Search found 3008 matches

by chrish
May 10th, 2016, 10:40 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: NAFHA Meeting, Mena, AR?
Replies: 14
Views: 7700

NAFHA Meeting, Mena, AR?

Haven't seen any follow-up posts about the NAFHA meeting in Mena Arkansas last week.

Did anyone go?
by chrish
May 10th, 2016, 10:38 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Are these king snakes fighting or courting?
Replies: 25
Views: 11450

Re: Are these king snakes fighting or courting?

Combat, not mating.
by chrish
May 10th, 2016, 10:05 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: HERPS OF TEXAS . ORG
Replies: 6
Views: 4887

Re: HERPS OF TEXAS . ORG

It is run out of UT Austin. I believe David Cannatella or maybe Travis LaDuc is responsible for it. I'm not sure what the holdup is in its rerelease. I'm not sure why they had to take down the old one to update the new one? The Inaturalist Herps of Texas project is OK for generating approximate rang...
by chrish
May 6th, 2016, 12:28 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Pelonnese solo quickie
Replies: 16
Views: 10616

Re: Pelonnese solo quickie

Although I always look forward to your posts, as soon as I saw it was a post from Greece, I immediately clicked it hoping for a story about finding on of my favorite snakes - a sandboa. Boom, not only a couple of sandboa shots, but an in situ flipping shot. Coolest Eryx shot on the forum ever! Thank...
by chrish
April 16th, 2016, 6:38 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Find the Herp - The Game
Replies: 16
Views: 5693

Re: Find the Herp - The Game

semasko's second picture is a copperhead on the crawl left of center.

Here's one that shouldn't be too hard (and you don't have to zoom ;) ) from Central Texas -

Image
by chrish
April 14th, 2016, 9:54 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New here. Here's some pics
Replies: 5
Views: 2792

Re: New here. Here's some pics

I first started herping in Tulsa back as a kid in the early 70s. It was always a very rewarding place to herp at least for numbers of things like Ringnecks and Lined Snakes. I can still see the Red Milksnake I missed by flipping a board that was too big for me to handle. I was 8 and by myself and be...
by chrish
April 14th, 2016, 9:48 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Texas field guides
Replies: 3
Views: 1997

Re: Texas field guides

And the Hibbitt's Turtles and Crocodilans book is out now as well - http://utpress.utexas.edu/index.php/boo ... ocodilians

Between the Hibbitts books and Werler and Dixon's Texas Snakes book, Texas is pretty well covered for now.
by chrish
April 14th, 2016, 9:41 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Head torches/headlamps
Replies: 57
Views: 31200

Re: Head torches/headlamps

In regard to eyeshine, I 've always felt like too much light was a bad thing. If you shine a really bright light towards an animal looking for eyeshine, they seem to move away more often than if the light is lower powered. Didn't used to be an issue since lights weren't as bright as they are now.
by chrish
April 12th, 2016, 3:51 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Ideas for low light macro
Replies: 11
Views: 18999

Re: Ideas for low light macro

I always wondered if a laser pointer would help my camera focus in low light. It certainly sounds easier than holding a camera, a flashlight to focus with, and an off camera flash. It will, but it needs to project horizontal or vertical lines for the camera to be able to pickl up the pattern and fo...
by chrish
April 7th, 2016, 10:20 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Best GPS for field use
Replies: 16
Views: 6917

Re: Best GPS for field use

Not losing signal under jungle canopy is an issue with the satellites, not the GPS but some GPS units are better than others at keeping signals here. I don't trust a phone as a GPS in out of the way places. The problem is that many (most) gps apps on the phone don't report the accuracy of their loca...
by chrish
April 4th, 2016, 4:39 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Experimenting with the flash
Replies: 2
Views: 12665

Re: Experimenting with the flash

That is kind of an interesting look with the finite edges to the light in the field of view. It would be better if the snake had been in some more "natural" habitat rather than on the road, but it is a good proof of concept.

Gorgeous ratsnake.
by chrish
April 4th, 2016, 4:36 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Almost every herp species of Karelia + extremely rare find!
Replies: 5
Views: 2746

Re: Almost every herp species of Karelia + extremely rare fi

Interesting stuff. That black lizard is really beautiful.

You may not have that many species in Karelia but considering it is as far north as central Alaska here in North America it is amazing you have the number of species you do!

How long is the herping season up there?
by chrish
March 26th, 2016, 10:20 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Who bring two (or more) camera's in field?
Replies: 7
Views: 6900

Re: Who bring two (or more) camera's in field?

