Some of you may have already seen this. I posted it elsewhere about a month ago...
I have been pretty busy with school the last month or so, but I managed to get out a few times as well as make a relaxing 3 day camping trip. The result is tons of pics of stuff and I will do my best to talk about it a bit. There is some cool stuff buried in there - so don't get discouraged by some of the common stuff 
May was absolutely perfect around here and it flew by... Hard to believe it is over and it sure went out with a bang. Most of the month we had wonderful temps in the 60s and 70s as well as a good amount of rain - perfect for flipping cover! The last week was up in the 80s and 90s though and it even started to feel as summer was already upon us.
The Greater Cincinnati Herptological Society is currently surveying two local parks around the city. Our survey last summer was a huge success and this seems to be a great summer activity and a wonderful way to get the members out in the field. I finally made some time to get out with them for a morning and had a great time.
The find of the morning was this nice looking milk snake found by Dean, the first I have seen from Hamilton Co.
Although it wasn't a great morning, we also saw the usual Nerodia, cricket frogs and plenty of RES.
Here is a shot of Dean goofing off trying to catch some carp??
A few days later, I finished an exam earlier than expected, so instead of finally getting to sleep, I decided to make the drive to the SE for the late afternoon. Man did that turn out to be a good decision. I got to my first tin site a few hours later. I discovered this spot late last fall and although I didn't see any snakes (a few old shed skins) there was plenty of tin stacked around and it was situated in some real nice habitat. There are a couple fields bordered by forest (with rocky hillsides) providing that great edge habitat as well as some real nice floodplain areas a little lower. An excellent looking creek sure to have queen snakes and watersnakes runs right through there, although I haven't hiked down to it yet. A couple old barns litter one of the fields and way in the back there is an ancient dump. Over the course of the winter and early spring I dragged 30ish large sheets of tin to all parts of the different fields and floodplain. Some of them are low on the hillside, others in partial shade, a few down in the floodplain and I even have a couple sheets stacked up. I had only seen boxturtles here in April much to my surprise, but I knew it would eventually produce. This site being the cumulation of many hours of blood and sweat I feel a sense of pride every time I go and it always has the feeling of Christmas morning...
I finally turned up my first garter there under a hidden piece of tin, although it escaped before I get some pics. Feeling good I proceeded to lay out some more tin quickly and then getting to the back area to flip the remaining pieces by the dump. As I proceeded to go through a small pile of metal I heard that wonderful sound we always hope to hear (and the only reason I don't wear headphones and rock to some GNR while I am alone). No not rattling - but the sound of a snake in the grass. At first site for some really stupid and odd reason I thought small fox snake. Now fox snakes don't even come remotely close down here and I feel like an idiot for thinking it even for that split second, but nothing else registered right away. I then immediately realized what my prize was and it couldn't have been better - my first hognose of the year! I have only seen a couple each year and for one to turn up this early (and at this spot) I couldn't have been happier. It was sure ugly though
Of course it immediately played dead...
But after waiting 15 minutes I was somewhat able to get a manageable shot.
Feeling great and excited that snakes were on the crawl I finished flipping the remaining pieces of cover and flew to the place that lead me out here in the first place. I passed by some great tin sites but I couldn't resist the temptation of getting some rattlesnakes basking outside their dens in the late afternoon sun...
I started walking the ridge, and quickly turned up some fence lizards as well as a few ringnecks on the rocky hillside. Smaller animals would prove to be the theme this afternoon unfortunately.
A few minutes later I flipped a couple milks. Now I only saw 3 all of last year (way down from the mid30s of 04) and I had just seen three in about a week. Things were looking up this spring...
I think one was found in these rocks somewhere...
I continued on scanning the rocks for the timbers and flipping rocks of all sizes hoping for one of those glorious beasts.
Now don't laugh, but I was almost just as damn happy to see these instead! Only my second smooth earth snake in OH as well as my first Ground Skink!
Sorry bout the pic (growing pains of new camera)
Walking back I turned up a few more ringnecks and some worm snakes.
A few days later I finished my next test, and decided to get out in the nice weather for a few hours around town. I picked a local psuedo downtown park I had never been too and decided to check it out.
