Since my field season has ended prematurely as a result surgery to repair a torn ACL, I figured now was as good a time as any to share my spring and summer in south Georgia, with a little North Florida tossed in. I'll apologize ahead of time as a lot of these animals have already been posted and the photos you've seen of them are much nicer than mine.
A very unexpected but welcomed surprise
Alabama Water Dog Necturus cf. beyeri
bamawaterdog by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose Snakes Heterodon platyrhinos were a common sight
Heterodon platirhinos by Billy Moore, on Flickr
An early season Eastern Coachwhip Coluber flagellum, my favorite species. There were some absolute monsters on property with 7 footers not being entirely uncommon
IMG_4933 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_4946 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_4952 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Eastern King Snakes Lampropeltis getula also turned up quite regularly on site and were highly variable in appearance
IMG_4890 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Photographing this Dwarf Siren Pseudobranchus striatus was impossible, so this picture in hand is all I ended up with
nb by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Maybe the coolest observation of the spring was this large getula preparing to make a meal of a hognose snake
IMG_5055 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
MDK by Billy Moore, on Flickr
A large water snake Nerodia fasciata attempting to subdue a bull frog Lithobates catesbeianus
IMG_5154 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
My favorite rattlesnakes made numerous appearances Crotalus horridus
ga cane by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_5125 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
ga cane 2 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Another individual fleeing a prescribed burn, only to be clipped by a vehicle unfortunately
crhor by Billy Moore, on Flickr
An adult getula that retained lots of yellow banding
IMG_5175 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Various Hylids
Pinewoods Tree Frog Hyla femoralis
IMG_5276 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Barking Tree Frog Hyla gratiosa
hygra 2 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Gray Tree Frog Hyla chrysoscelis
bump on oak by Billy Moore, on Flickr
ready for take off by Billy Moore, on Flickr
A beautiful Mud Snake Farancia abacura
IMG_5336 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
First Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus of the season was a big one
In situ
EDB by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_5417 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Pine Snakes Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus were at the top of my list as I had previously only seen DORs. I took a walk around a nearby sand ridge on a cool, sunny morning in early May and was treated to this big guy basking outside a rodent burrow
In situ
IMG_5427 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_5429 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Another C. adamanteus
EDB3 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
EDB2 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Drift fences produced this spectacular Southern Hognose Snake Heterodon simus
HESIM by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_5605 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
A young pine
IMG_5638 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_5697 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
A nice Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix crossing a rural road
copper by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Biggest and arguably prettiest pine of the year, also probably the gentlest. This big fella let us pose and handle him with little complaint
IMG_5751 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_5748 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
GApine by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_5776 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
A young horridus
IMG_5975 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
And a little Diamondback
IMG_5983 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_6000 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
A pine exhibiting more typical defensive behavior
IMG_5875 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
angrypine by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Hefty Diamondback
IMG_6021 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
An even heftier cane found about 15 minutes after the diamondback
IMG_6060 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_6068 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Once July rolled around, canebrakes seemed to really start moving
IMG_6134 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_6147 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivust from Okefenokee
IMG_6313 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
And another species I finally got to see alive, Scarlet Snake Cemophora coccinea
IMG_6522 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnakes Sistrurus miliarius barbouri from Apalachicola and Okefenokee
IMG_6431 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_6444 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_6322 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7569 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7621 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7608 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Did I mention canebrakes had begun to move?
IMG_6756 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_6739 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
This awesome king found by Nick Scobel had an "outerbanks-ish" look to it
IMG_6715 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_6675 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
More Dback shots
IMG_7187 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7174 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_6245 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
I was fortunate enough to spend a week on Abaco in the Bahamas
Lots of time in the mangroves, helping with surveys
IMG_7066 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7004 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_6946 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_6939 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7097 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Only turned up one snake that I was able to get my hands on while searching for racers and boas: A little Blindsnake Typhlops lumbricalis I believe. I saw another snake, probably Alsophis, that got off the road before I could get to it.
