Season end report.
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Dell Despain
- Posts: 542
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 8:08 pm
- Location: Montana
Season end report.
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.
First Milk was an end of May cherry red multistrata found by my good friend, and forum member Cole Grover.
Thirty or forty feet away we found another Yellowstone County, Lampro. jewel.
We saw plenty of Prairie buzz-tails but this viridis was a handsome individual.
We had plenty of these little Killdeer neonates running around us at one point.
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
Pituophis catenifer
Carbon County has always been a tough place to find Milks in for Cole and I, until we found this spot.
Coluber constrictor
Another fat Prairie viridis.
A flipped Tiger, Ambystoma tigrinum.
Jumping over to Stillwater County with the same Milk hungry herpers.
Not to far from where the above Milks came from we found this Boidae.
Rubber boa, Charina bottae.
There is always room for dogs on these trips. Matt's dog Tricksy taking a break after a good big rock flip.
My Jack Russell terrier/terror Bob… he's murder on the mice on these trips.
Beer is a good thing after a hot day of herping.
After this trip I had to get myself back to work chasing scales and fins, and it was a busy year of trout fishing.
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.
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.
A few of the animals from these mountain environments.
Crotalus willardi silus, Mexican Ridge-nose Rattlesnake.
Crotalus willardi silus, Mexican Ridge-nose Rattlesnake.
Crotalus lepidus kaluberi, Banded Rock Rattlesnake.
Amblypygi damon diadema, Whip Scorpion.
Aphonopelma moorei, Copperhead tarantula.
Trimorphodon tau, Mexican Lyre snake.
Hypsiglena torquata, Night snake.
Crotalus molossus nigericens, Blacktail Rattlesnake.
Crotalus basiliscus, one button neonate.
Hyla wrightorum, Mountain tree frog.
Terrapene nelsoni, Spotted Box turtle.
Crappy shot of a very cool Earth snake.
Geophis dugesli aquilonaris
We moved from the mountains to a more tropical deciduous type forest.
Right away this move proved to be productive.
Micrurus distans, Mexican coral snake.
D.O.R. Lampropeltis triangulam sinaloae, Sinaloan milk snake. We found two of these heart breakers and missed them being live by mere minutes.
Rhinocheilus lecontei, Western long-nose snake.
Boa constrictor imperator, Boa constrictor, in situ.
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.
Close up of a Gopherus agassizii, Desert tortoise.
An in situ shot of a Oxybelis aeneus, Brown vine snake.
Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis, Black-necked Gartersnake with a T+ albino condition. Poor thing.
Here's a close up of what a "real" Black-neck is supposed to look like.
Masticophis mentovarius or flagellum, they often occur in the same habitat. Correct me if you like.
Whip-snakes are not the easiest snake to photograph.
Indigo habitat.
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.
Mike P. being impressed by the Cribo, with Tim W. smoking a celebratory cigar.
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.
Pachymedusa dacnicolor, Mexican Monkey frog.
Ctenosaura macrolopha, Sonora spiny-tailed Iguana.
aaah, Mexico.
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.
-Dell
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.
First Milk was an end of May cherry red multistrata found by my good friend, and forum member Cole Grover.
Thirty or forty feet away we found another Yellowstone County, Lampro. jewel.
We saw plenty of Prairie buzz-tails but this viridis was a handsome individual.
We had plenty of these little Killdeer neonates running around us at one point.
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
Pituophis catenifer
Carbon County has always been a tough place to find Milks in for Cole and I, until we found this spot.
Coluber constrictor
Another fat Prairie viridis.
A flipped Tiger, Ambystoma tigrinum.
Jumping over to Stillwater County with the same Milk hungry herpers.
Not to far from where the above Milks came from we found this Boidae.
Rubber boa, Charina bottae.
There is always room for dogs on these trips. Matt's dog Tricksy taking a break after a good big rock flip.
My Jack Russell terrier/terror Bob… he's murder on the mice on these trips.
Beer is a good thing after a hot day of herping.
After this trip I had to get myself back to work chasing scales and fins, and it was a busy year of trout fishing.
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.
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.
A few of the animals from these mountain environments.
Crotalus willardi silus, Mexican Ridge-nose Rattlesnake.
Crotalus willardi silus, Mexican Ridge-nose Rattlesnake.
Crotalus lepidus kaluberi, Banded Rock Rattlesnake.
Amblypygi damon diadema, Whip Scorpion.
Aphonopelma moorei, Copperhead tarantula.
Trimorphodon tau, Mexican Lyre snake.
Hypsiglena torquata, Night snake.
