Wow...got to looking at the backlog of herp related crap I been meaning to post...
so instead of 10 mini posts, you get one mega update of my herping activities over the past 6 months.
These go all the way back to July to my family vacation...until last saturday night. 
I'll try not to be too wordy, so if you are longing for warm summer herping temps,
enjoy and try not to think about the 4-5 months before we can go herping again.

Family trip to Florida...the moms took off on some adventure and left the dads with the kiddos.  We decided to hit a local state park hiking trail...right off the trail, my buddy spotted this nice Florida Cottonmouth!

The other dads...who are NOT snake fans, thought I was crazy.  The kids thought it was awesome though.

FFWD to Labor Day weekend...took the family to a Blanchard Springs Caverns...it was super cool (literally and figuratively)
and I hoped to spot some grotto sallies in the cave..but the portion they take the tour on doesnt go anywhere
near running water.  Granted these are not super sharp...but they are hand held like 1 second exposures...

Sadly, my son was more excited about this poor bird he found in my grill than one of the coolest caves in the US.

Now, before any belly-aching starts...this IS fieldherp-related.  One of my Okie  field herping friends is Josh...who
finally graduated and got his dream job of working with reptiles at the Tulsa (OK) zoo.  We went to see him
and he gave us a VIP treatment which was AWESOME...got to step over the fence and visit with these amazing herps.
It is an Alhambra tortoise...I could not believe how social these animals were.  This one came up and just
conspicuously waited to be scratched on the neck.  Like a big puppy dog.

My son and Jeremy's girls thought they owned the place! Thanks again, Josh!

We also got to watch gator feeding time.  Quite amazing how they 'train' these guys to eat.  The gator
must come up and 'bump' the thing on the stick with their snout  before they get fed.  Needless to say, they
learn this behavior pretty quickly and appear quite tame.

Early Oct found us at my in-laws in Searcy County, AR. Been spying a likely crote hibernaculum for a
long time, only to find out it was part of my wife's family's land.  So, on a too-hot-for-herping afternoon
in October...my son and I set out to investigate this new habitat.  First find was this smooth earth (or rough?).

It was a pretty afternoon to be out...low humidity and blue skys made for some nice scenery.

As we were walking the top of the bluffs, I told my son that I wouldnt be suprised if we found a coachwhip
because it just looked 'right'. No more than got that out of my mouth and I spied this guy staring at us.

Now, what transpired next was a new one...and I had always wondered if it happened...but in my attempt to
grab the coachwhip...he shot off like a bullet. Right over the side of this bluff which was about 75ft tall. 
In the air...his body language told me he was thinking "well $hit" in snake language.

As we laughed about the coachwhip's plight...I noticed a fresh shed right on the edge of the bluff...most likely the same snake.

You'll be happy to know, when we got to the bottom of the bluff and made our way back
under this spot...we found the SAME coachwhip sitting in a sunny patch in at the bottom of the precipice. 
He seemed no worse for wear, because on my second attempt to grab him, he shot away and into a pile of rocks, never to be seen again.

Some neat rock formations here.  For any of you rock climbers out there...this rock looks just
like the rock at Sam's Throne- a popular rock climbing destination here in the natural state.

Didnt take long...

As found...

Then, in mid October, we had the bi-annual Ark herp society field trip.  This time, we were lucky enough (thanks mark!)
to get access to a known locale for ground snakes.  Now, while these are plentiful out west...there are (were) less than 5
records in Arkansas...so finding one in-state is a big deal.

We got access to a nice gladey/hillside where one was found a few years ago...despite the extreme drought...
we were optimistic with this many eyes on the ground and hands flipping rocks that we'd turn up somethin.

The day was beautiful and the habitat was awesome, so even if we didnt find our target, it was a good day herping.

Not 1 hr into our adventure, Eric yells "GOT ONE!"  Needless to say, we were all giddy with excitement...my son, of course,
had to barge in and hold the snake first while everyone was getting their cameras out.

