Search found 1843 matches

by Mike VanValen
June 13th, 2010, 5:02 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Finds from this yea-Part 2 South Georgia
Replies: 10
Views: 5392

Re: Finds from this yea-Part 2 South Georgia

Congrats on all the great finds. Excellent report.
by Mike VanValen
June 13th, 2010, 4:06 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: From central to Southern Florida...
Replies: 14
Views: 5243

Re: From central to Southern Florida...

Always appreciate the Florida stuff. Cornsnakes are a favorite of mine.

Your cricket frog is actually a Greenhouse Frog (Eleutherodactyus planirostris)
by Mike VanValen
June 13th, 2010, 3:52 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: May 2010...A little bit of everything
Replies: 15
Views: 4004

Re: May 2010...A little bit of everything

Cool finds! You saved the best for last.
by Mike VanValen
June 11th, 2010, 6:29 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998359

Re: What was your last lifer?...

My last lifer was a clapper rail in Virginia. I'm not that big on birding but I like to keep track.
by Mike VanValen
June 11th, 2010, 6:26 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Your All-time Best Rattlesnake Shot!
Replies: 122
Views: 42393

Re: Your All-time Best Rattlesnake Shot!

Oh wow. Beautiful molossus.
by Mike VanValen
June 11th, 2010, 6:24 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Another day herping
Replies: 1
Views: 1288

Re: Another day herping

Could you possibly resize your images? They are huge and you'd probably get more views and comments if your pics fit the screen.
by Mike VanValen
June 11th, 2010, 6:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Your All-time Best Rattlesnake Shot!
Replies: 122
Views: 42393

Re: Your All-time Best Rattlesnake Shot!

Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) - Connecticut

Image
by Mike VanValen
June 11th, 2010, 4:47 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Results from a new spot.
Replies: 7
Views: 3762

Re: Results from a new spot.

Indeed. Now if I can just win powerball I can knock off a few dozen counties for the database.
by Mike VanValen
June 11th, 2010, 3:41 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Results from a new spot.
Replies: 7
Views: 3762

Re: Results from a new spot.

That's the great thing about going to new spots. A lot of my friends want to go to the same 3 or 4 spots on rotation. It gets boring. No adventure in that.
by Mike VanValen
June 11th, 2010, 3:39 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Lifer spadefoot
Replies: 8
Views: 3988

Re: Lifer spadefoot

Congrats. I also hoped for a spadefoot on the trip. One of the nights we cruised I counted 101 fowler's toads, hoping for just 1 spadefoot. Better luck next time I suppose.
by Mike VanValen
June 11th, 2010, 3:33 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Need your shades for this sipedon!
Replies: 16
Views: 3605

Re: Need your shades for this sipedon!

The colors are reversed. Cool animal.
by Mike VanValen
June 10th, 2010, 7:12 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Crocodile+fish/Alligator+turtle
Replies: 11
Views: 4477

Re: Crocodile+fish/Alligator+turtle

WAYNE13114 wrote:that last shot is fantastic
It really is. Amazing observations. Judging just by the pics, the Am Croc looks huge so that fish must have been pretty large itself.
by Mike VanValen
June 10th, 2010, 6:38 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Vilano Beach, Florida Help
Replies: 0
Views: 1177

Vilano Beach, Florida Help

I'm still trying to come up with a vacation / herping trip spot to accommodate both herper and non-herper. Someone recommended Vilano Beach. Looks like there is a ton of parks and wildlife areas around there. If anyone has experience in the area, please give me some reviews, etc. PMs are fine. Thanks.
by Mike VanValen
June 10th, 2010, 9:26 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: the most effort I've ever put into a single stupid frog
Replies: 11
Views: 4237

Re: the most effort I've ever put into a single stupid frog

I think we should label every picture with both common and scientific name. There are always people new to the hobby who may be looking at these animals for the first time.
by Mike VanValen
June 10th, 2010, 8:34 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Around this time last year
Replies: 7
Views: 2548

Re: Around this time last year

Awesome. I like that melanistic snake. We supposedly don't get them in the isolated CT population. I did see a shed once that was really dark so maybe there's at least one out there. Genetic bottlenecking is taking it's toll.

