise colored garter snakes are very common from south of Lake Okee (South Bay, Belle Glade, etc) all the way down to the ENP. These are snakes with an OVERALL wash of the turquoise hue. But the real blue striped garter snake from the Gulf Hammock region are typically ...
by Carl D. May
August 11th, 2016, 4:13 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping Appalachicola National Forest
Replies: 16
Views: 5789

Re: Herping Appalachicola National Forest

I've had a couple of nights lately where I also saw nothing. it has been raining everyday between 3.00 and 5.00 pm. I notice when it was wet outside I saw very little if anything. But if we go a couple of days without rain I will see 4-6 snakes between 9.00 and 11.00 pm. I still go if it's been rai...
by Carl D. May
August 9th, 2016, 3:46 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping Appalachicola National Forest
Replies: 16
Views: 5789

Re: Herping Appalachicola National Forest

Eastern glasses may be longer, but by that age they wouldn't look like this. The other option based on the color is mimicus , my favorite of the four. But most are much smaller than a couple of feet. Eastern slender is more likely, but this is also why I said I couldn't say with 100% certainty. I t...
by Carl D. May
August 7th, 2016, 5:57 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping Appalachicola National Forest
Replies: 16
Views: 5789

Re: Herping Appalachicola National Forest

Nice finds! Those are all representative of the region.
Your DOR king is indeed an 'Apalach'. Did you take other images of it?

You've discovered a very cool part of Florida and have only scratched the surface. I wish you countless hours of interesting times there!
by Carl D. May
June 22nd, 2016, 4:43 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Post-Tropical Storm Colin and a Day with Noah M.
Replies: 11
Views: 5835

Re: Post-Tropical Storm Colin and a Day with Noah M.

A great example of enjoying ALL of the critters that a specific region offers. I too try and learn about even the obscure invertebrates, mollusks, insects and the like. For me the most interesting shots in this group are those of the fallen trees and their roots along the coast! One wonders how old ...
by Carl D. May
June 5th, 2016, 3:38 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Triple Cruise FL Pines
Replies: 2
Views: 1987

Re: Triple Cruise FL Pines

mtratcliffe wrote:That...is something. I was expecting to see three different Pines cruised in one day, not a Lovecraftian horror of a mating ball! Awesome stuff.

Well said! I was thinking the same thing...maybe three pines out on the roads on a magical day. Not three pines in a Walking Dead love-fest.
by Carl D. May
June 1st, 2016, 6:58 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: FL Keys Exotics
Replies: 3
Views: 3524

Re: FL Keys Exotics

Sorry for the delay in responding Noah. You're correct, ashy geckos are (or were) quite common from at least Lower Matecumbe thru Grassy, Duck and Key Colony Beach.
My sister used to have a house on Duck Key that would have adults as well as juveniles emerge nightly in her carport.
by Carl D. May
May 23rd, 2016, 9:19 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: FL Keys Exotics
Replies: 3
Views: 3524

Re: FL Keys Exotics

Nice photos Noah. I have my issues with ashy geckos always being listed as 'non-native' or exotic. From what I understand, they've always been found in (at least) the lower Keys and there is no real specific point at which one can identify as their origin there. I've never been clear why it is assum...
by Carl D. May
April 9th, 2016, 4:49 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 1st quarter 2016
Replies: 10
Views: 4652

Re: 1st quarter 2016

Nice adventures Tamara.
The variability of our garter snakes never ceases to amaze me. They are so weird!
by Carl D. May
March 25th, 2016, 5:11 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herpetology Conference in Gainesville
Replies: 2
Views: 2004

Herpetology Conference in Gainesville

It's time for the 39th Annual Herpetology Conference in Gainesville. Anybody going? https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology-conference/schedule/ I remember when this was THE event to attend and when there were numerous vendors filling up the 2nd floor of the Reitz Union at UF. There were live specimen...
by Carl D. May
February 16th, 2016, 4:28 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Tiger Salamander (Long Read)
Replies: 14
Views: 4404

Re: Tiger Salamander (Long Read)

