I recently made my second trip to the NJ Pine Barrens after moving to MD a month ago. While it is nothing like NC in terms of herp diversity/density, I am starting to fall in love with the area. What gorgeous landscapes and the hunting there is fun as well!
I met up with a few friends, and we turned up two Northern Pinesnakes (Pituophis melanoleucus), a ratty-looking Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula), a Black Racer (Coluber constrictor), and a bunch of Fowler's toads and Pickerel Frogs. The two pines more than made up for the slow day...I was super stoked!
Pine numero uno
Northern Pinesnake by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Pine numero dos
Northern Pinesnake in habitat by santosh_shanmuga, on Flickr
Love affair with the Pines
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Kyle from Carolina
- Posts: 221
- Joined: May 3rd, 2012, 8:12 pm
- Location: western MA and NC
Re: Love affair with the Pines
Good photos. I wonder if those pines like to hiss like the bulls and gophers.
On another note, I also went from NC to MD a few years back, before starting grad studies. I've since left but I found the herping in MD to be fun, despite the general over-crowdedness of the state. If you get a chance, head down to the southern eastern shore. They've got a little bit of cypress swamp and lots of paddling. The nerodia in those parts are quite pretty.
On another note, I also went from NC to MD a few years back, before starting grad studies. I've since left but I found the herping in MD to be fun, despite the general over-crowdedness of the state. If you get a chance, head down to the southern eastern shore. They've got a little bit of cypress swamp and lots of paddling. The nerodia in those parts are quite pretty.
- orionmystery
- Posts: 674
- Joined: December 26th, 2012, 11:48 pm
- Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Contact:
Re: Love affair with the Pines
Very nice! I should really try wide angle close-up/macro, but I only herp at night.
Re: Love affair with the Pines
Great shots, two pines in a day seems like a good haul. Any shots of the other species you found? I can wait to get down to the pine barrens one of these days.
Re: Love affair with the Pines
These guys were pretty calm, but I heard they can be pretty hissy and cranky when they emerge from their dens in the spring. The pines I've found in NC have been pretty calm as well.Kyle from Carolina wrote:Good photos. I wonder if those pines like to hiss like the bulls and gophers.
On another note, I also went from NC to MD a few years back, before starting grad studies. I've since left but I found the herping in MD to be fun, despite the general over-crowdedness of the state. If you get a chance, head down to the southern eastern shore. They've got a little bit of cypress swamp and lots of paddling. The nerodia in those parts are quite pretty.
I live in Bethesda, so I actually have some decent herping within an hour of me. Fairfax co VA has some great spots, and I can always jet over to the western shore or Delmarva. Plus PA and the Pines
Re: Love affair with the Pines
No shots of the king or racer. The king had a pretty bad fungal infection going on and that racer was my 34873493829th for the year so I didn't photograph him lolNACairns wrote:Great shots, two pines in a day seems like a good haul. Any shots of the other species you found? I can wait to get down to the pine barrens one of these days.
- mtratcliffe
- Posts: 533
- Joined: January 19th, 2014, 4:34 pm
- Location: Mt Laurel, NJ
Re: Love affair with the Pines
Great shots! I need to make it back to the Pine Barrens one day.