Season end report.

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Dell Despain
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Season end report.

Post by Dell Despain »

Well I had a pretty good herping season, I didn't get out as much as some people on this forum, but w/ work, kids, and trout fishing of my own to take care of I had a busy if not productive season.
I like Lampropeltis triangulam in particular and try and focus a large part of my herping around the conditions of finding Pale Milk snakes. The right Milk-snake conditions came late to Montana this year because of a heavy spring rains, but once the sun stayed out for a few days the animals were more then ready to move up to warmer climes.

One of our many rainstorms moving in.
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First Milk was an end of May cherry red multistrata found by my good friend, and forum member Cole Grover.
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Thirty or forty feet away we found another Yellowstone County, Lampro. jewel.
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We saw plenty of Prairie buzz-tails but this viridis was a handsome individual.
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We had plenty of these little Killdeer neonates running around us at one point.
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A few days later we meet up with some out of town friends and hard core Milk-heads, and things really got busy then.
Yellowstone County, L. t. multistrata
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Pituophis catenifer
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Carbon County has always been a tough place to find Milks in for Cole and I, until we found this spot.
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Coluber constrictor
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Another fat Prairie viridis.
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A flipped Tiger, Ambystoma tigrinum.
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Jumping over to Stillwater County with the same Milk hungry herpers.
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Not to far from where the above Milks came from we found this Boidae.
Rubber boa, Charina bottae.
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There is always room for dogs on these trips. Matt's dog Tricksy taking a break after a good big rock flip.
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My Jack Russell terrier/terror Bob… he's murder on the mice on these trips.
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Beer is a good thing after a hot day of herping.
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After this trip I had to get myself back to work chasing scales and fins, and it was a busy year of trout fishing.
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I was able to see a few herpes every now and then while working, and got these photos of a Prairie Rattlesnake crossing the Bighorn.
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In August I was lucky enough to go to Sonora Mexico's Sierra Madre Occidental with a number of great herpers from this forum.
A few habitat shots.
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A few of the animals from these mountain environments.
Crotalus willardi silus, Mexican Ridge-nose Rattlesnake.
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Crotalus willardi silus, Mexican Ridge-nose Rattlesnake.
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Crotalus lepidus kaluberi, Banded Rock Rattlesnake.
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Amblypygi damon diadema, Whip Scorpion.
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Aphonopelma moorei, Copperhead tarantula.
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Trimorphodon tau, Mexican Lyre snake.
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Hypsiglena torquata, Night snake.
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Crotalus molossus nigericens, Blacktail Rattlesnake.
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Crotalus basiliscus, one button neonate.
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Hyla wrightorum, Mountain tree frog.
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Terrapene nelsoni, Spotted Box turtle.
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Crappy shot of a very cool Earth snake.
Geophis dugesli aquilonaris
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We moved from the mountains to a more tropical deciduous type forest.
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Right away this move proved to be productive.
Micrurus distans, Mexican coral snake.
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D.O.R. Lampropeltis triangulam sinaloae, Sinaloan milk snake. We found two of these heart breakers and missed them being live by mere minutes.
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Rhinocheilus lecontei, Western long-nose snake.
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Boa constrictor imperator, Boa constrictor, in situ.
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Heloderma horridum exasperatum, Mexican Beaded Lizard. Yes it was hot, and I'm sweating my balls off, but happy with the find and soon to be smoking a cigar in celebration.
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Close up of a Gopherus agassizii, Desert tortoise.
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An in situ shot of a Oxybelis aeneus, Brown vine snake.
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Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis, Black-necked Gartersnake with a T+ albino condition. Poor thing.
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Here's a close up of what a "real" Black-neck is supposed to look like.
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Masticophis mentovarius or flagellum, they often occur in the same habitat. Correct me if you like.
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Whip-snakes are not the easiest snake to photograph.
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Indigo habitat.
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Drymarchon corais, Indigo Snake. I think of all the animals seen this year this Indigo made the most impression on me. Thanks for a great find C.J.
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Mike P. being impressed by the Cribo, with Tim W. smoking a celebratory cigar.
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Speaking of Mike, I'll throw in a couple of herps with legs for him. ")
Smilisca fodiens. I'm not sure but I think it's common name is Duck billed.
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Pachymedusa dacnicolor, Mexican Monkey frog.
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Ctenosaura macrolopha, Sonora spiny-tailed Iguana.
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aaah, Mexico.
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If you're still with me here, thanks, your a patient person. I'll end on an Osprey I saved from drowning after I returned home from Mexico.
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-Dell
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Cole Grover
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Cole Grover »

Awesome post, Dell! I've been waiting for an end-of-year report from you! Since I didn't have a camera for most of the season, I was counting on your photos to commemorate the year. Good stuff all around, but I'm so damn jealous of that Mexico trip...

-Cole
Matt Cage
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Matt Cage »

Dell

Very nice post, looks like a very productive year! Maybe next year....

Matt
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Daniel D Dye
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Daniel D Dye »

If I keep seeing these awesome western herps, I'm packing up and moving west.

Wonderful animals, Dell.

