Pennsylvania Trip 2021. Day 3: May 23rd.

 Last day and we still wanted to see a few species that had eluded us thus far. Red Salamanders would be pretty tough, though not impossible, because we had decided to spend the end of our trip at The Petting Zoo.

Every "herper" on the East Coast knows the Petting Zoo, and especially Timber Wall. A guy who we talked to in a parking lot the day before even knew of the Timber Wall. But Timbers weren't the top of our list. In lieu of Red Sals, we hoped to see Copperheads, Rat Snakes and Five-lined Skinks, the last of which is not present in Massachusetts (and the other two are listed as Endangered in MA). The Petting Zoo is a good place to see all of those. On the way there, we saw a White-tailed Deer in an outlet that we'd wanted to check out all weekend.

We got to the Petting Zoo at about 7:30-8 o'clock and saw that a marathon was running along the path. One was ending and another was starting 26 miles out. That's OK... it's a fairly busy place anyway. We got out of the path for a while to look around. Our first sighting was a Timber that saw us first. We got quite the rattle.

The sun was just starting to warm the area and we next saw this wee Timber safely sunning. You can't see his nose or the tiny rattle-nub he probably has, but it looks like he'll grow up to be quite a beauty.

Next up, we checked the Five-lined Skink off of our list with this young blue-tailed looker!

We went back down to the path. Now all of you trophy herpers are saying, "No! Stay up there!" No, we wanted some shade and to check the wall. It's not all about quantity. At my age, comfort and surviving the vacation is more important!

So, we were going along peeking at the wall and inspecting the surroundings when a dude on a bike about 20 feet up the path called to us and asked if we knew snakes. We said yes. He said he thought so, the way we were looking at the wall. He said," What is this? I'm pretty sure it's not a Garter Snake." We ran up to him.

Nope, not a Garter. We told him he'd just checked Copperheads off of our list and talked to him about the species while we photographed the animal soaking up warmth from the path. Remember, there was a marathon going on, too, and runners were coming by! We waved them away from the snake (and got many "thank you"s... they know this place) and moved him off the path to safety with a stick.

We returned to the wall and almost immediately saw a small Copper.

It had warmed up by this point and Skinks were out and about in force.

This red-headed male was relentlessly pursuing this female...

We finally made it to the Timber area, the place everybody knows will give you rattlesnakes. I climbed up and yes, there was one gorgeous snake there...

But much to my dismay, the young "herpers" had ripped up all of the wood that the snakes hide in and it was piled and strewn all about. A sure fire place to see and photograph wild rattlesnakes, but that just wasn't enough. It is my opinion that these fuck-wads that do this give no shits about the animals; they are just adrenaline junkies who like to fuck with venomous snakes. Fuck them, and fuck you if you're somebody that does that. They have all but ruined a national treasure. Next time you're at the Petting Zoo, if you see somebody up there and they don't have a camera, go up and beat the fuck out of them. And tell them I hate them before they pass out or die.

That really did piss me off, but we carried on because we wanted to see a Rat Snake. We were toast and still had at least a 5 1/2 drive ahead of us after hiking the 3 1/2 miles back to the car. (Turned out to be more like 7 1/2 hours in the car with the traffic, but that's neither here nor there.)

Once again, the kindness of strangers came through to brighten my mood. About 20 feet in front of us again, a different guy on a bike yelled to us, "hey- you guys want to see a Rat Snake?" Umm, yes! It's the last thing on our list! And did he have a stunner there next to the path! Pure perfection!

We talked for a while and this guy was cool. He bikes these places, always keeping an eye out for snakes, which he loves. Man, we need more folks like him around. He was awesome and I feel badly that he took off before we watched the Rat s l o w l y slide, inch by inch, into a tiny hole, likely a chipmunk hole. It looked a little something like this:

Video by Andrea

It was OK to turn back now, so we did. It became a mammal walk for a while. Andrea saw a face keep popping out of a hole (similar to the one just used by the Rat); it was a Chipmunk checking to see if the coast was clear. Picture of the day by Andrea!

We went down to the water for a bit to cool off. While down there, I couldn't resist flipping a little, even though my kidneys hurt from over-flipping the day before. To my surprise, I flipped a little White-footed Mouse!

Back up to the path and the wall, Andrea made a hilarious discovery. A hole full of Nerodia. Looks like a female and four admirers. Not enough room for all of them, but they didn't care. Tell me that guy in the middle isn't stuck!

We'd picked up our pace (as best we could) because I didn't want to get home super-late. But we still had time to see 5-Lines flitting about.

Andrea stopped, staring at the wall... "Is that...?" I looked and all I saw was a tiny orange lima bean.

A wee Copper-bean.

I was already toast and not looking forward to the drive. This male Skink was making me jealous.

We stopped for a few moments when we saw this young Red-tail swoop into a tree with lunch (a small fish?) and eat it. I took many shots but couldn't quite figure out what he had. This is the last photo... "You get yer shot yet, bru?"

Our last photo was another beautiful male Five-lined Skink. I felt so good to see lizards!

So that was our quick and off-the-cuff trip for my birthday. I wish we could have met up with more friends, but that will have to wait until next year, when we all know how this Covid thing will have turned out. Still, I'm glad we got to see Bob (fully vaxxed) and spent a day with him. The trip was a roaring success, animal-wise. Only the Red Salamander evaded us. 23 species of reptile and amphibian, plus I added 6 bird species. The drive home caused a melt-down or two, but I got my shit together and made it through the grueling traffic. I REGRET NOTHING!

Pennsylvania Trip 2021. Day 2: May 22nd.