Nice read and photos Adam. sigh...yes, many of us have our own personal white whale.
The shot of yours swimming away is quite neat looking!
by Carl D. May
February 3rd, 2016, 4:28 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Request for Apalachicola NF info and Possible Hook up
Replies: 8
Views: 2076

Re: Request for Apalachicola NF info and Possible Hook up

St Marks NWR, Torreya State Park and Wakulla Springs SP are places near the area worth checking out if you have the time. One thing I have noticed, there is not much junk to flip in the ANF proper but you might have better luck in some of the coastal towns with that. Should be plenty of daytime sur...
by Carl D. May
January 13th, 2016, 4:18 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Year in Review, Final Third of 2015 and Herp List
Replies: 13
Views: 6751

Re: Year in Review, Final Third of 2015 and Herp List

Is typing up a note on your iPhone that hard? Typing anywhere is that hard....or maybe just unwanted. Whichever you like more. ;) Agree with Jake. For me the idea of compiling lists (for birds, herps, whatever) seems exhausting. I might make a little notation in my old Conant's Field Guide--that I ...
by Carl D. May
January 8th, 2016, 4:32 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: End of 2015 (Salamanders and a trip to SoFla)
Replies: 7
Views: 4426

Re: End of 2015 (Salamanders and a trip to SoFla)

Awesome photos...as usual, of course!
I've caught a lot of Brook's kings in my day, but those two are about the fattest and healthiest looking winter kings I've ever seen. Look like fatty captives!
by Carl D. May
December 25th, 2015, 5:27 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Jewel of the Flatwoods.
Replies: 6
Views: 3669

Re: Jewel of the Flatwoods.

Jaw dropping clarity in those photos Josh! Almost 3-dimensional.
What great finds too. Jelly, jelly, jealous!
by Carl D. May
November 30th, 2015, 4:49 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A Little Thanksgiving Salamander Love
Replies: 15
Views: 5092

Re: A Little Thanksgiving Salamander Love

Neat shots Noah. The panhandle is a great region in Florida to find such variety!
Now I'm thinking of a winter trip...
by Carl D. May
November 16th, 2015, 5:41 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Turtle ID?
Replies: 4
Views: 2293

Re: Turtle ID?

Old scripta. They get like that.
by Carl D. May
November 4th, 2015, 11:26 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: On the River With an Old Friend
Replies: 10
Views: 6893

Re: On the River With an Old Friend

baurii certainly warrants further genetic studies, and I haven't heard of the idea of hippocrepis as being a western variety of baurii , that's really interesting. You'll need a PhD project before too long, right? Your female looks like a typical subrubrum to me, but that male is interesting. You c...
by Carl D. May
November 1st, 2015, 4:15 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Lifer I wasn't expecting, ID Q, neat geography
Replies: 6
Views: 2575

Re: Lifer I wasn't expecting, ID Q, neat geography

The best lifers are the ones you never expected to see!
In the first photo without the flash the viewer gets that natural light shading and softness--very nice. Beautiful specimen.

That cave with the creek would be a place to explore after dark!
by Carl D. May
October 29th, 2015, 4:20 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New to Florida area
Replies: 16
Views: 5914

Re: New to Florida area

And don't forget about fishing...you're in a great spot for coastal species like speckled sea trout, flounder and redfish. Just sayin'...
Also, as was mentioned you should be able to find amphibians on base fairly easily.
by Carl D. May
October 22nd, 2015, 8:22 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: On the River With an Old Friend
Replies: 10
Views: 6893

Re: On the River With an Old Friend

Any trip with a Macrochelys is a good trip. The first (and still only) one I have personally snorkeled up I caught a glimpse of the tail around a boulder and thought was an alligator, too, until I saw the shell. Interesting mud turtles. In southeastern Georgia, K. baurii are pretty easy to identify...
by Carl D. May
October 22nd, 2015, 4:35 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: On the River With an Old Friend
Replies: 10
Views: 6893

