Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Posted: September 29th, 2015, 4:30 pm
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!
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!