Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I spent this past weekend waist deep in Palmetto with my Chocolate Labrador Sally. We were looking for cool critters and had a little luck. Although I really wished to find an Eastern Indigo to photograph. Having seen one in that general area before, I though I'd give it another go...
No luck on Indigos or Eastern Diamondbacks, but I did see a couple of does, three hen turkeys, a Gopher Tortoise, a couple of Black Racers, countless Leopard Frogs, a juvenile Alligator, Green Anoles, and a Six Lined Racerunner.
The previous weekend I went to Jonathan Dickinson State Park and enjoyed some unique and endangered habitat most people in Florida do not know exists. Very hilly & scrubby & dry - very different terrain than I am used to. Had a great time and took some cool pics...
Got some cool pictures and some great memories...
Enjoy some pics on me....

More habitat pictures... gotta love Florida.

Gopher Tortoise... coolest critters around. Period. I named this one Turbo for obvious reasons. :•)

Black Racers everywhere...

Five Lined Skink... too cool.

Green Anole - I'm still fascinated by these super bright lizards...

Beautiful and unique habitat for some very cool animals.

This picture did not come out too well. The blue on his belly is absolutely electric. I named him Blue Beard.

Hope you enjoyed looking at these ALMOST as much as I enjoyed taking them. BTW, I do not collect any animals I find in the field. Rather, I photograph them and gladly let them on their way.

One last pic... beautiful yellow flowers covered this fire break in the Pine Flatwoods and this picture I'm sad to say, does this scene no justice. Beautiful.

If you don't mind me asking,how did you access Jonathan Dickinson??

I tried to find some roads to road cruise thru there a few weeks back, but access seems limited...
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Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

I just drove into the gate on US-1 (Between Hobe Sound & Jupiter. It costs I think four dollars to get in, I got a map from the ranger station, and then I just parked and walked on a few trails including the one in the first parking lot which follows the Atlantic Ridge down past "Hobe Mountain."
Road access is limited though, I found myself walking most of the day... sunburned beyond belief too... All in all, a great park and a beautiful area to explore...

Thanks for looking and happy herpin'

Justin

OK, I see my problem.I was trying to get in from the West.I guess it was not an offical entrance,despite the roads being marked on the map.Thanks.
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Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

Yep... some of the roads are for official use only. Some of the employees of the park actually live there and those roads lead right up to their front doors...

Take care
Justin

Being a FL native myself I always love it when others appreciate the beauty of the "overlooked" Florida. Glad you had a good time and took some great pics.
Did you get to see any scrub jays? Scrub lizards? Raceruners?? All cool. Also the threatened(?) sand skink.
There are more species of plants in peril in the scrub habitat than anywhere.
You're right about the gopher. Our most important herp.
:Mark

I am a Missouri boy who migrated to Florida after spending my summers here all of my life. I love native Florida habitat. On the surface it can look like the same boring terrain for miles and miles. Until you actually get out on foot and discover it's natural beauty, it is hard to describe to those who have not seen it first hand.
I love Gopher Tortoises!! Can't get enough of 'em. As for Scrub Jays... no dice. Although I did see my favorite lizard...picture attached... Six Lined Racerunner - the Ferrari of lizards no doubt. Also a few fence lizards - not sure if they are Southern Fence Lizards or what. In Missouri where I grew up I caught very similar Western Fence Lizards... love the electric blue bellies - awesome.
I am really looking to find and photograph the Eastern Indigo Snake in it's natural setting. A real challenge to say the least. Anyway, thanks for looking.

Take care,

Justin

...very gravid 6 liner my son photographed as she would lift her feet from the hot sand. She may even have been warming her belly??
:Mark