IMG_7115 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Back in the states, a very pretty Canebrake from Osceola
IMG_7214 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7213 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7204 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7227 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7289 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7224 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
While photographing the cane, almost stepped on this tiny little Crayfish Snake Regina rigida
IMG_7260 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Coachwhip in habitat
IMG_6618 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_6624 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Canebrake in situ
IMG_7307 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Possibly the biggest Canebrake I've ever seen found crossing the road shortly after photographing the previous animal
IMG_7374 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7384 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7368 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7339 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
A nice looking Corn Snake Pantherophis guttatus
Pantherophis guttatus 001_BM by Billy Moore, on Flickr
An Apalachicola Copperhead
IMG_7647 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
And I guess I'll end on a Canebrake
IMG_7399 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
IMG_7468 by Billy Moore, on Flickr
Hopefully I'll get back on my feet in time for another trip or two before the season changes. Thanks for looking!
Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Moderator: Scott Waters
- FastSnake17
- Posts: 60
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 10:55 pm
- Location: Blacksburg, VA
- mtratcliffe
- Posts: 533
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- Location: Mt Laurel, NJ
Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
What are you talking about? Your photos are excellent! Lots of great snakes you've found there - thanks for sharing.
- John Martin
- Posts: 515
- Joined: June 9th, 2010, 10:57 pm
- Location: North end of Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
I agree, great photos and lots of beautiful animals. Are you sure that coachwhip you're lying beside isn't a stuffed specimen? I've never seen a coach quite that compliant.
Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Very nice. That simus takes the cake. What a stunner!
Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Great photos...loved the pines.
Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Good stuff, for sure. That simus is a beauty, and the basking pine is pretty cool too. Looks like you guys spent too much time road cruising and not enough time in the creek. No Macrochelys? Or any other turtles, for that matter?
- FastSnake17
- Posts: 60
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 10:55 pm
- Location: Blacksburg, VA
Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Thanks all,
John: That's a coworker of mine who is over 6' to put the length of the snake in perspective! That snake was caught in March I believe and maybe the relatively cool temps slowed him down a bit?
Kevin: Unfortunately, I completely wrecked my knee playing flag football back in June so after that, cruising was really my only option (though I did manage to do a little paddling here and there). Before the injury, I did get to see one gator snapper and plenty of barbour's, just didn't get any pictures of them. I definitely wanted to walk the creek as it was drying up but uneven ground was a no go.
John: That's a coworker of mine who is over 6' to put the length of the snake in perspective! That snake was caught in March I believe and maybe the relatively cool temps slowed him down a bit?
Kevin: Unfortunately, I completely wrecked my knee playing flag football back in June so after that, cruising was really my only option (though I did manage to do a little paddling here and there). Before the injury, I did get to see one gator snapper and plenty of barbour's, just didn't get any pictures of them. I definitely wanted to walk the creek as it was drying up but uneven ground was a no go.
Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
You run around with Dylan Kelly? LOL he's a great guy. Awesome post really cool finds and wonderful photography.
Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
I guess that is a valid excuse. That creek is awesome when it clears up, but walking the bank very far, even with functional knees, is near impossible.
- FastSnake17
- Posts: 60
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 10:55 pm
- Location: Blacksburg, VA
Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Thanks Justin! Yes, I worked with Dylan over the summer, we had some good times in the field for sure.
Kevin, I really wanted to walk BC when it had stopped flowing but still had some standing water. Not sure what I might have turned up but I was pretty excited to give it a shot. Maybe next year.. The waterdog did come from right around the confluence
Kevin, I really wanted to walk BC when it had stopped flowing but still had some standing water. Not sure what I might have turned up but I was pretty excited to give it a shot. Maybe next year.. The waterdog did come from right around the confluence
- walk-about
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Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
What an absolutely incredible post!!! Beautiful images and land(herp)scape photography. THank you so much for this post. Some of the pictures quite unique I think. I have never seen an eastern Cemophora that did not have some degree of dorsal lateral fusing of the triads (bands) as your specimen certainly did not. Looked very much like 'elapsoides' at first glance. So Cool.
Dave
Dave
- AndyKraemer
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Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Thanks for posting! I especially enjoyed the animal + habitat shots. I'm a sucker for those.
- Greg Theos
- Posts: 162
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Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Great observations!
Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Great stuff, thanks for sharing. I especially like that gray treefrog on the bark photo.