The 'bender rules. Enough said.
by Mike VanValen
June 10th, 2010, 8:29 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Alright, time for something different (DUW)
Replies: 34
Views: 9081

Re: Alright, time for something different (DUW)

*sneaks into the Cali Chapter*

WOW, great post! Love the rubber boas and great turkey shot! Can I come out there and herp with you? :thumb:
by Mike VanValen
June 10th, 2010, 8:23 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Viewer's Choice/Best of the Best Section?
Replies: 16
Views: 5009

Re: Viewer's Choice/Best of the Best Section?

It sounds like a good idea. Perhaps we can choose a thread from each section of the country to showcase. i.e. feature a thread from the northeast, southeast, Pacific Northwest, etc. Members from those areas can keep an eye out for reports from those areas that have been posted in the main forum and ...
by Mike VanValen
June 9th, 2010, 10:14 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Another GREAT week of northern Ohio herping!
Replies: 21
Views: 6149

Re: Another GREAT week of northern Ohio herping!

The greensnake eating the spider is a cool observation. Your guarantee came through and then some. I really need to get out that way some day.
by Mike VanValen
June 9th, 2010, 10:01 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: .
Replies: 10
Views: 3534

Re: Highlights From the Past Few Years

Cool stuff. The hatchling mud turtle and nerodia are really neat finds.
by Mike VanValen
June 9th, 2010, 8:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Variation in P. cinereus
Replies: 28
Views: 6329

Re: Variation in P. cinereus

Star-Spangled Phase - Fairfield County, CT

Image

Pink Coral Phase - New Haven County, CT

Image
by Mike VanValen
June 9th, 2010, 8:12 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: the most effort I've ever put into a single stupid frog
Replies: 11
Views: 4237

Re: the most effort I've ever put into a single stupid frog

Congrats. That is one frog I hope to see someday. I guess VT would be the closest for me.
by Mike VanValen
June 9th, 2010, 7:31 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Finds from this year-Part 1-South Florida.
Replies: 11
Views: 4721

Re: Finds from this year-Part 1-South Florida.

Great finds. That coralsnake story is heartbreaking. I hope the next one you see is alive and away from a road.

What species of frog do you have left to see?
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 8:29 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The Man Who Injects Venom
Replies: 6
Views: 3229

Re: The Man Who Injects Venom

I'm kinda watching it right now but it's on DVR for later viewing. Just saw the king cobra segment.
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 8:18 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Special Dark
Replies: 14
Views: 4173

Re: Special Dark

Neat. I think it looks pretty cool.
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 8:12 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OH, NY, PA, WV herping extravaganza weekend...pics
Replies: 20
Views: 8360

Re: OH, NY, PA, WV herping extravaganza weekend...pics

Yeah, I forgot to mention the Timbers. I call that the "rocky road" phase. Great finds.
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 7:57 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OH, NY, PA, WV herping extravaganza weekend...pics
Replies: 20
Views: 8360

Re: OH, NY, PA, WV herping extravaganza weekend...pics

I've never seen a garter like that. Nice looking habitat in WV.
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 7:55 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New England Vipers
Replies: 3
Views: 2154

Re: New England Vipers

Thanks guys. I love the variability in the coppers. I've seen them very pale and very dark, like the pair pictured.
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 6:42 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Once, In a Former Life . . .
Replies: 40
Views: 12336

Re: Once, In a Former Life . . .

