Texas
April 2005
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Part I - SC to Austin
In early April 2005 I was scheduled to be in Austin Texas for my cousins wedding. I decided to take a little time and try to see as much of Texas as possible by car. The idea sparked the interest of a high-school friend of mine and it because an official road trip. I was thrilled with the idea of touring one of the most herp-rich and ecologically-diverse regions of the country and an area that I had virtually no experience with.
I departed for Texas early in the morning with the plan of making the long haul in one shot. I was quickly rewarded with my first herp of the trip, crossing the interstate...
Slider (Trachemys scripta)
After nearly 14 hours driving I decided to take a short detour in Louisiana for a little road cruising. I was quickly rewarded with my first lifer of the trip...
Gulf Coast Toad (Bufo valliceps)
Although live snakes were scarce, I did find several DOR's
Broad-Banded Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata)
Two of the species found were lifers for me...
Graham's Crayfish Snake (Regina grahamii) and Diamondback Watersnake (Nerodia rhombifer)
After a grueling 22 hours, I finally made to Austin, tired, but not disappointed. The next morning we hit the Austin Wildflower Gardens and found that recent rains had brought the flowers to life... beautiful.
Of course, I couldn't help flipping some rocks and soon found another lifer...
Flat-Headed Snake (Tantilla gracilis)
As well as some cool scorpions...
Even at the wedding that night I let myself be "convinced" by my young cousins to do a little reception herping. I was pleasantly surprised with two lifers...
Texas Blind Snake (Leptotyphlops dulcis)
Cliff Chirping Frog (Syrrhophus marnockii)
The following day I stopped by my Aunt and Uncles house just outside Austin. A little tin flipping yielded a couple of good finds...
Checkered Garter Snake (Thamnophis marcianus)
Short-Lined Skink (Eumeces tetragrammus)
After that I stopped to pick up my high school bud Chris Pedler and we were off to west Texas. Of course no Texas Trip would be complete without a stop by the Alamo...
