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In eastern NC on business today...off work at 5pm and out in the field by 6pm. Conditions...cloudy and 58-60 degrees. Spent about an hour in the field.

First shot...habitat. Edge of a fire managed, longleaf/wiregrass habitat and an unmanaged pine habitat. Notice the A/C in the foreground...

This looks promising...

And here ya go...Eastern King. I expected more speckles from this locale due to it's proximity to populations that display prominent speckling, but happy with the find either way.

Heading back under cover. Carrying a camera makes it easier to let them go.

Thanks for looking. Don't miss the next message...VERY rare find coming up...

About 45 minutes after finding the eastern king, I wandered off into the woods and found this... a very red Lampropeltis caligaster rhombomaculata! The photo doesn't come close to doing it justice. Outstanding snake!! I held onto him and will post better photos later. Notice how he hides his head. Anyone else ever see this behavior in moles?

Thanks again for sharing the excitement with me. Good stuff today! Off work at noon tomorrow and weather looks even better...

NICE!!!! very pretty critter... i'd have kept him too
~kin
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~Sober Serpents~
www.freewebs.com/soberserpents
Corns, Creamsicles, A Black Rat, Thayeri, Cal Kings, A Jungle Corn(Just A Pet), A Ball Python, A Bearded dragon, Leopard Geckos, Green Anoles, a Snapping turtle, and a white cheeked mud turtle

Nice. Be sure to post some better pics.
I have seen that behavior in many snakes and one of my mole kings does that too. A recent WC SFMK doe his head-jerk like a pigmy rattlesnake might do when encountered. They are cool snakes.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

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Work is the curse
of the drinking class!

Fantastic finds... that mole especially! Like the lead ins... lol. Good luck in the future pairing it up! Eagerly looking forward to updated pics!

Thanks for posting...

Chris

Sweet! Sometimes those little short after work trips are the best!

That Mole King rocks! Great find! I agree he's a keeper.

reako45

where abouts in eastern NC? i'm originally from wilmington... hope to do some herping whenever i get back....someday...
~kin
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~Sober Serpents~
www.freewebs.com/soberserpents
Corns, Creamsicles, A Black Rat, Thayeri, Cal Kings, A Jungle Corn(Just A Pet), A Ball Python, A Bearded dragon, Leopard Geckos, Green Anoles, a Snapping turtle, and a white cheeked mud turtle

I'm being vague on purpose...I know folks who would rape the place for a shot at either of those snakes. I've seen it in the NC Sandhills over the past couple of years...the tin there must get flipped multiple times per day from April-October.

I do know some good sites around Wilmington. Shoot me an email sometime if you want ideas. mcoone@hotmail.com

Thanks,
Michael

Speckling on the kingsnakes....

Long leaf pine......

I cant say I'm aware of the geographic area where both those items exist. Hmmmmmmm. Great finds!
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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

Those were great field shots, and super nice finds as well, and yeah, that "rhombo" was a killer red for SURE!

Cool stuff!

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Thanks Doug. No telling how much gas money will be spent over the next couple years heading back to that spot now looking for a female...

Michael