Since we've been getting little snippets of people's spring herping on here, I figured I'd share one day I've had this spring instead of hoarding it all until my EOY post.
I've been targeting prairie kingsnakes west of Houston for the past couple of years. For those that know me, you're aware how much I like these snakes and how highly I think of them. If I only found calligaster every single outing for the rest of my life, I'd pretty damn happy. Anyhow, I've been very unsuccessful in finding them out there. I've found them in Hardin, Tyler, Harris, Waller, and Chambers counties, but a live one from a couple counties over has eluded me, despite their apparent abundance.
So, for the past couple of years I've road cruised various parts of both Austin and Colorado counties. I've flipped boards, tin, trash, carpet, and all in between. I've set up sites in fields, at the edge of forests and fields. I've hiked for a couple of miles to set up spots in high quality prairie on private property. Despite all that work, it wasn't until one day this spring that I managed to find one. And when I did, they were all over! Of course, none were at any spot I set up.
The first one I found was in Austin county in some trash:
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster (Prairie Kingsnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster (Prairie Kingsnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster (Prairie Kingsnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster (Prairie Kingsnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
So, that pretty much made my day. No reason to quit early though, might as well stay out and see what else I find!
I flipped my usual stuff and piddled around and hiked a bit. Saw a few snakes I'd seen before. We said "hello and see you next week" and parted ways.
A new fellow I hadn't seen before was changing his clothes under this rotting beam:
Coluber flagellum testaceus (Western Coachwhip) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
Shortly thereafter I took up some roadcruising. It wasn't long before my second prairie king came out onto the road. He was booking it, so I didn't get to take an in situ photo.
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster (Prairie Kingsnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
Minutes later, I was greeted with this yearling callie crossing the road:
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster (Prairie Kingsnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster (Prairie Kingsnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
And then, much to my surprise, just as the sun dipped below the horizon I found a rather uncommon snake (you might even say rare) for Colorado County.
Arizona elegans (Texas Glossy Snake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
Arizona elegans (Texas Glossy Snake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
Twenty minutes and a bit of darkness later, I was greeted with another!
Arizona elegans (Texas Glossy Snake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
Finally, the last snake of the day was an attractive, lighter colored, and fairly pugnacious calligaster. I was very excited I got to have such a great day seeing so many of my favorite snake in one day!
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster (Prairie Kingsnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
Just before a small nip:
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster (Prairie Kingsnake) by Kyle L.E., on Flickr
Hope you enjoyed!
Prairie Adventure
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Prairie Adventure
Nice Kyle, I lost count of how many calligaster you found halfway through the thread. This year is really starting out with a bang! Be safe out there buddy.
Re: Prairie Adventure
Cool finds. I think the trick to calligaster is to find them early in the year. They seem to be common in that area in February and March and start to disappear when the weather warms up.
Finding an Arizona in that area is a great find. I used to herp in Colorado county a lot and I found a total of one in many, many nights of cruising. I can't imagine finding multiple individuals.
Have you find any Diadophis out that way? I've only ever seen one. I know they are there,...but....
I always hoped for a Heterodon nasicus out there. Never found one in Colorado Co.,, but I have found one east of there.
Finding an Arizona in that area is a great find. I used to herp in Colorado county a lot and I found a total of one in many, many nights of cruising. I can't imagine finding multiple individuals.
Have you find any Diadophis out that way? I've only ever seen one. I know they are there,...but....
I always hoped for a Heterodon nasicus out there. Never found one in Colorado Co.,, but I have found one east of there.
Re: Prairie Adventure
If there's nasicus still out there, I've got a spot that will produce it, provided they'll get under carpet/tarps/elevated boards.
Diadophis are around, but I haven't seen one yet.
And regarding February and March for calligaster, were you flipping them or finding them on roads/basking? I went out and flipped my stuff once a week through March, and at least once in February.
Diadophis are around, but I haven't seen one yet.
And regarding February and March for calligaster, were you flipping them or finding them on roads/basking? I went out and flipped my stuff once a week through March, and at least once in February.
Re: Prairie Adventure
And I don't think I've spent as much time cruising out there as you, but it's a lot! I spent a good bit of July-Oct 2012 cruising out there hoping for a damn callie.