Crotalus molossus nigericens, Blacktail Rattlesnake.
Crotalus basiliscus, one button neonate.
Hyla wrightorum, Mountain tree frog.
Terrapene nelsoni, Spotted Box turtle.
Crappy shot of a very cool Earth snake.
Geophis dugesli aquilonaris
We moved from the mountains to a more tropical deciduous type forest.
Right away this move proved to be productive.
Micrurus distans, Mexican coral snake.
D.O.R. Lampropeltis triangulam sinaloae, Sinaloan milk snake. We found two of these heart breakers and missed them being live by mere minutes.
Rhinocheilus lecontei, Western long-nose snake.
Boa constrictor imperator, Boa constrictor, in situ.
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.
Close up of a Gopherus agassizii, Desert tortoise.
An in situ shot of a Oxybelis aeneus, Brown vine snake.
Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis, Black-necked Gartersnake with a T+ albino condition. Poor thing.
Here's a close up of what a "real" Black-neck is supposed to look like.
Masticophis mentovarius or flagellum, they often occur in the same habitat. Correct me if you like.
Whip-snakes are not the easiest snake to photograph.
Indigo habitat.
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.
Mike P. being impressed by the Cribo, with Tim W. smoking a celebratory cigar.
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.
Pachymedusa dacnicolor, Mexican Monkey frog.
Ctenosaura macrolopha, Sonora spiny-tailed Iguana.
aaah, Mexico.
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.
-Dell
- Cole Grover
- Posts: 746
- Joined: June 8th, 2010, 10:06 am
- Location: Montana
Re: Season end report.
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
-Cole
Re: Season end report.
Dell
Very nice post, looks like a very productive year! Maybe next year....
Matt
Very nice post, looks like a very productive year! Maybe next year....
Matt
- Daniel D Dye
- Posts: 1220
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 4:56 pm
- Location: New River (Brooker), Florida
- Contact:
Re: Season end report.
If I keep seeing these awesome western herps, I'm packing up and moving west.
Wonderful animals, Dell.
Daniel
Wonderful animals, Dell.
Daniel
Re: Season end report.
Well done Dell! That aquatic viridis gets "awesomer" every time I see it!
-Kris
-Kris
Re: Season end report.
awesome post Dell love tha multistrata such awesome snakes, Ive only found them in Nebraska, love those habitat pics too
Re: Season end report.
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.
Re: Season end report.
That first picture just kills me. Great post, that was an epic trip to Mexico!
- Carl Brune
- Posts: 488
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:22 am
- Location: Athens, OH
- Contact:
Re: Season end report.
Great post!
- Will Wells
- Posts: 275
- Joined: June 18th, 2010, 5:32 am
- Location: Arizona
- Contact:
Re: Season end report.
Nice series of photos. I like the swimming viridis and all the Meixcan herps. Thanks for sharing!
Re: Season end report.
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!
Looks like the tricolors follwed ya into Mexico. Although the coral and dor sinaloan were gorgeous, I think the Rhino wins!
Re: Season end report.
Those photos of the viridis swimming are awesome! Of course I love the Mexican crote & beaded photos! Great job
Re: Season end report.
Really great post, Dell.
Re: Season end report.
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.
Re: Season end report.
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.
Cigars, herps and Tim's camo pants. Does it get any better than that?
Nice job on the rescue.
- Mike Pingleton
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:45 am
- Location: One of the boys from Illinois
- Contact:
Re: Season end report.
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
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
Re: Season end report.
WOW---awesome Rhinocheilus! Great post!
Cameron
Cameron
- Dell Despain
- Posts: 542
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 8:08 pm
- Location: Montana
Re: Season end report.
Thanks Cole,you would have been a great addition to that trip, I bet you don't miss the next one.Cole Grover wrote:Good stuff all around, but I'm so damn jealous of that Mexico trip...
Thanks Matt, I hope we herp together next year. You have a PM in your mail box.Matt Cage wrote:Very nice post, looks like a very productive year! Maybe next year....
By looks of your last post you've already found all the Western herps. Thanks for the kind words Daniel.Daniel D Dye wrote:If I keep seeing these awesome western herps, I'm packing up and moving west.
Thanks Kris, that was such a great trip. Did you get my package? And last email about a spring trip?azatrox wrote:Well done Dell! That aquatic viridis gets "awesomer" every time I see it!
Thanks Brandon, as you know NE milks are top notch, and I always love seeing habitat photos in post too.Brandon D wrote:love tha multistrata such awesome snakes, Ive only found them in Nebraska, love those habitat pics too
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.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.