On the River With an Old Friend

I've known author and photographer Dick Bartlett for well over 30 years. He befriended me when I was about 22 years old and eager to learn as much as I could about reptiles and amphibians, fish, plants and just about everything else in the wild. Dick (who is known by his close associates as 'Dicky')...
by Carl D. May
August 30th, 2015, 5:15 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: May through beginning of August. (Updated)
Replies: 8
Views: 3986

Re: May through beginning of August. (Updated)

Stunning photography and imaginative compositions too! And of course, some great finds.
The reddish colored garter snake is similar to a couple of found in the ANF---which is the only locality where Ive seen that color of eastern garters before.
by Carl D. May
August 19th, 2015, 10:58 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Guess the Swamp Denizen!
Replies: 5
Views: 1817

Re: Guess the Swamp Denizen!

Looks like a Synbranchus marmoratus to me.
I think they're established in a few places in Florida now.
by Carl D. May
June 22nd, 2015, 4:05 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Two Turtles
Replies: 6
Views: 2086

Re: Two Turtles

That soft-shelled turtle was likely a young male that was still retaining some juvenile color. But even then, it was a beauty!
The striped mud turtle was also rather nice and that is one turtle that is highly variable depending on where they come from.
by Carl D. May
June 11th, 2015, 4:38 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: May 7th-June 10th. Highlights and heartbreaks. (pic heavy)
Replies: 8
Views: 3679

Re: May 7th-June 10th. Highlights and heartbreaks. (pic heav

I echo Bree's thoughts regarding your grandfather. Sorry about your loss.
Some super good photo in the post---but the bad hair day shot at the en is just grand!
by Carl D. May
June 10th, 2015, 4:27 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Best Night of the Year So Far
Replies: 6
Views: 2468

Re: Best Night of the Year So Far

Great night indeed Noah.
Still need to get my canebrake. Yours was a beauty!
by Carl D. May
June 6th, 2015, 5:47 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Florida's Green Swamp - Updated June 15th
Replies: 11
Views: 4558

Re: Florida's Green Swamp

Coluber Constrictor wrote:The weird looking bullfrog is probably a metamorph.

Hadn't thought of that.
by Carl D. May
June 4th, 2015, 3:41 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Florida's Green Swamp - Updated June 15th
Replies: 11
Views: 4558

Re: Florida's Green Swamp

There is something very wrong with that bloated bullfrog. Not sure what, but he aint right!
Nice explanation of the differences in bull and pig frogs.
by Carl D. May
May 26th, 2015, 4:06 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Family Florida Trip May 2015(Pythons, Tegus & More Snakes)
Replies: 25
Views: 8739

Re: Family Florida Trip May 2015

Tegus at KFC... What would the Colonel say?
Looks like you had a great experience and your family had fun.
by Carl D. May
May 22nd, 2015, 5:07 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Lost in (carnivorous plant) Paradise
Replies: 9
Views: 3982

Re: Lost in (carnivorous plant) Paradise

And why haven't you turned up a photo of a live Wooly-booger yet, hmm? The meadows with the pitcher plants look fantastic. It must be a surreal experience to drive through that forest on a foggy morning. I also enjoy the hatchling Barbour's Map Turtles - were the little ones just out in the open ba...
by Carl D. May
May 21st, 2015, 9:30 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Lost in (carnivorous plant) Paradise
Replies: 9
Views: 3982

Lost in (carnivorous plant) Paradise

On a recent trip to the Apalachicola National Forest (ANF) I encountered a couple of the more commonly seen turtles crossing the roads. This female Gulf Coast box turtle was trying to get across busy Hwy 20, presumably to lay eggs somewhere, while a number of logging trucks thundered toward her. htt...
by Carl D. May
May 20th, 2015, 4:45 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Florida Keys Exotics & Friends
Replies: 4
Views: 2338

Re: Florida Keys Exotics & Friends

Oh, nice agama too.
by Carl D. May
May 20th, 2015, 4:44 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Florida Keys Exotics & Friends
Replies: 4
Views: 2338