I generally don't use two bodies even though I have several. Fortunately my go-to bird lens also focuses close enough for most "grab" herp shots in the field. But if I am mostly herping, but macro lens goes on the camera and I usually don't even carry the bird lens. That said, I always tak...
by chrish
March 26th, 2016, 11:59 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New here with some pics
Replies: 5
Views: 2523

Re: New here with some pics

Welcome aboard! I started my herping "career" back in Tulsa in the early 1970s. My memories are of a very fun herping area. I didn't find nearly the diversity that you have, but I was under 10 years old at the time so I didn't herp very far from home. That Lined Snake reminded me of my fir...
by chrish
March 22nd, 2016, 9:58 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Question to do with Multiple Flashes and Diffusers
Replies: 10
Views: 19267

Re: Question to do with Multiple Flashes and Diffusers

I made some quick and dirty diffusers for my macro flash setup. When I first tried it I went with some hard plastic from some night lights like these. I velcroed them on the flash heads. They were very field hardy in that they were waterproof and unbreakable, http://m7.i.pbase.com/o9/15/915115/1/155...
by chrish
March 22nd, 2016, 9:38 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A Wisconsinite's trip to Texas
Replies: 4
Views: 2753

Re: A Wisconsinite's trip to Texas

I have already communicated with a member of your team, but if you goals are copperheads and Crotalus ornatus, don't spend too long in the valley. A. c. laticinctus are more common just southeast of San Antonio and ornatus and pictigaster don't occur much south or east of San Antonio, and don't beco...
by chrish
March 14th, 2016, 9:03 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Zululand 2016
Replies: 4
Views: 3840

Re: Zululand 2016

Great. Thanks for posting.

There is something weirdly intriguing about Xenocalamus. I love seeing pictures of those. The head shot was great.
by chrish
March 14th, 2016, 8:59 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Australia 2016 Part 2: (Tasmanian) Devils Walk Among Us
Replies: 5
Views: 3845

Re: Australia 2016 Part 2: (Tasmanian) Devils Walk Among Us

Great post. Really enjoyed it.

It's funny how "hairy" those Tasmanian mammals are compared to the mainland forms (echidna, wombat). Says something about Tasmania's climate.
by chrish
March 11th, 2016, 2:31 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping in Russia, Dosang, Astrakhan region
Replies: 12
Views: 6742

Re: Herping in Russia, Dosang, Astrakhan region

Seva, Outstanding post. We rarely get to see pictures of the herps and habitats from your part of the world. Thanks for posting this and I look forward to more. And you posted one of my all time favorite snakes - Eryx miliaris! That may be the first time a wild E. miliaris has ever been posted on th...
by chrish
March 8th, 2016, 8:01 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ...florida python hunt results ...
Replies: 35
Views: 13380

Re: ...florida python hunt results ...

As it turns out these animals are as common as ever. There is nothing scientifically viable to indicate otherwise. Peer reviewed study showing very strong evidence that the decline in marsh rabbits is directly attributable to python predation. http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/282/1805...
by chrish
March 8th, 2016, 6:11 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Honduras Gecko ID
Replies: 3
Views: 2274

Re: Honduras Gecko ID

Looks like Hemidactylus frenatus.
by chrish
March 7th, 2016, 8:47 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Female herpetologists or herp enthusiasts
Replies: 90
Views: 50135

Re: Female herpetologists or herp enthusiasts

Regalringneck, And for the love of God, please learn to write legibly. Your gibberish is really annoying to literate people. Pardon my Y chromosome intruding again here, but this made me laugh out loud. I think he thinks it is cute or creative even though the rest of us think it is reflective of so...
by chrish
March 7th, 2016, 9:36 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Four of a kind...** - UP AND RUNNING AGAIN March 2016!
Replies: 281
Views: 736618

Re: FOUR OF A KIND....new game

Glad to see this resurrected! I had forgotten where it died. Turns out I had another "barred" bird photo I took more recently, but since it has another part to its name I'm glad I saved it in case that comes up. I do have a somewhat lame Horned bird... Horned Lark (juvenile) http://m7.i.pb...
by chrish
March 7th, 2016, 9:30 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: One afternoon, 4 loon species
Replies: 1
Views: 12116

Re: One afternoon, 4 loon species

What? No Arctic? ;) That is cool. I like trying to see "groups" like that in one day if possible. I have rarely done it except you can get all the regular North American Ardeids in the spring on the coast of Texas. I know some folks who got 4 kingfisher species in Texas in one morning. A f...
by chrish
March 5th, 2016, 10:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Questions about entering NAHERP data
Replies: 9
Views: 16274

Re: Questions about entering NAHERP data

While we're at it (and this might interest Dallas, as well)... my daughter wanrs to give me her I-phone (she's upgrading)... it's on some unlimted family plan, where it won't cost me much... I told her if it would do the data entry app... i'd do it (#kicking&screaming) Anybody got links for tho...
by chrish
March 4th, 2016, 6:55 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Female herpetologists or herp enthusiasts
Replies: 90
Views: 50135

Re: Female herpetologists or herp enthusiasts

Wow. For a minute I thought an old post had been bumped up to the top. But then I realized it wasn't an old post from the 1940s after all. It just had comments that sounded like they had been written then. Sexism, even when that poorly expressed and "supported" with irrational pseudoscient...
by chrish
March 3rd, 2016, 2:06 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Collapsible walking mono pod suggestions.
Replies: 8
Views: 7384

Re: Collapsible walking mono pod suggestions.