Daniel
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azatrox
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Re: Season end report.

Post by azatrox »

Well done Dell! That aquatic viridis gets "awesomer" every time I see it! :)

-Kris
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Brandon D
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Brandon D »

awesome post Dell love tha multistrata such awesome snakes, Ive only found them in Nebraska, love those habitat pics too
:beer:
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justinm
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Re: Season end report.

Post by justinm »

Some of those multistrata look like animals I've seen in Western Kansas? At any rate this post was just ridiculous, you've had a good year.
chad ks
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Re: Season end report.

Post by chad ks »

That first picture just kills me. Great post, that was an epic trip to Mexico!
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Carl Brune
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Carl Brune »

Great post!
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Will Wells
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Will Wells »

Nice series of photos. I like the swimming viridis and all the Meixcan herps. Thanks for sharing!
Zach_Lim
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Zach_Lim »

Amazing finds. I was blown away by those bright red, very clean Yellowstone co. multistrata! Also, that habitat shot of Carbon co is awesome.

Looks like the tricolors follwed ya into Mexico. Although the coral and dor sinaloan were gorgeous, I think the Rhino wins!
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Norman D
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Norman D »

Those photos of the viridis swimming are awesome! Of course I love the Mexican crote & beaded photos! Great job
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ScottAL
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Re: Season end report.

Post by ScottAL »

Really great post, Dell.
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Brendan
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Brendan »

Great post Dell. Lots of nice eye candy mixed in there. Thanks for taking the time to post. Next time you need to explain exactly how, when and where you found each animal. It's only fair after all. :beer:
RobK

Re: Season end report.

Post by RobK »

What?!? No lipstick on any of the herps? C'mon Dell, get w/ the program.

Cigars, herps and Tim's camo pants. Does it get any better than that?

Nice job on the rescue. :thumb:
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Mike Pingleton
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Mike Pingleton »

Wow, talk about leading off with your best - those multis are smokin'!

I really dug those Rattler on the River shots - no genetic barrier, eh?

Finally, after careful analysis, and hours spent poring over Google Earth, I have deduced that you found some of those herps in the vicinity of a swimming pool. Haven't narrowed it dowon any further yet :)

-Mike
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cayrip
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Re: Season end report.

Post by cayrip »

WOW---awesome Rhinocheilus! Great post!

Cameron
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Dell Despain
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Dell Despain »

Cole Grover wrote:Good stuff all around, but I'm so damn jealous of that Mexico trip...
Thanks Cole,you would have been a great addition to that trip, I bet you don't miss the next one. ;)
Matt Cage wrote:Very nice post, looks like a very productive year! Maybe next year....
Thanks Matt, I hope we herp together next year. You have a PM in your mail box.
Daniel D Dye wrote:If I keep seeing these awesome western herps, I'm packing up and moving west.
By looks of your last post you've already found all the Western herps. Thanks for the kind words Daniel.
azatrox wrote:Well done Dell! That aquatic viridis gets "awesomer" every time I see it!
Thanks Kris, that was such a great trip. Did you get my package? And last email about a spring trip?
Brandon D wrote:love tha multistrata such awesome snakes, Ive only found them in Nebraska, love those habitat pics too
Thanks Brandon, as you know NE milks are top notch, and I always love seeing habitat photos in post too.
justinm wrote:Some of those multistrata look like animals I've seen in Western Kansas? At any rate this post was just ridiculous, you've had a good year.
Justin thanks, that's one reason we need subspecies so we don't mix up those dirty Kansas gentilis with our bright & clean Montana multistrata.
chad ks wrote:That first picture just kills me. Great post, that was an epic trip to Mexico!
I knew you'd like this post Chad, thanks.
John Vanek wrote:Awesome! Was this guy part of a study?
John, at first I didn't know what the hell you were talking about but then I saw the red on the first button. No this lep. is in it's true Mexican wild colors and not a study animal. Here's a better shot of the tail.
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Carl Brune: Thank you.
Will Wells wrote:Nice series of photos. I like the swimming viridis and all the Meixcan herps. Thanks for sharing!
Will, my series of photos pales in comparison to your post but thanks. You know I see viridis swimming the river every year, I really need to try and get more photo documentation of those event when they happen.
Zach_Lim wrote:Although the coral and dor sinaloan were gorgeous, I think the Rhino wins!
Thanks a lot Zach. I agree those Mexican Long-nose are impressive animals, and we found a number of them too.
Norman D wrote:Those photos of the viridis swimming are awesome! Of course I love the Mexican crote & beaded photos! Great job
Norman, thanks again.
ScottAL wrote:Really great post, Dell.
Thank you Scott.
Brendan wrote: Next time you need to explain exactly how, when and where you found each animal. It's only fair after all.
That'll make for a long, long post but I will if you will. ;) Oh, and thanks for the kind words Brendan.
RobK wrote:Cigars, herps and Tim's camo pants. Does it get any better than that?
I meant to point out those pants, those are the strangest camo pants I've ever seen before, but you know Tim he's no slave to fashion.
Mike Pingleton wrote:Finally, after careful analysis, and hours spent poring over Google Earth, I have deduced that you found some of those herps in the vicinity of a swimming pool. Haven't narrowed it dowon any further yet
Shhhh. Don't say anything.
Rivers as genetic barriers always gets a chuckle out of me too Mike.
That was a great trip buddy.
cayrip wrote:WOW---awesome Rhinocheilus! Great post!
Thanks Cameron, I agree those Mexican Long-nose are beautiful animals.