After seeing both the calligaster and the Arizona in the area, I do believe I actually found a DOR Arizona out there in July 2012. It looked exactly like those but larger, and at the time I thought it was a prairie king.
And yeah, I never expected to find one, much less two out there. Last snake on my mind!
After seeing both the calligaster and the Arizona in the area, I do believe I actually found a DOR Arizona out there in July 2012. It looked exactly like those but larger, and at the time I thought it was a prairie king.
And yeah, I never expected to find one, much less two out there. Last snake on my mind!
Re: Prairie Adventure
That's a nice amount of prairie kings Kyle. Congrats.
- Jeroen Speybroeck
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Re: Prairie Adventure
Beautiful snakes!
Re: Prairie Adventure
Not nearly enough!dery wrote:That's a nice amount of prairie kings Kyle. Congrats.
I agree. See you in a couple weeks dude! It's gonna be an epic time!Jeroen Speybroeck wrote:Beautiful snakes!
Re: Prairie Adventure
I could use a few Calligaster days like that one. Jeez!
Re: Prairie Adventure
I doubt you are going to flip a nasicus. I think the best bet for them is cruising in the morning or at dusk. Find a sandy road and cruise/walk it in the morning a few times. They are tough to see, as well as being uncommon (at best) in that area.Soopaman wrote:If there's nasicus still out there, I've got a spot that will produce it, provided they'll get under carpet/tarps/elevated boards.
Diadophis are around, but I haven't seen one yet.
And regarding February and March for calligaster, were you flipping them or finding them on roads/basking? I went out and flipped my stuff once a week through March, and at least once in February.
I generally find calligaster out cruising, either by walking or finding them on roads. They seem to be active at dusk early in the year because I saw a lot of fresh roadkills during Feb/Mar west of Houston.
Re: Prairie Adventure
I wouldn't expect to flip a nasicus, but you never know. I've flipped platirhinos just as many times as I've cruised/walked them.chrish wrote:I doubt you are going to flip a nasicus. I think the best bet for them is cruising in the morning or at dusk. Find a sandy road and cruise/walk it in the morning a few times. They are tough to see, as well as being uncommon (at best) in that area.Soopaman wrote:If there's nasicus still out there, I've got a spot that will produce it, provided they'll get under carpet/tarps/elevated boards.
Diadophis are around, but I haven't seen one yet.
And regarding February and March for calligaster, were you flipping them or finding them on roads/basking? I went out and flipped my stuff once a week through March, and at least once in February.
I generally find calligaster out cruising, either by walking or finding them on roads. They seem to be active at dusk early in the year because I saw a lot of fresh roadkills during Feb/Mar west of Houston.
Good to know about the callies, definitely keeping it in mind for next year. More this week...
- Tim Borski
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Re: Prairie Adventure
The best!!
Tim
Tim
Re: Prairie Adventure
I have flipped quite a few platirhinos, but never a nasicus. I don't know if it would be worth trying, but I found in houston in the 80s that I could flip platirhinos at night more easily than in the day. Might work for nasicus as well?Soopaman wrote:I wouldn't expect to flip a nasicus, but you never know. I've flipped platirhinos just as many times as I've cruised/walked them.
Re: Prairie Adventure
Tim Borski wrote:The best!!
Tim
Worth a shot. Good to know about platirhinos. I'm totally cool flipping stuff at night. Usually has about as much as during the day in the middle of spring.chrish wrote:I have flipped quite a few platirhinos, but never a nasicus. I don't know if it would be worth trying, but I found in houston in the 80s that I could flip platirhinos at night more easily than in the day. Might work for nasicus as well?Soopaman wrote:I wouldn't expect to flip a nasicus, but you never know. I've flipped platirhinos just as many times as I've cruised/walked them.
Re: Prairie Adventure
WOW! Prairie Kings are awesome. Just like with those amazing pics of the specks you sent, your pics of those calligaster really pop. Looks like nice habitat as well. Really well maintained dirt roads. I fell in love with road cruising nice dirt roads like that in AZ. I think Chris's advice on cruising nasicus in the am or at dusk is spot on. Had success in AZ finding kennerlyi that way last Sept. He's right also on them being hard to see. Great post. I look forward to more.
reako45
reako45