That's a pretty good looking setup. Hope it works well.

Where did you end up buying it?
by chrish
March 2nd, 2016, 9:21 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Collapsible walking mono pod suggestions.
Replies: 8
Views: 7384

Re: Collapsible walking mono pod suggestions.

I think an inexpensive monopod with a lightweight inexpensive ball head would do the job. There are some cheap little ballheads that run under $30 and a cheap $30 monopod would do the trick. Don't hike with the camera on the monopod but it only takes a few seconds to screw a monopod into a camera. I...
by chrish
March 2nd, 2016, 5:50 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: What is calling?
Replies: 5
Views: 2806

Re: What is calling?

Nick, I hope the peepers aren't finishing up in SE. Texas yet. It is one species I still need to record here in Texas and I hope to get some (if it rains!!) over the week of March 11-20 sometime. So far this spring, I have heard several choruses of Pseudacris streckeri but further south than you are...
by chrish
March 2nd, 2016, 5:32 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Collapsible walking mono pod suggestions.
Replies: 8
Views: 7384

Re: Collapsible walking mono pod suggestions.

I don't have any direct recommendations other than I would like one that I could add a small ball head to. The reason I say this is that on uneven ground it can be difficult to keep your camera level where you want it if you can't adjust the angle of the top. Most "walking stick/monopods" ...
by chrish
February 21st, 2016, 8:01 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Underwater Photography Question
Replies: 14
Views: 9926

Re: Underwater Photography Question

A relatively inexpensive solution if you don't want to risk a DYI project is a DiCAPac camera housing which cost under $100. I have used mine down to about 20 feet below the surface while snorkeling. I reviewed it here - http://fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12476 Chris, I'm real...
by chrish
February 20th, 2016, 10:47 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Underwater Photography Question
Replies: 14
Views: 9926

Re: Underwater Photography Question

A relatively inexpensive solution if you don't want to risk a DYI project is a DiCAPac camera housing which cost under $100. I have used mine down to about 20 feet below the surface while snorkeling. I reviewed it here - http://fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12476 Here's a more re...
by chrish
February 20th, 2016, 10:02 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: different snake species basking together?
Replies: 23
Views: 9955

Re: different snake species basking together?

Multiple Nerodia species frequently bask "together" but that is more a consequence of limited basking site availability rather than seeking out each other's company. Of course, species that den together bask together near the dens. I have seen Crotalus ornatus and lepidus basking side by s...
by chrish
February 17th, 2016, 6:57 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2016 NAFHA National Field Trip - Mena, AR - Apr 29 to May 1
Replies: 14
Views: 7728

Re: 2016 NAFHA National Field Trip - Mena, AR - Apr 29 to Ma

Hadar wrote:
jlzachary1 wrote:I will be there, already booked my place to stay.
Where's that? Are there camping sites?
There is camping information on the full announcement, but yes, there is camping available in the state park -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZEc ... Q0PkY/edit
by chrish
February 16th, 2016, 10:15 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Micro Photo Advice
Replies: 8
Views: 14569

Re: Micro Photo Advice

Thanks for the clarification about the extension tubes with the 180mm. My line of thinking was that I could get more working distance to not scare arthropods away. You will get extra working distance with the longer lens, but your magnification improvement won't be much. Don't overlook the added va...
by chrish
February 15th, 2016, 1:38 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Micro Photo Advice
Replies: 8
Views: 14569

Re: Micro Photo Advice

I think the cheap route is to either go with stacking a lens or with extension tubes. A couple of notes about both. Stacking does present the problem of being able to control the aperture of the reversed lens. You can use manual lenses as previously stated. There are a lot of good cheap old manual f...
by chrish
February 9th, 2016, 8:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The interesting story of the Clarion Island Nightsnake
Replies: 14
Views: 7634

Re: The interesting story of the Clarion Island Nightsnake

Interesting story. That's an amazingly isolated snake!
by chrish
February 8th, 2016, 2:25 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Fill flash for daytime shooting
Replies: 12
Views: 10394

Re: Fill flash for daytime shooting

When looking at that second shot, I see that it was good use of fill flash.....there is just a bit much for my liking. Dial the flash down a stop or two and that will help I think.
by chrish
February 7th, 2016, 9:40 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Fill flash for daytime shooting
Replies: 12
Views: 10394

