Last post: http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/vie ... =2&t=22601
Been a while since i've posted here. (about 6 months it seems). First, towards the end of last year while hiking my favorite power line I stumbled across a few rookery rocks featuring mom's + babies:
Baby Timber Rattlesnakes by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Mom + baby Timber Rattelsnakes by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Those were my last snakes of 2015, and I spent the winter inside. Spring has finally come, though it has been a strange one, and a bit of a slower start than most years.
Early March is usually hit or miss but once the middle of the month comes things are normally in full swing.. this year, in early March, kings started making an appearance. Kevin Messenger and I took to the power line and turned up a pair basking together in no time:
Black Kingsnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Black Kingsnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
On the way back to the car, this rat snake was out cruising the power line:
Gray Rat Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
A week or so later I visited a particular swampy area that is settled close to the Tennessee River. Heres a Midland I turned up in rocky habitat along the river:
Midland Water Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Also turned up this Eastern Ribbon Snake:
Eastern Ribbon Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Colder weather set in for the next week and a half, and kept me indoors until late March. One afternoon I went out to flip a bit of artificial cover and turned up a couple snakes in the process:
Eastern Garter Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Southern Black Racer by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Southern Black Racer by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Then, came April. April is pretty much the month of Kingsnakes in my area. i've seen close to 20 in the last few weeks. One overcast day I turned up another, as well as another Gray Rat Snake
Black Kingsnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Black Kingsnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Gray Rat Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
2 days later, 3 more kings:
Black Kingsnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Black Kingsnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Black Kingsnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
I managed to get a change of scenery one weekend and met up with Adam Cooner, Tamara & Ray McConnell, Robb Herrington, and a few others down in central and south alabama. 2 days, lots of snakes:
Smooth Earth Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Gray Rat Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Tamara by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Southeastern Crowned Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Eastern King Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Cottonmouth by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Cottonmouth by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Redbelly Water Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Redbelly Water Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Brown Water Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Gray Rat Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Cottonmouth by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Red Milk Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Red Milk Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Red Milk Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Gray Rat Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Earlier this week, Kevin and I were back at it on the power line, hoping for our first Timber of the year. About 3 weeks late, we finally found our target:
Timber Rattlesnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Timber Rattlesnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Oh, and more kings were found too
Black Kingsnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Black Kingsnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
We also found this Rat Snake laying in wait, likely for a squirrel or some rodent to take a wrong turn:
Grat Rat Snake - In-situ by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
And earlier today, before some rain set in, I turned up a couple Ribbon Snakes:
Eastern Ribbon Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Eastern Ribbon Snake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr
Happy spring and thanks for looking!
Alabama thus far 2016
Moderator: Scott Waters
-
- Posts: 174
- Joined: August 14th, 2011, 6:26 pm
- Location: North Alabama
-
- Posts: 2248
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:42 am
Re: Alabama thus far 2016
So many great finds and photos...but the red milks are just stupendous. WOW!
- dwakefield
- Posts: 122
- Joined: February 18th, 2015, 11:11 am
- Location: Deerfield Beach, Florida
- Contact:
Re: Alabama thus far 2016
Love all those kingsnakes especially! Great photos!
-
- Posts: 2
- Joined: February 8th, 2016, 11:42 am
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
Re: Alabama thus far 2016
Fun finds! Beautiful snakes!
So Far, So Good!
Three species of kingsnake in one state! It's just not fair!!!
What fun it must be driving to different places in the state, experiencing the different species along the way. I've never seen a Black nor Speckles Kingsnake ever, for sale or in any collection.
Must be nice living in the South, y'all.
1.0 Florida Kingsnake
0.1 Sonoran Desert Boa (Mexican Rosy Boa)
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
1.0 Three-toed Box Turtle
What fun it must be driving to different places in the state, experiencing the different species along the way. I've never seen a Black nor Speckles Kingsnake ever, for sale or in any collection.
Must be nice living in the South, y'all.
1.0 Florida Kingsnake
0.1 Sonoran Desert Boa (Mexican Rosy Boa)
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
1.0 Three-toed Box Turtle
-
- Posts: 174
- Joined: August 14th, 2011, 6:26 pm
- Location: North Alabama
Re: So Far, So Good!
There's actually more in the state, that I havent found yet this year, but typically do each year - Eastern Milk Snake, Scarlet Kingsnake, Mole/Prairie Kingsnake, Speckled Kingsnake, Alabama is a pretty cool placeAmeron wrote:Three species of kingsnake in one state! It's just not fair!!!
What fun it must be driving to different places in the state, experiencing the different species along the way. I've never seen a Black nor Speckles Kingsnake ever, for sale or in any collection.
Must be nice living in the South, y'all.
1.0 Florida Kingsnake
0.1 Sonoran Desert Boa (Mexican Rosy Boa)
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
1.0 Three-toed Box Turtle