Original : mikefuture

Real name is the way to go, I think.
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 5:24 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: over a year of herping FL - DUW
Replies: 7
Views: 8268

Re: over a year of herping FL - DUW

Really nice stuff. I love snakes on white sand. Great contrast.
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 5:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A pretty from S Florida last night
Replies: 10
Views: 3994

Re: A pretty from S Florida last night

Target Acquired. Excellent! That's one sight I had hoped for down in south florida. Didn't get to see one.
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 5:15 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: turtle photos from 2006
Replies: 3
Views: 2653

Re: turtle photos from 2006

Beautiful. Nice to see some pics of these little guys.
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 5:08 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New England Vipers
Replies: 3
Views: 2154

New England Vipers

Time to reminisce a little... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/4399620029_62cec0ae7a.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2562/4211563975_ac17c2a3f1.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/4211563793_6320ff813f.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2605/4183393618_91acc1a7d3.jpg http://farm4.static.fl...
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 4:32 pm
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Recommended Reading
Replies: 21
Views: 9747

Re: Recommended Reading

Familiar Reptiles & Amphibians of America - Will Barker I read this book over and over when I was a kid. It was first published in 1964. It lists the genus for Red-Spotted Newt as Diemictylus and Narrow-Mouthed toads as Microhyla . The Eastern Milksnake is Lampropeltis doliata triangulum . Gott...
by Mike VanValen
June 8th, 2010, 4:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Okanagan valley snake ID
Replies: 8
Views: 4074

Re: Okanagan valley snake ID

No doubt it's Coluber
by Mike VanValen
June 7th, 2010, 9:19 pm
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: A couple of plugs
Replies: 8
Views: 4498

A couple of plugs

Discovering Amphibians : Frogs and Salamanders of the Northeast A neat little book with some great field stories, by fellow CT herper, John Himmelman. A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica A true guide for the field. If you have to bring a book to Costa Rica, bring this one. Authored by ...
by Mike VanValen
June 7th, 2010, 9:06 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A few saves
Replies: 5
Views: 2428

Re: A few saves

Love that mint green treefrog.
by Mike VanValen
June 7th, 2010, 9:03 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Gharials of the Chambal revisited
Replies: 8
Views: 4479

Re: Gharials of the Chambal revisited

Cool. I don't recall many indian posts.
by Mike VanValen
June 7th, 2010, 7:07 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Good to be back
Replies: 4
Views: 2993

Re: Good to be back

Gotta love those juvy milksnakes. Nice post.
by Mike VanValen
June 7th, 2010, 7:04 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Northeast Member Biographies
Replies: 197
Views: 56198

Re: Northeast Member Biographies

Hey folks, My name is Mike VanValen and I have been field herping for a long, long time. One of my earliest memories is of chasing lizards in Florida. I was encouraged by my parents at an early age to pursue my interest in herpetology. I have herped the everglades, the pine barrens of NJ, the sand h...
by Mike VanValen
June 7th, 2010, 5:33 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: new registration suggestion: Use your real name.
Replies: 35
Views: 10626

Re: new registration suggestion: Use your real name.

I wanted to change over right before the FHF crash of 2010

Mike VanValen formerly known as mikefuture
by Mike VanValen
June 7th, 2010, 5:28 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: recent finds
Replies: 4
Views: 3012

recent finds

These pics are from the past few months in the field. Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) - Connecticut http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4645358295_0f4130f9dc.jpg http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4504403112_632e51e224.jpg Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) - Connecticut http://farm5.static.f...
by Mike VanValen
June 7th, 2010, 5:06 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 1
Replies: 16
Views: 5404

Re: Some finds from over the weekend - ANF and Eglin AFB

Nice stuff. Corns are a favorite of mine.
by Mike VanValen
June 7th, 2010, 5:02 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Check in thread
Replies: 42
Views: 11453

Check in thread

Hey guys, mikefuture here. We all need to spread the message so we can get the Northeast folks back here and re-registered. Use Facebook. Myspace, Twitter...whatever you can and contact whoever you know.

In the mean time let's use this thread as a check in for Chapter members as they trickle back in.