( I already posted this on another site, but thought I'd share it here for those who haven't seen it)
Just wanted to share some photos of some of the herps/non herps we came across. But first, let me start from the beginning of our venture...
Monday night we got to Blanchard, OK (near Oklahoma City)...here we spent a few days with my mom before going to Austin. When we got there Andrew checked his e-mail and much to our surprise we got an e-mail from Larry Boyle, who is the caregiver/manager for Tim Tytle's gecko collection (one of the largest in the country!), anyway Larry invited us to come see the collection, since we were so close to Oklahoma City. So of course we took him up on this opportunity...and ended up just hanging out at Tim's place for about 3 hours. It was very cool ( a big Thanks to Larry and Tim)...we got a couple of pictures but there was far too many things for us to get pictures of it all, but here is one of his leachies. It is a WC GT female...she was huge!!! This is her on my forearm...
Later that day we went cruising along some backroads trying to figure out how to get down to the Canadian River. We didnt find our way down to the river until dusk so we decided to save that exploring for the next day. Here is an ornate box turtle that we found walking across one of the backroads...very pretty little guy
Next, Andrew came across this...tarantula
...(against a paper background)
and I absolutely do not like spiders one bit...but I still got the guts to hold it! yuck...
We ended up finding a couple of those but the second was a bit more agressive, so we left him alone... So the next day we found our way down to the Canadian River here is a pic. to give you an idea of where we explored that day...we probably walked a good 3 miles or so along the river...
We only came across a Red-Ear Slider...he wasn't too happy with us
And, also came across what we think to be a Diamond back water snake ...(not for certain though)
Next day...we went to Gloss Mountain State Park in Oklahoma. Didn't find any snakes but found two 6-ft sheds and lots of evidence (poop) that snakes were around...guessing there are quite a few diamond back rattle snakes there, but I think it was too hot to come across any... but we were lucky enough to come across four collared lizards first two are female (the yellow one was a chunk...she had to be about ready to lay) and the third is a male.
These were all taken when we went field herping with some of the guys that were also at the symposium.
This was all we found alive the first night...but it didnt last long, it had gotten hit by a car or something, and was in its last moments of life...This is a young Copperhead (broad band), very pretty snake, its a shame it got hit...
The second night we went herping we left at about 8:30 pm and didnt get back til about 5:30 am...it made for a long long drive, but it was still a ton of fun...I dont regret it one bit! Here is a toad we found...I don't think we did ever get the actual kind of toad , so if anyone knows please feel free to chime in...all I know is it was quite large!
We also saw a good half dozen Checkered Garter snakes but didnt get any pictures...The only rattle snake we saw, was a dead one...they identified it as a western diamond back rattle snake, very neat snake, too bad it got hit.
So I think that is it, herp-wise anyway...I gotta post this picture though . I have never ever seen a LIVE armadillo, I only ever see bits and pieces spread through out the road after they've been pulvarized, which is just gross. But when we were out herping Andrew, Aaron and I came across one, proof that they do live ...so we had to get out and get a picture. They have got to be one of the strangest looking creatures, and actually quite cute when they are all in one piece...
So anyway I hope you all enjoy the pictures...We had a ton of fun.
For those who couldn't make it to the Geckophile Gathering, I would greatly recommend coming next year, it was awesome! There wasn't a huge turn out but it was still great being able to spend a little more one on one time with the speakers and the other geckophiles. The speakers were awesome! All the topics were well thought out and very interesting. (I believe we are going to be getting most of the power points from the speakers, so if anyone is interested let Andrew or I know, and we should be able to get them to you via e-mail or something).
And, finally a big thanks to Nathan Hall, for preparing everything...a job very well done...
and for all you other geckophiles....we hope to see you there next year!
Just wanted to share some photos of some of the herps/non herps we came across. But first, let me start from the beginning of our venture...
Monday night we got to Blanchard, OK (near Oklahoma City)...here we spent a few days with my mom before going to Austin. When we got there Andrew checked his e-mail and much to our surprise we got an e-mail from Larry Boyle, who is the caregiver/manager for Tim Tytle's gecko collection (one of the largest in the country!), anyway Larry invited us to come see the collection, since we were so close to Oklahoma City. So of course we took him up on this opportunity...and ended up just hanging out at Tim's place for about 3 hours. It was very cool ( a big Thanks to Larry and Tim)...we got a couple of pictures but there was far too many things for us to get pictures of it all, but here is one of his leachies. It is a WC GT female...she was huge!!! This is her on my forearm...
Later that day we went cruising along some backroads trying to figure out how to get down to the Canadian River. We didnt find our way down to the river until dusk so we decided to save that exploring for the next day. Here is an ornate box turtle that we found walking across one of the backroads...very pretty little guy
Next, Andrew came across this...tarantula
...(against a paper background)
and I absolutely do not like spiders one bit...but I still got the guts to hold it! yuck...
We ended up finding a couple of those but the second was a bit more agressive, so we left him alone... So the next day we found our way down to the Canadian River here is a pic. to give you an idea of where we explored that day...we probably walked a good 3 miles or so along the river...
We only came across a Red-Ear Slider...he wasn't too happy with us
And, also came across what we think to be a Diamond back water snake ...(not for certain though)
Next day...we went to Gloss Mountain State Park in Oklahoma. Didn't find any snakes but found two 6-ft sheds and lots of evidence (poop) that snakes were around...guessing there are quite a few diamond back rattle snakes there, but I think it was too hot to come across any... but we were lucky enough to come across four collared lizards first two are female (the yellow one was a chunk...she had to be about ready to lay) and the third is a male.
These were all taken when we went field herping with some of the guys that were also at the symposium.
This was all we found alive the first night...but it didnt last long, it had gotten hit by a car or something, and was in its last moments of life...This is a young Copperhead (broad band), very pretty snake, its a shame it got hit...
The second night we went herping we left at about 8:30 pm and didnt get back til about 5:30 am...it made for a long long drive, but it was still a ton of fun...I dont regret it one bit! Here is a toad we found...I don't think we did ever get the actual kind of toad
, so if anyone knows please feel free to chime in...all I know is it was quite large!
We also saw a good half dozen Checkered Garter snakes but didnt get any pictures...The only rattle snake we saw, was a dead one...they identified it as a western diamond back rattle snake, very neat snake, too bad it got hit.
So I think that is it, herp-wise anyway...I gotta post this picture though
. I have never ever seen a LIVE armadillo, I only ever see bits and pieces spread through out the road after they've been pulvarized, which is just gross. But when we were out herping Andrew, Aaron and I came across one, proof that they do live ...so we had to get out and get a picture. They have got to be one of the strangest looking creatures, and actually quite cute when they are all in one piece...
So anyway I hope you all enjoy the pictures...We had a ton of fun.
For those who couldn't make it to the Geckophile Gathering, I would greatly recommend coming next year, it was awesome! There wasn't a huge turn out but it was still great being able to spend a little more one on one time with the speakers and the other geckophiles. The speakers were awesome! All the topics were well thought out and very interesting. (I believe we are going to be getting most of the power points from the speakers, so if anyone is interested let Andrew or I know, and we should be able to get them to you via e-mail or something).
And, finally a big thanks to Nathan Hall, for preparing everything...a job very well done...
and for all you other geckophiles....we hope to see you there next year!