Ok, at this point, let me give excuses for shit-t pics.  In the excitement of finding our target species, and trying to
get said target species to be still, I had not messed with my camera...and I dont think I had even turned my
flash on...or somethin like that...so I fired off 2 quick shots and was tryin to figure out what to set the camera to.

Then, as I realized what was wrong, SOMEONE (who shall not be mentioned) lost track of said target
and just as fast as it was found, was now safely under a car hood-sized rock about a foot thick. Not even jeremy could
lift this one...so we all attacked this fellow herper with insults, and mean words. (all in good herping fun, of course!) 
So, long story short, this is the BEST shots I got of one of arkansas' rarest snakes.  Booooooooo......

Back to the 'ol drawing board.

More neat habitat.  I really want to return to this place in the spring sometime..somethin tells me it will be covered with milks and hopefully more sonora.

Then, sort of a consolation prize...this 'individual' who gooched up our first prize redeemed himself by finding this juvie...Not as pretty, but still super neat.

We still love  you, Mark.

Habitat like this makes our hearts flutter, but the temps and drought left this spot pretty much void of herps.

Mark did flip this nice SK...

This spot is also usually a great spot for collared lizards...another not so common arkansas herp...but we didnt turn up any this day.

A face only a mother could love. 

Now, this sonora spot just happens to be in the backyard of another Arkansas cavern...this one however,
had some water in it...so the owner graciously took us down to check for grotto sallies.  We finally found some, but could
only view them from about 20 ft above a pool on a walkway.  I fooled with these in lightroom for a while to get them this good.
Kinda hard to shoot telephoto in total darkness.

Eurycea speiaea

Eurycea speiaea (adult)

Eurycea tynerensis- found in a creek in front of a small cave spring.

Eric helps Aaron navigate some rough stuff in timber rattlesnake country.

Another nice glade area...with nothing on it!

I think this is the only pic I got with Mark in it. 

We found a cave with a spring in it.  Apparently it used to be the water supply for the town of Berryville.

Another cool species!  Eurycea lucifuga

One of my favorite sallies.

And the obligatory garter snake.

Ladies and Gentleman, Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives!
HUH? you might be wondering...well, I got tickets to see two of the greatest living guitarists in the world in Branson, Mo.
As we left the theatre to head home, I noticed a nice storm building in the west. I had a non-herping buddy with me, and
I asked him if he minded if I checked a spot for ringed sallies.  It was late October and a hard rain event gets them moving to
their breeding ponds.  He said 'fine' so as we approached this spot, the rain picked up. Goo goo, I love it!

About 50 ft down the road, I slowed down, hit my brights and noticed several little sallies darting across the rain soaked road!

Ambystoma annulatum

Not the best photos, but they turned out OK...I tried to impress upon my non-herping friend Kyle that this was super cool.

First time I've hit it "just right" -so this was definitely a highlight of my herping year.

Late October found me and jeremy ditching work several afternoons to check Atrox dens.  For the most part, it stunk.
I think the dry conditions and weird weather had a negative impact. Several 'gimme' sites we didnt see any snakes at all.
On this day I poked my head in a crevice and was relieved to see an old friend still hanging out. See you next spring, buddy.

Jeremy and I both got excited when we saw this skin near another den...but it turned out to be a massive coachwhip.

Another den had a juvie coachwhip catchin some late afternoon sun...and another atrox, but I didnt have the camera ready before it darted.

In early November...everyone's favorite 'lil buddy Van came back to Arkansas for a visit. Sadly,
these candies Mike was eating is as close as we came to finding a real one!

Still nice scenery...and our beloved Van in the foreground.

Needless to say, at this spot..you better watch out...encountering a large Atrox here can be an interesting venture.

And finally, last Saturday night, it was pouring rain, so I took the family out to see if we could find any tiger salamanders.
There is a remnant population thats being choked by development that usually produces some specimens...but it was not to be. 
Didn't see any sallies, but as I turned the corner in a housing development, I saw something in my headlights that made me do a MAJOR double-take!
A dor plainbelly water snake-very fresh...on DECEMBER 3?   Thats my new record for finding a snake out and about...albeit a dead one.

In the meantime happy herping and C'mon SPRING!

Brad