For me the most exciting moment of the trip was finding my very first Copperhead (I have seen and even photographed them before, but never found one myself)! This little fella was hiding beneath a log, and never moved a muscle.
Northern x Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
A significant portion of this trip is always spent in search of the elusive Eastern Box Turtle, and finding one is always an event. This beautiful male was especially exciting!
Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina)
We had a banner year for one of the smallest and poorest-known snake species in the area, the Smooth Earth Snake. These little guys normally hide underground or under leaf litter, so it was exciting to see a few out and about!
Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae)
Finally, being a nature photographer, especially one who focuses on reptiles, amphibians and bugs, often means getting a little dirty for the craft. It's not uncommon for me to be lying on my belly in the mud or wading into a pond in search of the right angle. But when I heard there was a Northern Widow in the outhouse, I knew things were going to get messy...
When you've gotta go... (thanks to Jenn Bock for immortalizing this moment)
What a beauty!
Northern Widow (Latrodectus variolus)
That's all for now!
Kyle