I knew you'd like this post Chad, thanks.chad ks wrote:That first picture just kills me. Great post, that was an epic trip to Mexico!
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.John Vanek wrote:Awesome! Was this guy part of a study?
Carl Brune: Thank you.
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.Will Wells wrote:Nice series of photos. I like the swimming viridis and all the Meixcan herps. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot Zach. I agree those Mexican Long-nose are impressive animals, and we found a number of them too.Zach_Lim wrote:Although the coral and dor sinaloan were gorgeous, I think the Rhino wins!
Norman, thanks again.Norman D wrote:Those photos of the viridis swimming are awesome! Of course I love the Mexican crote & beaded photos! Great job
Thank you Scott.ScottAL wrote:Really great post, Dell.
That'll make for a long, long post but I will if you will. Oh, and thanks for the kind words Brendan.Brendan wrote: Next time you need to explain exactly how, when and where you found each animal. It's only fair after all.
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.RobK wrote:Cigars, herps and Tim's camo pants. Does it get any better than that?
Shhhh. Don't say anything.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
Rivers as genetic barriers always gets a chuckle out of me too Mike.
That was a great trip buddy.
Thanks Cameron, I agree those Mexican Long-nose are beautiful animals.cayrip wrote:WOW---awesome Rhinocheilus! Great post!
-Dell
- Tim Borski
- Posts: 1855
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:28 am
- Location: FL Keys
- Contact:
Re: Season end report.
Dell, I'm speechless and feel that some-freaking-how, I didn't do enough this year.
The animals you encountered are absolutely incredible!! As for the hab shots...well, you probably know what I'm thinking.
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
The animals you encountered are absolutely incredible!! As for the hab shots...well, you probably know what I'm thinking.
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
Re: Season end report.
Very enjoyable post...
Anyone else notice how high in the water that rattlesnake was swimming?
Anyone else notice how high in the water that rattlesnake was swimming?
-
- Posts: 108
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:44 am
- Location: MA
Re: Season end report.
Thanks for sharing your Awesome year Dell! I am extremely envious.
Re: Season end report.
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.
Re: Season end report.
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
Re: Season end report.
Epic post Dell! Thats was quite a year to say the least. Thanks for the ride!
Phil
Phil
Re: Season end report.
Next time I'm buying you a hot dog.
-
- Posts: 57
- Joined: July 15th, 2010, 7:41 am
- Location: Beautiful Great Basin
Re: Season end report.
Nice milks. Nice post!
Re: Season end report.
As always,
I look forward to your posts..
Beautiful Photos, Herps, and country you live in..
Thanks for sharing them with us, and taking us along for the ride..
Fundad
I look forward to your posts..
Beautiful Photos, Herps, and country you live in..
Thanks for sharing them with us, and taking us along for the ride..
Fundad
- Mike Pingleton
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:45 am
- Location: One of the boys from Illinois
- Contact:
Re: Season end report.
TimCO wrote:Next time I'm buying you a hot dog.
- Mike Waters
- Posts: 835
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 12:37 pm
- Location: Bakersfield CA
Re: Season end report.
Incredible post, and some incredible finds. That longnose is smokin
- Dell Despain
- Posts: 542
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 8:08 pm
- Location: Montana
Re: Season end report.
Thanks Tim, but knowing how hard you work for fish and herps, I'll bet you did plenty.Tim Borski wrote:I'm speechless and feel that some-freaking-how, I didn't do enough this year.
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.Tim Borski wrote:! As for the hab shots...well, you probably know what I'm thinking.
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.-EJ wrote:Very enjoyable post...
Anyone else notice how high in the water that rattlesnake was swimming?
Has anyone else noticed this?
Ah shucks Joe, thanks. Drop me a line sometime and let me know how your animals are doing.Joe Mahoney wrote:Thanks for sharing your Awesome year Dell! I am extremely envious.
You have a good memory Matt, and we were all very happy with that big female boa find too.kcmatt wrote:was glad to see you get a Charina in there this year again also.
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.
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.
Ha, ha.... You got the package. You'll look good in those Depends poolside.TimCO wrote: Next time I'm buying you a hot dog.
Thanks, Flippin.Flippin Idiot wrote:Nice milks. Nice post!
Brian, thanks a lot for the kind words.Fundad wrote:I look forward to your posts..
Thanks Mike, and everyone seemed to like the Rhinocheilus l., here's another one.Mike Waters wrote: Incredible post, and some incredible finds. That longnose is smokin
-Dell
- Berkeley Boone
- Posts: 878
- Joined: June 8th, 2010, 4:02 am
Re: Season end report.
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
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