After a rather mild, yet unproductive winter, this season has started off pretty good over here in Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma...
January started off with just nothing more than Oklahoma and Southern redbacked salamanders.
Eurycea tynerensis - Oklahoma salamander
Eurycea tynerensis by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
During the last week in February, we ended up with some decent temps that lasted a couple days so I decided it was time to get the first snake of the season.
A pair of these guys made an appearance under a large door I had laid out last year...
Diadophis punctatus arnyi - Prairie ringneck
Diadophis punctatus arnyi by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Diadophis punctatus arnyi - Defensive display by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
One of which actually latched on and tried to chew for a few...
Diadophis punctatus arnyi by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Blanchard's cricket frogs have been ever present just about everywhere, although I've never really taken the time to shoot one..
Acris (crepitans) blanchardi = Blanchard's cricket frog
A. c. blanchardi by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
A couple weeks ago, my buddy Brad and I went out to rack up a couple sallie lifers I've been behind on since moving out here.
Eurycea longicauda melanopleura - Dark sided salamander (Tiny individual)
Eurycea longicauda melanopleura by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Eurycea lucifuga - Cave salamander
Eurycea lucifuga by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Bats were also common near the entrances to the mines we were looking around.
Perimyotis subflavus - Tricolored bat.
Perimyotis subflavus by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
and this still positively UnID'd bat as well.
Nycticeius? by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
With a couple days in the 70's and a forecast in the 80's... and us all having the day off, we decided to check on some particular den sites to see what was happening.
Turns out we hit it perfectly, turning up 5 individuals, at least one of which we believe to be a previously found/studied animal and discovered a new den.
Crotalus atrox - Western diamondback rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
It seems you can't find atrox without finding their counterparts. We ended up seeing 4 throughout the day, one even utilizing the same crack as
C. atrox.
Masticophis (=Coluber) flagellum flagellum - Eastern coachwhip
Masticophis (=Coluber) flagellum flagellum by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
A couple natricines were seen out basking.
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis - Eastern garters
I almost stepped on this hideous little guy
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
This larger, much better looking individual was also found.
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Not too long after, another friend, Eric East, and I went to check out a glade nearby. After the obligatory Rough earths, ringers, and Dekays, we spotted this guy just hangin' out.
Pantherophis obsoletus - Western ratsnake, in situ.
Pantherophis obsoletus in situ by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Things have been heating up a bit more the past couple weeks...
Worm snakes have been ever present just about everywhere... this juvie is the only one I've messed with this year though...
Carphophis vermis by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
I finally went on my first night walk of the year during an 80 degree night we recently had and it ended up going pretty well..
After searching high and low in the River Valley for rhombifer last year, finally finding one in October, it was pretty cool to see this sight a couple weeks ago...
Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
I don't really care about bugs, but these orb weavers have been just about everywhere I've walked at night so far and I always walk right into 'em....
Untitled by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Although I've only heard the calling so far (haven't seen it), Dwarf American toads have been making their presence pretty well known...
Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
After failing to catch the
rhombifer for better photos, I was pleased to find this little Yellowbelly foraging in the mud:
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
This little slider was also poking around the shallows:
Trachemys scripta elegans by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
That night is also the first time I've gotten the "Nerodia Trifecta" and found all three Nerodia species that inhabit this part of the state. I rounded it out with this little Midland...
Nerodia sipedon pleuralis by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
I ended up going back a few nights later to see if that rhombifer was still hanging around, which it wasn't, but this yellowbelly was (in situ):
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
For anyone that hasn't experienced
erythrogaster in the wild, they are truly the devil incarnate... this is another individual found that night... and yes that's my blood. There was plenty more where it came from.
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
This big stub (ALSO seen that night) was a brute:
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
With a face only a herper could love:
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
This roughie also made an appearance that night. As common as they can be, it's hard to tire of these little guys:
Opheodrys aestivus aestivus by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
This oddly patterned bullfrog was in the ditch in front of my house one night:
Lithobates catesbeianus by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Speckled kings have been making a regular appearance at a couple glade spots I've herped. These are all different animals:
Lampropeltis getula holbrooki by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Lampropeltis getula holbrooki by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Lampropeltis getula holbrooki by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Lampropeltis getula holbrooki by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
I was starting to wonder why everyone has been seeing racers except for me, then one afternoon I flipped this nice, blueish fella:
Coluber constrictor priapus by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Narrowmouths, although not calling yet, have been showing up under the rocks border a glade:
Gastrophryne carolinensis by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
For the nearly two years now that I've lived in Arkansas, I've really wanted to flip a milk within state limits. I ended up flipping a couple in Oklahoma last year, but I've been working hard for an Arkansas milk...
Today, Eric East and I ended up heading to a spot south a little bit and at the very first cut we hit, I flipped this little guy:
Lampropeltis triangulum syspila by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Under a discarded round table at a trashsite we know of, this garter was working on digesting something massive:
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
These awesome little endemic salamanders were also a common sight at this spot. They're only found within the confines of this one somewhat small mountain range.
Plethodon ouachitae by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Plethodon ouachitae by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
Milk number two came maybe half a mile from that spot:
Lampropeltis triangulum syspila by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
After that 2nd cut, we headed a little ways over into Oklahoma to a cut I flipped my first milk at last year and Eric flipped this beast:
Lampropeltis triangulum syspila by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
and shortly after, I flipped my third Easter milk, which was number 4 for the day:
Lampropeltis triangulum syspila by michaelrayspencer, on Flickr
That just about wraps it up, save for the massive amount of everpresent ringers and earth snakes...
Mon 9 Apr - 14:14