Re: Florida Keys Exotics & Friends

All nice finds Captainjack. Very happy the trip was a success. The spiny iguana is a species I had forgotten about but we did see one big male and some smaller females a few years ago that were living on-- and under a pile of discarded old telephone poles. That male was an impressive brute! Would lo...
by Carl D. May
May 9th, 2015, 4:50 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Big Cypress/Everglades Questions - *TRIP UPDATE*
Replies: 15
Views: 6941

Re: Big Cypress/Everglades Questions

As for dining, Robert mentioned Rosita's which is quite good...but it's in Florida City, not Homestead. He's correct in that it's right on Palm Drive (south side) as you head west toward the park. It's in 'downtown' Florida City. Someone else mentioned Shiver's Barbeque...oh man, that place has been...
by Carl D. May
May 7th, 2015, 4:38 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First Third of 2015.... early Year in Review
Replies: 7
Views: 2611

Re: First Third of 2015.... early Year in Review

Wonderful! You managed to capture the essence of Spring in the southeast perfectly...plus, the tragedy of hognose love!
Do you have the citation or link for your musk turtle observation? Would like to see it.
by Carl D. May
May 6th, 2015, 4:42 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The Mystery of the Suwannee Cooter Range Gap
Replies: 9
Views: 3117

Re: The Mystery of the Suwannee Cooter Range Gap

Did some further checking...according to Biology and Conservation of Florida Turtles the population of loggerhead musk turtles in the Withlacoochee River system in Marion, Citrus and Sumter Counties was introduced in the 1950s. However this book doesn't mention the population of Sternotherus minor i...
by Carl D. May
May 5th, 2015, 4:37 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The Mystery of the Suwannee Cooter Range Gap
Replies: 9
Views: 3117

Re: The Mystery of the Suwannee Cooter Range Gap

The first thought that comes to mind with me is the possibility that early Floridians introduced the Suwanee cooters to the Alafia River as a food source. It is known--or at least highly suspected-- that the South American red-footed tortoise, Chelonoidis carbonaria reached some of islands of the Ca...
by Carl D. May
May 4th, 2015, 4:32 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First 1/3 of 2015
Replies: 11
Views: 4125

Re: First 1/3 of 2015

mtratcliffe wrote:Good finds and great shots! Not sure what sorcery you employed to get the two Chorus Frogs to pose together like that. Those are some striking frogs!
Agree. You clearly have waaay more patience than I do and a great imagination for setting up shots!
by Carl D. May
May 4th, 2015, 4:27 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Fire Snakes
Replies: 6
Views: 2118

Re: Fire Snakes

I've always wondered about these events too but never tried cruising the edges as you did.
Regarding the fires: walking through the recently burned over areas in the ANF will yield about 1 dead box turtle per acre and sometimes more.
by Carl D. May
May 2nd, 2015, 6:36 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Hiking the Everglades National Park
Replies: 6
Views: 2467

Hiking the Everglades National Park

Hiking the Everglades national Park (ENP) is awesome and I have done so many, many times and trekked countless miles in that place. But it isn't for very young children, at least not where I've gone. I usually hike the region around the Dwarf Cypress Forest and I simply find a distant tree island to...
by Carl D. May
April 27th, 2015, 4:45 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Big Cypress/Everglades Questions - *TRIP UPDATE*
Replies: 15
Views: 6941

Re: Big Cypress/Everglades Questions

I can give you a few pointers about Day 3 in the ENP... First, keep in mind that Flamingo is really nothing more than a marina and boat ramp. There is a little convenience store but no real restaurant per se. My wife would be really disappointed if I said, "lets drive all the way to Flamingo fo...
by Carl D. May
April 26th, 2015, 5:06 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Veteran Florida herper and reptile store owner dies...
Replies: 4
Views: 2586

Re: Veteran Florida herper and reptile store owner dies...

Like everyone else, I also had nothing but good memories of Doug. His goofy laugh and over-sized grin were infectious. A couple of times I visited him at his home and was astounded at his mammals that included big cats. He maintained a breeding group of African 'lynx' caracal cats that were simply i...