Re: Fill flash for daytime shooting

I do like your ratsnake shot, but I'm not sure it is a good example of fill-flash yet. The idea behind fill flash is to use flash to bring out the dark areas of an image while allowing the natural light to expose the lighter areas. In other words, the flash "fills" in light where the natur...
by chrish
February 5th, 2016, 9:21 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Ideas for low light macro
Replies: 11
Views: 18999

Re: Ideas for low light macro

One useful trick that can help your camera focus in the dark is to use one of those novelty laser pointers with the projected "shapes". I found one once that projected a tic-tac-to board shape and it was a perfect shape for a camera to focus on. Anything that projects a series of lines wou...
by chrish
February 5th, 2016, 8:53 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Fisheye converters/adapters
Replies: 3
Views: 3938

Re: Fisheye converters/adapters

These adapters tend to be rather soft on the edges so you won't get sharp edge to edge shots. The 10mm setting on your zoom lens is pretty close to fish-eye on a full frame camera anyway. On a canon 1.6x crop it isn't so much of course. I might be willing to try something like one of these - http://...
by chrish
February 4th, 2016, 6:40 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: NM, West Texas and Arizona
Replies: 12
Views: 7889

Re: NM, West Texas and Arizona

That's one hell of a year! Many years ago I found a presumptive hybrid rattlesnake in the Huecos that (IIRC) was atrox x viridis. It was gravid as it turned out and it and its babies went back to the collection at UTEP where it was used for venom research for a while. I don't remember the details, b...
by chrish
February 4th, 2016, 9:03 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Which Coluber subspecies is this?
Replies: 14
Views: 5852

Re: Which Coluber subspecies is this?

wow thats very interesting, as the nearest mainland colubers to the bahamas are all los negroes (black) ... i'da said south central tx s / se of san-tone Racers SE of San Antonio don't look at all blue, they are greenish brown at best. http://m3.i.pbase.com/o9/15/915115/1/151277823.tZTEYYlf.Coluber...
by chrish
February 2nd, 2016, 2:29 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Which Coluber subspecies is this?
Replies: 14
Views: 5852

Re: Which Coluber species is this?

Coluber constrictor.
by chrish
February 2nd, 2016, 11:17 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Question: Preferred DOF with reasonable working distance?
Replies: 15
Views: 8077

Re: Question: Preferred DOF with reasonable working distance

Chris, if you could give me a brand or link to that 30" collapsible diffuser, that would be excellent. I need to add that to my arsenal. I don't know what brand I have to be honest. I have several of them ranging from 12" to 30". The small ones will fit in your pocket when folded up,...
by chrish
February 2nd, 2016, 11:05 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Calling all Sony A Mount Users
Replies: 6
Views: 4924

Re: Calling all Sony A Mount Users

I have used a variety of Sony bodies starting with
Alpha 100 (and its Konica Minolta ancestors, the KM 7D and 5D)
Alpha 700 (awesome camera)
Alpha 58
SLT-A77
SLT-A77ii - my current body, which I love.
by chrish
February 2nd, 2016, 5:38 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Calling all Sony A Mount Users
Replies: 6
Views: 4924

Re: Calling all Sony A Mount Users

I agree. The 70-400 G is my go-to lens and is on my camera most of the time. Decent hand holdable long lens, tripod collar and it will focus close enough for some lizard shots, etc. It is a bit of a beast, but so are all lenses in this size/range. The new version may focus faster, but the old versio...
by chrish
February 1st, 2016, 4:07 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: The Fight for 500... (5/28/16 - FINISHED)
Replies: 29
Views: 35927

Re: 2014: The Fight for 500... (updated: 1/14/15)

This fight has been longer and slower than I thought. Too much life happening and not enough traveling... But, I did get to hit the Lower Rio Grande Valley between Christmas and New Years the other day and added 10 life birds and 3 ABA birds. Had really sad misses of the Golden-crowned Warbler (eve...
by chrish
February 1st, 2016, 3:47 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Video recording of frog calls
Replies: 9
Views: 3211

Re: Video recording of frog calls

I would say that's what the NAAMP calls a calling index of 3 - "Full chorus, calls are constant, continuous and overlapping" When I am entering stuff like that in the database, I generally go for a kind of "minimum estimate". For a chorus like that I just put 10 individuals even ...
by chrish
January 31st, 2016, 8:21 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Video recording of frog calls
Replies: 9
Views: 3211

Re: Video recording of frog calls

Another thing that does work here, BTW, is that you can post the recording to NAHerp.com or Herpmapper.org and link to that mp3. In the Herp database, you can go to your record, click "Download" under the recording link and it will open up in a new window. Save the URL from the address bar...