Herping the Tracks, Autumn 2005(continued)


Shawnee King


Hognose


"Where did that racer get to?"


Slimy Salamander

After getting back to our vehicles we headed into the nearest town to re-hydrate and take a breather.  Our next stop was a nearby junkpile, one usually good for Southern Black Racers and Shawnee Kings.  Each time we visit there seems to more 'junk' there - more roofing tin, more plywood, and so on.  I'm sure we're not the only herpers visiting the place on a regular basis.

We didn't turn up anything more substantial than a couple fresh racer sheds.  Given the heat of the day, we weren't too surprised.  At this point it was time for Ryan and his dad and brother to start heading for home.  Ryan was a bit disappointed in not seeing any Kingsnakes this trip, and this led to a final bit of irony.  Mike, Steve and I decided to head up the road to check out some nearby rock ledges, and as soon as the Thies car cleared the hill going away from us, Mike stopped his vehicle to pick up a very nice Shawnee King!  I tried to call Ryan on the cell, but there was no service in the area. Missed it by that much, as the saying goes.

We headed over to the ledges and had a few interesting finds, including a little Eastern Hognose, which promptly flipped over into 'death mode' as soon as it sensed my approach.  I would have liked to get a few pictures of the wee beastie.  While watching it,  I caught motion out of the corner of my eye as a Southern Black Racer glided under a large chunk of immovable limestone. 

The sun dropping behind the hills signaled the end of our work on the ledges.  Time for Steve and I to think about heading for home.  Mike and his little pup had one more day; they headed back towards Pine Hills, and we headed north in search of some supper.  It hadn't been the best of trips, but we still had a good time and got to herp with some good people.

Species Observed:

Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma)
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus)
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis)
Northern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus)
Prairie Racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus viridis)
Ground Skink (Scincella laterale)
Fivelined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Fowler's Toad (Bufo fowleri)
Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi)
Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala)
Birdvoiced Treefrog (Hyla avivoca)
Cave Salamander (Eurycea lucifuga)
Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
Narrowmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum)
Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
 

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