-Dell
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Tim Borski
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Tim Borski »

Dell, I'm speechless and feel that some-freaking-how, I didn't do enough this year. :oops:
The animals you encountered are absolutely incredible!! As for the hab shots...well, you probably know what I'm thinking. :lol:

It's been three years since I've been to MX in the summer...I've begun to see this as a problem and will address it in 2012.

Tim
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-EJ
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Re: Season end report.

Post by -EJ »

Very enjoyable post...

Anyone else notice how high in the water that rattlesnake was swimming?
Joe Mahoney
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Joe Mahoney »

Thanks for sharing your Awesome year Dell! I am extremely envious.
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kcmatt
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Re: Season end report.

Post by kcmatt »

Awesome stuff, Dell. Great multistrata specimens and habitat shots, was glad to see you get a Charina in there this year again also. Mexico must have been an incredible time. Makes me anticipate a foray into the tropics even more (I'm getting a Costa Rica shot next year!) Would love to do that Sonoran/sinaloan stuff sometime. The micrurus, Drymarchon, heloderm, Pachymedusa (hope you are getting sold on what the amphibs have to offer!) would have been awesome to find. Thanks for posting the triangulum albeit DOR, wouldn't mind seeing the other if you got a shot also! Thanks, great year.
gmerker
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Re: Season end report.

Post by gmerker »

Looks like you had an awesome year! That long nose snake was exquisite! As were the milks, the boa constrictors, the frogs, the beaded...and on and on...thanks for sharing, gmerker
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Phil Peak
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Phil Peak »

Epic post Dell! Thats was quite a year to say the least. Thanks for the ride!

Phil
TimCO
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Re: Season end report.

Post by TimCO »

Next time I'm buying you a hot dog.
Flippin Idiot
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Flippin Idiot »

Nice milks. Nice post!
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Fundad
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Fundad »

As always,

I look forward to your posts..

:thumb: :beer:

Beautiful Photos, Herps, and country you live in..

Thanks for sharing them with us, and taking us along for the ride..

Fundad
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Mike Pingleton
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Mike Pingleton »

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
TimCO wrote:Next time I'm buying you a hot dog.
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Mike Waters
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Mike Waters »

Incredible post, and some incredible finds. That longnose is smokin
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Dell Despain
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Dell Despain »

Tim Borski wrote:I'm speechless and feel that some-freaking-how, I didn't do enough this year.
Thanks Tim, but knowing how hard you work for fish and herps, I'll bet you did plenty.
Tim Borski wrote:! As for the hab shots...well, you probably know what I'm thinking.
Here you go buddy, I thought you'd like this line of rock behind this herping Milk-head. L. t. multistrata, C. viridis v., C. bottae, P. catenifer, and the list goes on, all in that thin line of rock behind him.
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-EJ wrote:Very enjoyable post...

Anyone else notice how high in the water that rattlesnake was swimming?
Thanks EJ, glad you liked the post. Over the years I've probably seen a dozen C. v. viridis, and three dozen Bull-snakes swim the river. The two species look like they have puffed up w/ air through their body to help them float higher while swimming across. The Pituophis are doing it (in my opinion) for sure as I've picked up many in their crossing and they seem to deflate in the boat while being ferried to shore.
Has anyone else noticed this?
Joe Mahoney wrote:Thanks for sharing your Awesome year Dell! I am extremely envious.
Ah shucks Joe, thanks. Drop me a line sometime and let me know how your animals are doing.
kcmatt wrote:was glad to see you get a Charina in there this year again also.
You have a good memory Matt, and we were all very happy with that big female boa find too.
I've come around the bend now, and really enjoy the herps w/ legs now. :)
Here's the other L. t. sinaloae shot. In hindsight I regret not taking the time to pose this one too.
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Thanks Gerald Merker and Phil Peak, coming from two guys that work hard to find herps, and do great posts, your complements mean a lot.
TimCO wrote: Next time I'm buying you a hot dog.
Ha, ha.... You got the package. You'll look good in those Depends poolside. :lol:
Flippin Idiot wrote:Nice milks. Nice post!
Thanks, Flippin.
Fundad wrote:I look forward to your posts..
Brian, thanks a lot for the kind words.
Mike Waters wrote: Incredible post, and some incredible finds. That longnose is smokin
Thanks Mike, and everyone seemed to like the Rhinocheilus l., here's another one.
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-Dell
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Berkeley Boone
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Re: Season end report.

Post by Berkeley Boone »

Dell-
That was amazing. I really enjoyed your photographs, and your photographic style too! That was quite the productive year.
Thanks for sharing that with us, man!
--Berkeley
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