Midlands Herping

Midlands Herping

Postby Mitton » Mon Nov 03, 2014 11:16 am

Another year, another trip. I spend the last few days with a great group of guys herping a VERY wet, cold and windy Natal Midlands. We arrived on Thursday last week and got back yesterday afternoon.

We found a record amount of snake species, 12 species (4 personal lifers) and all were found flipping rocks. It was way too wet and cold to even try and cruise, so I think a very successful weekend.

The snakes:
Dusky-Bellied Water Snake
Brown Water Snake
Natal Black Snake
Olive Ground Snake
Natal Green Snake
Spotted Skaapsteker
Bibrons Blind Snake
Thread Snake
Herald Snake
Slug Eater
Centipede Eater
Puff Adder

Here are a few pics, with the constant rain and mud and wind, taking pics were not the best or easy. Lets see what the other guys got.

Camp Site, before the rain and mist.
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Scenery
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Dwarf Chameleon
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River Frog
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Skink
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Herald Snake
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Slug Eater
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Spotted Skeepsteker
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Puff Adder
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Natal Black Snake
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Olive Ground Snake
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Brown Water Snake
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Dusky-Bellied Water Snake, this gravid female was huge, about a meter.
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Natal Green Snake
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Re: Midlands Herping

Postby Westley Price » Mon Nov 03, 2014 11:22 am

Great stuff Eugene, seems like you guys had a ball, irrespective of the weather.

If I was one of the KZN guys I would be tempted to keep the Dusky-bellied Water snake and hatch the eggs.

Awesome photography too, well done.
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Re: Midlands Herping

Postby Warren Klein » Mon Nov 03, 2014 11:39 am

Some nice finds. Love the Water snakes and the Skaapie has nice yellow too!
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Re: Midlands Herping

Postby SteveZi » Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:33 pm

I like that Green snake!
Nice one
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Re: Midlands Herping

Postby Fooble » Mon Nov 03, 2014 2:23 pm

Nice image Eugene! That Puff adder image is particularly sharp in the very trying crappy weather conditions!

Thanks again for the invite was great to join you guys on the trip.

These species are great representative of some of the classic Midlands species great stuff!
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Re: Midlands Herping

Postby jka » Mon Nov 03, 2014 3:56 pm

Great Post! Its nice to see a different phase skaapie.

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Re: Midlands Herping

Postby reptile » Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:14 pm

Nice finds!
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Re: Midlands Herping

Postby Mehelya » Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:29 pm

Lovely finds Eugene! Jealous! I can't decide if I like the Natal Black, the Olive, or the Skaapsteker more! Kudos on amazing photography and finds!
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Re: Midlands Herping

Postby Ruan Stander » Mon Nov 03, 2014 5:32 pm

Lovely set of species. Looks like a breath-taking area.
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Re: Midlands Herping

Postby Reptiles Unlimited » Wed Nov 05, 2014 12:04 am

Fantastic way to spend a weekend, thank you for the invite.
James and I really enjoyed ourselves and it was great seeing all you guys again.
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Re: Midlands Herping

Postby Kakibos » Thu Nov 06, 2014 10:43 pm

Good post and lovely finds!
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Re: Midlands Herping

Postby Nick Evans » Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:02 pm

Great post! Looks like you guys had a good weekend! Love the Olive.
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