 So, we woke up early on our second day in order to meet our friend Bob at a place that all three of us had sworn off of. But it had been a few years for us and Bob never says die, so we all met up at about 7:30, hoping that young "herpers" hadn't destroyed the habitat too badly this year.

It was good to see him and we set right to work flipping stones (carefully and putting them back as found... take note, kids) and Andrea struck first with a tiny Ringneck.

Bob struck next, and again and again... in fact, unless it says otherwise, he flipped it or found it. The first was a Water Snake that wasn't too pleased with us!

He next came up with a ready-to-shed Milk, a first for him (and us) at this place. Our First-of-Year, too.

The man was on fire... Garter...

A fatty-fat Water...

A pretty, lavendery Garter...

Our FOY (first in two years... none in MA last year) Redbelly...

A second Red-bell...

While I was still photographing that guy, he flipped a massive Green Snake, also our First (live)-of-Year.

A couple of stunners...

I shot some Tree Swallow porn.

A big, pretty Green Frog.

While Bob and I stayed low, Andrea took the high road and enjoyed a private Nerodia.

I contributed a Garter in the Grass.

And then a screamer of an American Toad.

At the pond's edge, we stopped for a bit to watch some Water Snakes being Water Snakes... foraging and basking.

On the way back to the car, we saw a lovely Bullfrog, our 9th herp species in a short time.

On the road out, Bob stopped us and attempted to get me a lifer bird, which he technically did, but my pics are pure shit. But I present here PROOF that I saw a Blackburnian Warbler, #65, Lifer #193.

Perhaps I'll get a better photo some day. Perhaps not.

The next spot was pretty exciting... we'd never been to it before. It had become pretty hot by now, but we forged on. I flipped an Eft, our 10th species on the short day so far.

We were on the lookout for Hogs, and Bob managed to find the most beautiful Hognose any of us had ever seen... this gal...

Big, colorful and she never even hooded. What a stunning snake!

I had stepped toward a rock to flip when I had a snake rattling right in front of me. I hadn't noticed a very blue Black Racer right there and it took off into a tangle of sticks and logs. It kept peering out at me but I couldn't get any of the super-cute photos it offered up. Finally, it slid under a log. By this time, Andrea and Bob came over and we grouped our forces. They lifted the log and I saw the coil and reached but it was too speedy for my geriatric arms. I said, "I have no idea where it went!"... it was in Bob's hands.

In typical a Racer mood, it was feisty.

He eventually calmed down and we got some nice photos.

It should be noted that on the way there, Bob had said he always gets Wood Turtles on this hike. I made him promise that we'd see one. He did, and we did (much to his relief).

This would be the only turtle of the whole weekend, but what a great one to see!

I managed another Eft, this one with no spots.

We put a lot of effort into this one, but with a lot of help from Bob, I got nice Scarlet Tanager (#66) shot.

In keeping with the bright color scheme, here's another Eft.

Onward to the next spot! To be honest, it was one I wasn't super keen on hitting but I'm sure glad we did! First up, I'd been seeing tons of these bright millipedes so I finally photographed one so I could learn what it is...

It is Apheloria virginiensis, which secretes a cyanide-like substance as a defense! Not recommended eating.

Bob asked us to be nearby when he flipped a large rock. We got there, he flipped and I grabbed a Racer that was resting comfortably under it.

We both got a couple of bites for being assholes and bothering it. Sorry, dude!

Bob pointed out a bird call, one we had heard many times before. I snapped a pic (shitty, I know) of a Prairie Warbler and it turned out to be Lifer #194 and #67 on the year.

While we were up there mucking about with the Racer and Warbler, we'd walked right past a snoozing Hognose! In the blue, it was none too happy to be discovered.

I got super-lucky and snapped a perfect cobra pose (who said snakes don't do yoga) and this shot has become quite a hit on the Derpetology Facebook page, with 3200 likes and countless shares in less than a week.

We headed back to the car. I flipped a pretty Garter.

From there, we made one more stop. We were hoping to check a viper or two off of our list. We got there and I flipped a Dookie on the way in, species #14 on the day.

We walked along, concentrating on rocky areas and watching our step. Bob scuttled up a hill and when Andrea reached almost the same spot, she saw a black Timber Rattlesnake slide into the rocks. Perhaps between the two of them, they'd startled it? At any rate, she had the presence of mind to document the snake.

Not too much further along, Bob spotted a much easier to photograph Timber... a real velvety beauty.

We were walking along and saw something stretched out about 50 feet in front of us. Then, it started rattling. We trotted up to see the fattest Timber ever... she's as big around as my arm!

She didn't give an inch and showed us who was in charge.

A humbling experience. What a treasure.

Just as majestic in it's own way, a small American Toad.

I finally flipped one of the two species that we don't get up in Massachusetts, a Northern Slimy Salamander. It's a pretty one for sure, with a regenerating tail.

We never did see a Red Salamander on this trip. Next time.

Walking back, Bob spotted this American Toad hiding in plain sight.

That was that. We got back to the car. But wait, there is a nice stream right there. Bob hadn't seen a Spring Salamander in a long time and was impressed with ours from the day before, so he and I went to look for one. In quick fashion, he flipped a beautiful hotdog!

What a friggin' day! 17 species!

Obviously, it was amazing to be with our dear friend Bob again. We missed the son we never wanted, but will hitch up with him again soon. But Bob is not only a dear friend, he's a naturalist who gets it... it's always about the animals and the habitat. I admire that and I wish everyone would follow that lead.

We did indeed have a great day.