Hot Summer Herpin'

Make no mistake about it, South Carolina in late June is hot. I kind of knew this before I went to Myrtle Beach. Now I really know it. It didn't help things that the first day there I got probably the worst sunburn of my life boogie boarding the 3-4 foot waves that were breaking 300 yards from the condo we were staying at. More on that later.

Anyway, I was able to take portions of three different days (for a total of about 12 hours) and go out looking for critters. The thing about herping SC this time of year is that reptiles and amphibians are temperature sensative, and many tend to be active during the cooler parts of the day or at night. Most cool parts of the day and all of the nights I was either at the condo or doing something with family.

Nevertheless, I was able to encounter some of the herp fauna. Nearly every animal I saw was a new species for me, but due to some of the situations I was unable to get pictures of many. Please enjoy those I was able to photograph.

American Alligator/Alligator mississippiensis

Northern Green Anole/Anolis c. carolinensis

Ground Skink/Scincella lateralis

Rough Green Snake/Opheodrys aestivus

The boys viewing a gator.

Six-lined Racerunner/Aspidoscels s. sexlineata

Some sort of Sand Fiddler Crab that Winfield caught.

Other animals seen that I could/did not photograph include the Banded Water Snake, Southern Black Racer, Southern Leopard Frog, and the Southern Toad-- all new to the life list as well.

At one location I went with Big Nick, we saw several interesting birds as well, including a pair of Painted Buntings. I had no idea that such colorful birds were found in North America.

That's all for now, I will try to return in short order to tell more of the family side of the trip as well as updated you all on my latest project.

Keep a sharp lookout!