I started out looking for spring salamanders but wasn't having any luck. Decided to give up and change my tactics for something with scales. I stumbled across a great railroad abutment that looked picture perfect for black rats, but didn't see anyone home. Decided to walk the tracks looking for ties or other cover and managed to scare up a number of the stinking wall lizards. These guys are absolutely all over Cincinnati and although I hate to see invasive species take hold, I don't really think they are doing that much harm. Most of the native lizards had been long gone downtown before these things took up residence and they seem to have flourished in the meantime. I find it enjoyable to see any kind of herp and having these on the front porches can give me that little herp fix that I need sometimes.
They were hard to get close to, and I don't have a telephoto lens yet.
I decided to head back and check on that bridge again. Walking along the sunny side and wondering why no one was home I found myself face to face with my first Cincinnati rat snake. He quickly retreated into his ties and I couldn't coax him out for the life of me, but I was stoked nonetheless. He was in the tie to the left of the "H"
A small slab of concrete off of the main foundation had my first Cincinnati ringneck under it!
A good end to a nice day - now back to the books...
The weekend rolls around now and a buddy called me up, talking of a little trip he will be taking the next day. I couldn't resist so I made the long drive up to meet him early the next morning. My primary target was smooth green snakes, but I really wanted to see some Plains Garter Snakes as well.
They really were some ugly snakes but they are a state endangered animal and they were treated as such.
As my company was looking around for cover I decided to walk the open field during the only spot of sunlight we got that morning. Just as I was expecting, I literally stumbled across this gem basking near an area of crayfish burrows. Man you have to love it when things work out the way they are supposed to!
Here is a shot of the field, taken before anything had turned up. I just knew it had something...
I continued walking the field and ended up stepping (doh!) on this great find. Only the third melanistic garter snake recorded from this area in the last 10 or so years.
We wouldn't get the green snakes but I was happy to call it a morning!
After school ended a few days later I met my dad and brother for 3 days of camping down in Southern Ohio. My dad was happy to bird and see some reptiles, while my brother was content to just hang out and see whatever we were excited about. He had just finished his freshman year in college as well and was ready for anything out of the ordinary.
The temps were in the mid 60s the first day, the low 70s the next, and the mid 50s the last day. We rarely got sun which really hampered our ability to turn up some rattlers, but it was perfect for flipping. Things start to get a little crazy around here so I am just going to put up a bunch of the stuff we photographed.
Exactly as found...
I parted with them early the third day to explore some new areas, and my dad wanted to bird a bit more. In the 55F rain I spotted this little guy on the road.
Unfortunately, he stopped his meal and began to dart after the flash. I felt bad about disturbing him but was going to move him anyway so he didn't get squashed.
I got back out there a few days later with Carl and we met up with another friend. Lady luck would shine on us today as the sun happened to poke out for just a couple hours in the late morning...
Could it be... finally... my first OH gem?!?! Having looked for a few years now I thought it would never come about... No words can describe seeing this on the forest floor.
And not happy to see us...
The other more attractive specimen found, although unfortunately not in situ.
A few from a ridgetop.
Finally, I can relax a little bit!
Carl and I also managed to turn up a couple of these - another OH first for me, the mud salamander.
Which brings up to the Shawnee Herp Weekend. A state park put together a little herp conference with field trips and speakers. I wasn't planning on going but ended up there anyway and had a great time. It was very well put together and I would recommend it to anyone if they do it again.
Dean posted a few of the finds from before I got there. We flipped some tin very early in the morning as I felt like taking my time to get there.
And then a few from later in the day...
After that I met up with Carl for an unproductive morning in the heat. He did turn up his first OH cricket frog though. I am not sure how he feels about me always taking stupid pics of him in action, but oh well. Here is the master at work.
Finally, the other day we got some light rain after a scorching hot day. I decided to take a quick cruise through an old faithful loop. Nothing much was seen beside some amphibs and a DOR nerodia. I checked on a couple of local copperheads and found them holding down the fort. Always great to see some old friends.
Hope you enjoyed! Can't wait to get back out in a couple of weeks. Anyone up for a trip? I have 10 days or so to do what ever and go where ever I want...
Jason
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www.buckeyeherps.com
