The wife and I just got back from a 4 day blast to some of our favorite places. It was a bit difficult with a one year old, although he turned out to be a better traveler than I expected. The night before we got there, my buddy missed the opportunity to photograph a blairs phase that got off the road into the grass at Wildhorse Station. That was all the motivation we needed to head to the Xmas Mts, a place that I have never found an alterna in 25 years of looking. The following animals were observed and photographed:
7/20 Xmas Mts.
2 subocs
1 ground snake
1 longnose snake
3 atrox
7/21 Xmas Mts.
2 subocs
2 atrox
3 night snakes
Temps were in the high 80's/low 90's both nights with storms/lightning close with occasional sprinkles hitting the ground. We stayed out until 4 am both nights, and were surprised by the small number of animals observed.
7/22 East Sanderson
1 suboc
2 night snakes
1 atrox
1 blacktail
Conditions seemed perfect (overcast, breezy 78-80F), and other herpers saw an alterna and a milksnake.
7/23 East Sanderson
We saw only 2 snakes all night, but they were both alterna! It is always so much fun to see alterna in the wild. It made the trip for us.
As a side note, we only had four law enforcement stops during the trip, 2 by BP Agents and two by Terrell County Deputy Sheriffs. All were pleasant and professional and seemed supportive of our right to observe and photograph wildlife.
I just got home and I am already itching to go back! 6 years from now I am really hoping to retire soemwhere out in that country.
