Run to the Hills. October 22nd and 28th, 2017.

Having struck out on Copperheads the last time Box Turtle Tim and I went for a peek, it was only natural that we'd try one more time. I truly hate the thought of tromping through sensitive habitat too many times but I figured once more would be OK and we are always careful. Our pal Ryan was coming as well, and Andrea was in this time, too. Four sets of eyes. A warm sunny Sunday... we were overly confident.

We hit the trail a bit late because we had to watch a loose dog that kept running out into traffic. We got some rope and tethered her to a safe place after a while. Her stupid, careless owners passed us on the trail as we were going in. They had another dog off leash and didn't seem to care that we'd get their dog alive. Anyway, we flipped a log not too far in and were treated to the largest Spotted Salamander we've seen since Big Night... of last year!

That's over six inches of maculatum magnificence.

Paling in comparison in size, but beautiful and clean was our second Spotted.


How about some lungless love? A couple of Redbacks, a Red and a Lead.



We got up to our climbing spot and ascended. Naturally, it would just be a matter of time before we started seeing Copperheads. After all, we had 16 here last year on a similar day. I was also hoping for some Racers, a species that (incredibly) we hadn't seen this year. (Three of our former Racer places had been decimated, to make the landscape better for ungrateful humans.) I even had a $1 bounty for the person who found me a Racer. I saved my dough by seeing this guy first.

Over four feet of Racer, at least.


We proceeded over the hill to the Copperiest part of our mission. Ryan had found another Racer... even got it pretty much in hand for a photo, but the tail end turned out to be the head end and it started defending itself somehow; it got away. But Tim spotted one crawling down the hill toward me and I got a shot before it slipped like spaghetti between two rocks.


And we looked. Into every crevice. In front of every opening. We saw no Copperheads. Ryan and I were feeling bad because we really wanted to get Tim his first Massachusetts Copper. It was so easy last year! Once again, we got the message... even when you think you do, you really never know what animals are going to do. I managed one photo of a copper-head.


We gave up on that area and went to another  open sunny spot. We checked it for about 45 minutes, then decided to head back. We'd been beaten. Again. Things were good on the way back, though. Ryan and I were up ahead when Andrea and Tim called for us... they'd just found a This Year's Model Garter.


Further up the path, Ryan found this (probably yearling) Garter who would not sit still for a photo.

Until, that is, it went to coil up in the leaves.


Well, we struck out on our main target but managed our First Of Year Racers, so I was pleased. Tim, however, gets Racers in his yard so I still feel badly that we failed him. We'll have to try again in the Spring.

EXCEPT...
Ryan put out the word that he was going to try one last time the following Saturday. I wasn't sure I wanted to go. I'd said, no more going through the sensitive habitat this year. Tim was unable to go (though he looked again on that Friday. Racers, no Coppers.) but Andrea and I decided to give it a shot. Unfortunately, Ryan assumed we weren't going and never got our messages that we'd decided to go.

We got there and hit the trail alone. It had rained during the night and it was pretty cool. Our luck didn't seem very good for snakes. Salamanders, however, seemed very possible. We approached the log under which we'd seen the massive Spotted the week before. It wasn't there. But this was...

This was the first non-larval Marbled Salamander we'd seen in over two years and what a stunning specimen! If that's our consolation prize, we're everso thankful.

Here's yet another color variation of a Redback. I need to work on new names... maybe Chocoback?


Approaching the hills, we turned over a log at the edge of the path and saw another Marbled.

Who was sharing space with a Redback.


And that is what we saw in our limited time. To be honest, we had to get to a wedding before too long and I had a massive headache. We did, however, let Ryan know there was a beautiful Marbled in an easy to find place so he came by just as we were leaving to view that alluring Ambystoma. He did see one Copper up on the hill, too.

So, we end the year with no Copperheads (or Timbers for that matter) but our Copper searches got us a few last minute F.O.Y.s so I have no complaints. Plus, we got to spend time together and with good friends. The weekly hikes are drying up for the season so every time is a gift.