Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Alicia and I just returned from the Gries Ranch, so here are a few pics from the festivities. Herping was a bit marred by high nighttime temps, butquite a few cool animals were found.

Species list seen (as of Early Saturday morning):

Cliff Chirping frog
Texas Banded Gecko
Prairie-Lined Racerunner
Round-tailed Horned Lizard
Trans-Pecos Ratsnake
Ground Snake
Rough Green Snake
Trans-Pecos Copperhead
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (many)
Blacktail Rattlesnake
Mottled Rock Rattlesnake

And a couple pics:

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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Atrox on the rocks!

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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Thanks Brad, I really needed wanted to go but couldn't so the pictures help. I hope some one finds an alterna. That copperhead is nice looking!

Scott.....

Nice list... especially with such "marginal" conditions!
But c'mon, no photos of the lep?? LOL!

The Rough Green sighting is pretty cool...

Let's see how the WTHS/DFWHS/AHS Field Meet goes next weekend... perhaps it will rain and help cool the evenings a bit?!

Congrats on a great trip!

Happy herpin'...

MP

Sorry-the lep was brought in right before we left!

Mike-you're name came up a few times this week in conversation-you should try to make the next trip!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Yikes... I hope the conversation wasn't ALL bad! LOL!

Unless the trip is other than the first or second weekend in June, then chances are I probably will never be able to make it. Family obligations (anniversary) and WTHS (Field Trip) are staples the first two weekends on my calandar on an annual basis.

Are you gonna make it out for the WTHS/DFWHS/AHS Field meet next weekend?

Congrats again!

Happy herpin'...

MP

Don't worry-it was all positive!

Actually, I would be in favor of semi-annual field meets for HCU. Autumn can be a great time to get out in the field in west Texas.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Family obligations (anniversary) and WTHS (Field Trip) are staples the first two weekends on my calandar on an annual basis.

What better anniversary present than a romantic getaway in a secluded cabin?

Do you realize I'm missing MY anniversary next weekend for the Sanderson trip? Man up!
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

There were two found. This is the only one that got brought back for a photo session. I like the coloration and pattern in this one. You should have been there, dude!

Mottled Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus lepidus )

Mottled Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus lepidus )
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Gerald Keown
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
www.southwesternherp.com

Mottled Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus lepidus )

Mottled Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus lepidus )
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Gerald Keown
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
www.southwesternherp.com

Here she is......

That orange in between the Hs is great! I hope she was kept...What night was she found?

Max
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Snakes to the Max

Langtry animals I've seen (and own). Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

Dusty Rhoads
Suboc.com

That ranch has the best Velvet Tails I've seen in a while...

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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

>>That ranch has the best Velvet Tails I've seen in a while...

Especially the albino ones!

I take it by the absence of alterna shots the luck didn't improve when I left this morning? Any female brevis?

I went out with Mr. Hamby today--no retics but I finally found my white whale--male brevis under a board. The curse is lifted!

Was originally planning on campage tonight but wussed out and went for the hot shower and internet connection at a cheap hotel in Kerrville. Enchanted Rock tomorrow to see what lizards will be out and about.

The HCU trip was an absolute blast...GREAT bunch of folks to spend a weekend with.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Chris,

I found one male brevis late Saturday night while walking a bluff in Spring Canyon. If it was a female I would have brought it down to you

Travis

Great shot, Joe! I had an absolute blast and look forward to future HCU meetings. I'm really bummed I left my Digital Rebel on in my camera bag, so I had to use my other camera. Not too happy with my shots. BTW, you and Jerry had me rolling. I knew we were going to get along well. Thanks for all of your hard work.

Nathan H.

Gerry and I were on the porch until 5 or 6 am that last night/morning, drinking and cutting up. The drive home was rough! hahaha Good times man.
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

Great shots Brad, thank you for sharing!

I have never been interested in keeping hots, but I certainly appreciate thier beauty..

~ Mike Russo

A few more from the trip:
lepidus

suboc

round-tailed horn lizard

and a big old bull snake

Great bunch of guys on the trip. The Rancher was great, good food. LOTS of walking. Just so dang dry.
Jason
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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

A couple more from ther meeting..
A Group of HCU'ers sitting around BS'ing during the day. This is one of the three cabins that everyone stayed in.

Nathan Wells displaying a deer that he'd obviously hit several weeks ago:

FIND the photo subject??? Good camo no? (that'd be senor forks by the way)

Fenix Lights, one of HCU's sponsors provided several lights for door prizes. Here's one of the lights and one of the subocs caught:

Great time!
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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

Great Pix again!

I am assuming that there is no room service or valet parking at those cabins!

~ Mike Russo

besides if you are going litter this forum with photos of UGLY dudes we need to balance it out with someone that is sporting a more refined look lol

and a couple more of the Blacktail

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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

My wife laughed when she saw "refined", she just doesn't know the real me Great close-up of the mollosus' head.
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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

.

Sweet pics except that first one!!!
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Todd Hughes

Jason....I really am a good hand model huh

Thanks for getting the lights donated!

Travis

>>Jason....I really am a good hand model huh
>>
>>Thanks for getting the lights donated!
>>
>>Travis

Yep, I think you have a futrue in this area!
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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

>>Jason....I really am a good hand model huh
>>
>>Thanks for getting the lights donated!
>>
>>Travis

So good in fact, I got an email from Fenix lights today asking to use your hand/snake/light photo on their website.
TRAVIS - The INTERNATIONAL Man(er-hand) of Mystery!
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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

Beautiful photos, Jason. Nice to finally meet you in person. I really thought it was funny how that lepidus was so fond of you! Good times...

Nathan H.

A great time! Here's a few...

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Todd Hughes

Which gecko is that, one of mine or a female that will soon be mine? I'm sitting on 3.1 right now, it's like a little gecko nightclub where everyone's saying "where are the ladies?"
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Wow Chris-an embarassment of coleonyx riches! I'll be on the lookout for more females for you.....
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Chris,

That's a male brevis I found Sat. night.

Travis

It was a really great field meet. Some cool herps along with great fellowship, good food, and lots of "snake stories". It was great seeing a lot of old friends and meeting some new ones. My hat is off to Jason Penney for ramrodding this event and getting it pulled off without a hitch. George Gries, the ranch owner was a great host and an overall cool dude.

I look forward to a return trip, because I think we only scratched the surface. Hopefully next time we will have a little more moisture and milder temps.

Here are just a few random photos.

Round-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma modestum)

Round-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma modestum)

Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus mo;ossus)

Trans-Pecos Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster)

Todd Hughes photographing a Trans-Pecos Copperhead

Trans-Pecos Ratsnake (Bogertophis subocularis )

Trans-Pecos Ratsnake (Bogertophis subocularis )

Mottled Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus lepidus )

Mottled Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus lepidus )

Toby Brock with a Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus molossus )

Texas Banded Gecko (Coleonyx brevis )
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Gerald Keown
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
www.southwesternherp.com

Well, the images were displaying properly in the preview mode, but obviouly they did not make it in the "real world". #@!(*%&#% I dunno where they went in the actual post. ANyway you can view them at the below url:
HCU Field Meet Photos

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Gerald Keown
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
www.southwesternherp.com

Hey all, Just want to thank you guys for taking the time to talk to the camera. I had a great time. Very nice meeting you all.
Also, I noticed that some of you were snapping shots of us while we were filming... If any of you have those pics, I'd love to put them on the Alterna Rush website. Thanks in advance.

DAN

PS You're welcome for finding all the cool animals for you guys to photo!

DAN
SneakPeek