The wife and I had a few drives this summer stretching across western and central Canada from family events in Victoria BC to home in Val Marie SK and East to Kingston were we are now based with a number of places in between. Herping was incidental or brief but was very productive.
We started way out west on Vancouver Island where we managed to stumble upon a few local favorites.
Pseudacris regilla
IMGP6695 by nacairn, on Flickr
Thamnophis ordinoides
IMGP6721 by nacairn, on Flickr
IMGP6750 by nacairn, on Flickr
Ursus americanus
IMGP6764 by nacairn, on Flickr
Next we stumbled our way into the interior we only had 4 hours of free time in the late morning early afternoon but we used them well.
Unfortunately the first find was a sad one, this boa was still writhing when we found it. They are fairly common in the south Okanogan but I had never seen one active during the day. This was unfortunately one of a number of DORs on this trip.
Charina bottae
IMGP7025 by nacairn, on Flickr
Next we visited some ontathologist friends and quickly spooked up a couple of racers at one of their field sites.
Coluber constrictor mormon
IMGP6855 by nacairn, on Flickr
Then back at their house a hurried search of the refuse around their place revealed a few more critters.
Pituophis catenifer deserticola
IMGP6953 by nacairn, on Flickr
I could not this guy to calm down for a photo
IMGP6934 by nacairn, on Flickr
Crotalus o. oreganus
IMGP6901 by nacairn, on Flickr
We then ran for Val Marie SK, the rest of the BC, AB was done at night or in a very sleepy state. As usual this area was beautiful but herps were hard to track down this year. The rattlesnake, racer and bullsnake populations took a beating in 2010-11 with slumping do to a very wet winter but this year even horned lizard were hard to come by. That said, from anecdotal evidence it seems like snake populations are on the rebound, time will tell.
It was a very wet year turning fields and roads into torrents and highways into lakes. In one 24 hour period we had nearly 7 inches of precipitation.
IMGP7695 by nacairn, on Flickr
IMGP7699 by nacairn, on Flickr
This was good for the amphibians.
Ambystoma mavortium
IMGP7234 by nacairn, on Flickr
Spea bombifrons, an unimpressive shot but this guy is a ways away from the known range of this species in Saskatchewan.
IMGP7244 by nacairn, on Flickr
A couple other highlights:
Thamnophis radix
IMGP7107 by nacairn, on Flickr
Buteo swainsoni with Thamnophis radix
IMGP7185 by nacairn, on Flickr
Taxidea taxus
IMGP8397 by nacairn, on Flickr
Lithobates pipiens
IMGP8450 by nacairn, on Flickr
Pseudacris maculata
IMGP8751-001 by nacairn, on Flickr
Crotalus viridis
IMGP8486 by nacairn, on Flickr
Phrynosoma hernandesi
IMGP8593 by nacairn, on Flickr
I’ve been very lucky to get to call this place my home.
IMGP7110 by nacairn, on Flickr
We them began a massive drive from Val Marie to Kingston Ontario (3250km) with stops in Manitoba and Ontario in order to get my very pregnant wife to our new home out east. We visited with a good friends and herping buddy Neil Gushulak and spent an couple hours poking around some old study sites of ours. We found almost every species you could find in the area and had a great time. These photos are from previous trips as most of the herps escaped unphotographed this trip.
Plestiodon septentrionalis
DSCF1065 by nacairn, on Flickr
Heterodon nasicus
IMGP0635 by nacairn, on Flickr
And others…
And in Ontario the roads were kind
Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis (found at a subway sandwich shop)
IMGP0296 by nacairn, on Flickr
Sistrurus catenatus, found on a rainy, cool day on a 20km detour off the main highway
IMGP0338 by nacairn, on Flickr
Diadophis punctatus edwardsii (photographed on matte as I was tired of trying to make a tiny colubrid standout from the substrate).
IMGP0411 by nacairn, on Flickr
All and all a successful series of trips. Hopefully the roads will continue to be kind this fall.
IMGP0324 by nacairn, on Flickr
Summer road trippin'
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Kyle from Carolina
- Posts: 221
- Joined: May 3rd, 2012, 8:12 pm
- Location: western MA and NC
Re: Summer road trippin'
Good stuff Nick. I'm impressed that you found all those critters in the south okanagan in only 4 hours. It took me a lot longer and I never saw a boa, despite finding lots of other AOR and DOR snakes on the road at night. You must be a snake whisperer. The massasauaga is sweet. Looks like you're already finding some stuff in Ontario.
Re: Summer road trippin'
Thanks Kyle but some times I can't yell up a snake, I just got lucky in an area I pretty familiar with.
Re: Summer road trippin'
That photo of the tiger salamander with lightning in the background is particularly great.
John
John
Re: Summer road trippin'
Thanks very much. I am very happy with that one.
- Brian Willey
- Posts: 100
- Joined: June 21st, 2010, 6:32 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Re: Summer road trippin'
I also love the shot of the Tiger! Striking!
-
- Posts: 523
- Joined: June 11th, 2010, 9:09 pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Re: Summer road trippin'
That's a pretty sweet array of herps all across Canada. Thanks for sharing
Ian
Ian
Re: Summer road trippin'
Awesome photos! I'm especially impressed by that tiger salamander with the lightning. Amazing.
- NewYorkHerper16
- Posts: 140
- Joined: August 13th, 2014, 7:50 am
Re: Summer road trippin'
Great photography! It looks like you had a very successful trip. The shot with the tiger salamander and the lightning is AWESOME!!
Re: Summer road trippin'
Thanks, I appreciate the kind comments.
Re: Summer road trippin'
I think if I had seen that bear I would have crapped myself. I have seen bear before, but never up on their hind legs staring right at me.
Yes, the tiger sally with the lightning is amazing
Yes, the tiger sally with the lightning is amazing
- orionmystery
- Posts: 674
- Joined: December 26th, 2012, 11:48 pm
- Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Contact:
Re: Summer road trippin'
Great set!