Jordan's Herp Adventures: January 2011

Saturday, January 22, 2011

January 22, 2011 Chinsegut Nature Center

Got to go to my favorite nature center in Florida today. Chinsegut Nature Center is one of the last pristine places in Central Florida. It is home to many kinds of birds, and of course; reptiles and amphibians. It is a very diverse reserve. There are Cypress swamps, Longleaf Pines, Sandhill, and Oak forests.

Cypress Trees
Copyright: Jordan Schmitt

Longleaf Pine
Copyright: Jordan Schmitt

I was really hoping to find some cool herps today. As I was walking down a path on the side of a Longleaf Pine openings, I found something I never thought I'd find today. Im pretty use to seeing this particular creature in the summer, but no, not today. On the side of a tree was a male Southern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus undulatus).

Seeing the Southern Fence Lizard was a good find for me. The temperature was about 60 degrees out today, so I wasn't even thinking I'd see a lizard today. My main goal for today was to find May's Prairie. After walking for a very long time I finally reached May's Prairie. The last time I was here was in 2005, but there was something different about it today. Although it was a beautiful place, it was dried out. I believe the only way it can return to the water levels it once had if we get some more hurricanes here.

When I got there, I heard the calls of Sandhill Cranes. The Sandhill Crane is a large wading bird that is a common sight to see around here in Florida. Sandhill Cranes can be easily identified by the light brown coloring and the red topped head.

The head of a Sandhill Crane.
Copyright: Jordan Schmitt

As I was walking in a mixed forest, I could hear a woodpecker pecking at a tree and calling. I looked around for awile until I saw something moving up a tree. It was a small species of woodpecker also known as the Downy Woodpecker. There a little less common the Red- Coacked Woodpecker, so it was a honor to observe one of these woodpeckers in the wild.

One of my last things I did at the reserve today was I found a huge dead pine tree. I found three cool animals underneath the bark. I found a pair of Wood Roaches, which are armor plated. I found a Florida Bark Scorpion, which has a painful sting, but unlike its Arizona cousin, its venom is weaker than the Arizona Bark Scorpion. The last was a Bombadier Beetle, which literally shoots a stream of acidic spray out of its abodomen.

Wood Roaches
Copyright: Jordan Schmitt

Bombadier Beetle
Copyright: Jordan Schmitt

Florida Bark Scorpion
Copyright: Jordan Schmitt

I hope to return to Chinsegut when it gets warm again. It is the best place to find a lot of species of reptiles and amphibians. Its always a place where memories are made.

Monday, January 17, 2011

January 16, 2010 First Herping Trip of the year.

Well, check this out, I went to the Withlachochee State Trail today with my step-dad. The temperature was about 71 degrees with a light wind. The sun was shining and I was thinking today would be a good day of herping. We walked for a long time, and we found a lot of good habitats, and we found a lot of good vernal pools that would be good to come back to during the summer when it fills up. We were currently walking around in a Cypress forest.

I found a fallen pine tree with some loose bark on it hoping to find a cool herp underneath it. After ripping the bark off the pine tree I spotted this cool Hyla known as the Pine Woods Treefrog.

This was the second time I've found one of these treefrogs. I haven't seen a Pine Woods Treefrog since 2007 while on a field trip to Chinsegut Nature Center.

I was really hoping to find some Eastern Coral Snakes today, but it didn't happen. I knew of people who have found them, but I can't wait until I find one. I have only found DORs (dead on road). I hope to return to this place and do a lot better than I did today.

Still a good day though, the Pine Woods Treefrog was a good find, but hope to find even better herps next time.

Friday, January 14, 2011

January 14, 2010 first post

Well not reallyanything significant to put up here today. Since this is my first post I might as well put up my objectives for 2011. In 2011, I really hope to do well, 2010 was a decent year, but it could've been better for me. Here are some of my objectives and field studies I'll be doing soon.
1. Eastern Indigo Snakes- study their habits, habitats, and so forth
2. Southern Hognose Snakes- study their habits, habitats, find secret places where they're most abundant.
3. The rare Eastern Tiger Salamander of Hernando County- Only 10 have been found in the last 20 years. One was found again last year, and my hopes are high for finding one. I also hope to collect one to observe habits.
4. Greater Siren Salamanders- find good ponds with a steady population, also hope to collect one and observe feeding habits, and maybe even find a pair and observe breeding habits.
5. Florida Cottonmouths- just find a place where I can go to observe one of my favorite North American pit vipers. Extreme caution must be taken, as their strike range is quite long, and there very unpredictable.
6. Eastern Coral Snakes- be able to find one and maybe even get up close and personal with one of the most beautiful and most venomous snakes in North America. Obviously won't handle or attempt to touch just because there a little twitchy, but I got to find one.
7. Start making documentaries of all my finds. Instead of making videos with me in it, I will be making short documentaries of everything I find to make them more professional.
8. The Short-Tailed Snake- Go to Chinsegut Nature Center to find this rare weak- constricting kingsnake. Haven't found one since June 2010, and it was my only one, but that nature center has the strongest population of them.

Well, thats basically it for my objectives, at least for Florida. I always find something new when I go to Texas, but I'm sure 2011 will be a good year, so wish me luck!