Joey's notes
Week ending 10-26-03
This week started warm and pleasant, but ended cool and wet. Along the way, I went from feeling well and sporty, to being subdued by a horrible cold. Oh well, I would hate to feel bad in great weather. I would feel like I was missing out on all the action, all the fun outdoors.
Monday (10-20-03), Warm day. At work, we walked a bit on campus and found a Redbelly Snake, Smooth Earth Snake, and baby Black Ratsnake. All very nice. We also found Slimy Salamanders, Cricket Frogs, Fowlers Toads, Green Anoles, Ground Skinks, and Fence Lizards. Fair herp varieties for this time of year.
Tuesday (10-21-03), Warm day. I found myself in Laurens county, driving home on a nice section of road at sunset. Stopped for a AOR snake. Corn Snake! It was an adult, female, rather dark corn. A few miles later I found a male Mole Kingsnake DOR. I put it, with complete data, in the freezer.
Wednesday (10-22-03), It was a bit cooler. At work I made copies of the Corn Snake’s belly pattern so I would know her if I ever saw her again. After work, I released her where she had been found, then I checked tin in several locations. I arrived home empty handed, and checked my tin as well. Under the next-to-the-last piece, I noticed a brown tail silently slipping down a hole. Mole Kingsnake! I grabbed the tail and held on until its owner tired of straining to pull away. I was then able to ease it out of the tunnel. It was an adult female.
Thursday (10-23-03), Cooler temps. At work I put the new female Mole King on the copy machine and by making the copy darker, I got a good shot of the pattern. When I arrived home, she went back to the same piece of tin that I had found her under. Sleep well.
Friday (10-24-03), Again it was cool. Herp activities and herp hunter activities were limited. Saw a few Green Anoles and Fence Lizards, not much else.
Saturday (10-25-03), Spent some time in Brevard, NC. Saw some Grey Squirrels that were solid white, and a Groundhog.
Sunday (10-26-03), Cool and rainy. The sickly feelings of my bad cold made me feel utterly worthless and I did not look much, but I did see a Green Anole on my front porch.
So even at this point in the year, good herps are still around, and with good weather and timing, one can find them.
Joey Holmes
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