First reps since winter...

[MV]

So last week things started to look good, but we are busy having another cold/cloudy/windy spell again.

This is what I found last week (all snakes were caught at the resort I work at, and all were released on a neighboring farm).

Date & Time: 14/08/2008 - approx. 15:00h
Species: Psammophis subtaeniatus - Striped-Bellied Sand Snake
Temperature: 26°C - 28°C
Weather Conditions: Sunny with cool breeze
Lunar Cycle: ______
Sex: Possibly Male
Length: Approx. 55cm
Comments: Found this one in an ablution block, he was very calm and never tried to strike.

Date & Time: 15/08/2008 - approx. 12:00h
Species: Philothamnus semivariegatus - Spotted Bush Snake
Temperature: 24°C - 26°C
Weather Conditions: Sunny with no breeze
Lunar Cycle: ______
Sex: ______
Length: Approx. 38cm
Comments: Found underneath a heap of carpets outside a storeroom. The snake was disturbed when the workers moved the carpets, it was pretty aggressive with a lot of striking and inflation of the neck (first time I have noticed this).

Date & Time: 16/08/2008 - approx. 11:00h
Species: Psammophis subtaeniatus - Striped-Bellied Sand Snake
Temperature: 21°C - 23°C
Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy with cool breeze
Lunar Cycle: ______
Sex: ______
Length: Approx. 35cm
Comments: Found this one in a pot plant outside the owners house. Also pretty calm but not as much as the first one.

Unfortunately I only got one bad picture...I really need to get myself a decent camera!!!



Cheers
Martin

[atropos]

The reason is here:)

[atropos]

Oops i mean season

[BushSnake]

Mmmm ... time to visit again. I can never get enough of Psammophis!. I like the way you log records.

[Fooble]

Agreed
I think most people should try do i similar layout/ description
of where and when and conditions of where the snakes were found.
Nice one!

[MV]

Thanx guys.

Yea BushSnake, I normally fill out those forms of mine, but I think that is a bit too much for the site. The forms, as I told you, is mainly for my personal use. I think that this info is good enough for the site...(I actually was too lazy to give more details, and people mainly like seeing pics, than reading records )
BushSnake, it is almost time for a visit, yes.
Things looks pretty bleak for my application for leave...

Cheers
Martin

[Death-Skull]

so when we herping

[MV]

Whenever boet, just gimme a shout, the neighboring farm is waiting...

Cheers
Martin

[MV]

So the last two weeks have not been too bad either. The following was also all caught at the lodge.

Date & Time: 20/08/2008 - 09:45h
Species: Philothamnus semivariegatus - Spotted Bush Snake
Temperature: 18°C - 20°C
Weather Conditions: Sunny with calm breeze
Lunar Cycle: ______
Sex: ______
Length: Approx. 60cm
Comments: Found this one crossing the road at the security booth. It was pretty calm, but I suspect the weather was the main reason for this.

Date & Time: 20/08/2008 - 14:00h
Species: Philothamnus semivariegatus - Spotted Bush Snake
Temperature: 30°C - 32°C
Weather Conditions: Sunny with no breeze(Might I add, "hot as hell")
Lunar Cycle: ______
Sex: ______
Length: Approx. 45cm
Comments: Saw this one enter the pool pump shed, so I chased after it, definitely not appreciating me taking it out of the cool shed.

And then...heheheeee

Date & Time: 24/08/2008 - 16:30h
Species: Naja mossambica - Mozambique Spitting Cobra
Temperature: 28°C - 30°C
Weather Conditions: Sunny
Lunar Cycle: ______
Sex: Possible Female
Length: Approx. 80cm
Comments: Beginning of winter I mentioned in a post that I saw a Mozzie entering a drain, but could not catch it, well this was her. For 3 days she mocked me by lying just outside the hole with a good view around her, but eventually my patience paid off. Unfortunately one of the workers had already hit her with something across the tail, 2-3 inches from the cloaca towards the end. The tail was cut off clean, and the wound seemed to have healed well.

Date & Time: 29/08/2008 - 17:00h
Species: Naja mossambica - Mozambique Spitting Cobra
Temperature: 32°C - 34°C
Weather Conditions: Sunny, Hot and Humid
Lunar Cycle: ______
Sex: Possible Male
Length: Approx. 100cm
Comments: This one came out of the same drain hole as the previous one, but was a lot harder to catch. The workers called me, but when I got there it was down the hole already, so I waited there for 10 or so minutes, when eventually it came out. So I ran towards it in an attempt to chase it away from the hole, which worked, but instead it went for some lumber lying in a heap, so I had to tail it and drag it to more open ground, after which we danced around for 5 or more minutes until it calmed down enough to bag it.

Now I know that pics would have been appreciated but there are none, only an eye witness...lol...you tell 'em Death-Skull

Anyway, August has treated me well so far.

Cheers
Martin

[BushSnake]

You promised pics...

Damn, I am itching to go out again! Great captures, but make sure there are still a few around in November!

[Quintin]

Nice descriptive lay out Martin. If you dont mind, i also would like to describe my finds like that, and not like my bland post of the Night Adder i caught.

Oh and by the way... i am working in Thabazimbi every week and go home on weekends. I only work untill about two, so if you get a chance during the week drop me a pm and we can go looking for stuff.

Regards,

Quintin

[MV]

Hehe, sure BushSnake, all of these were released on the farm next door, so we'll go and collect them there again...lol

@ Quintin - Let me know when you'll be in Thaba again, then we'll organize something. Remember, you guys would have come down from Thaba over the Wildsfees, but never came...better not drop me again hey :P
Use the layout boet, no worries.

Cheers
Martin

[Quintin]

Haha.. yes i still feel bad about the wildsfees thing...

I am in Thaba at the moment.. but will be going home again on friday. Will be back in Thaba on thuesday.. so let me know what will suit you!

Regards,

Q

[froot]

Thaba on thuesday

LOL

[Quintin]

Tuesday? LOL