Southern Illinois snake trip - huge post.

[Sushigaijin]

first, sorry for posting so many shots in one thread - I didn't want to spend the time spacing them out, and since I got them all finished this morning I figured I would just throw them out shotgun style.

Southern Illinois houses the northernmost cypress swamp in the states. Because of this unique habitat, we see both southern races and northern races of reptiles and amphibians. There is a road that cuts between the bluffs of the Big Muddy River and the adjacent swamp that TEEMS with snakes. Every year it is shut down for two months to allow the snakes to migrate across, but foot traffic is still permitted. I try to make the biennial trek every year, if for nothing but to get out of the city. Now for the photos.


Tree frogs were abundant.





cottonmouth @28mm!!



rough green snake



ribbon snake



cottonmouth



black racer



earth snake





copperheads







green watersnake (endangered in Illinois)





Closer!



Sorry for the cooked sky on this one but I couldn't handle the blown-out haze of the early morning. Opted for the beautiful blue sky that came out at about 10AM. Red milk snakes.






yellowbelly watersnakes





habitat



prarie kingsnake





the crew (me on left)



inverts.







My salamander shots ALWAYS suck. Next year I think I will bring some tin foil for a reflector. spotted salamander





kingsnake.



Hope this isn't overkill. At least I didn't post all 900 shots I took over the weekend

[big baldo]

Wow!! Very cool shots:thumbsup: That must be nice to have so many different species of snake all in one area.

[Loupey]

Excellent images and diverse range of specimens for sure!

I must say that that trip was very productive for you.

Please post some more images as you come across them.


Thanks for sharing!

[Dylan8i]

Man you gotta invite me some time!

[WesternGuy]

Erik, great images. We have nowhere the abundance of different species out here, but then the prairies are not exactly wetlands.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

[jorgemonkey]

Wow, looks like ya'll had a very successful shoot that day.

[polarbeardiggers]

great shots enjoyed them all especially that last creepy spider hanging off that branch,.

[paulnj]

Erik, you have some amazing images here of some very cool herps!

[slayer7124]

wow, very nice series you have here. love the different types of reptiles and species or animals