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East Texas and Lousiana 2018

This years spring trip was a combination of the Texas Herpetological Society field trip and a few days in western Lousiana and later meeting up with Toby, Rachel, and the girls in east Texas.

March 9 - Once again Becky stayed with Juanita while Diana and I went on our trip. We left the house at 7:00 am and arrived at the THS camp site (Alabama Creek Wildlife Management Area, Davey Crockett National Forest in Houston and Trinity Counties) at 3:30 pm. It was cloudy and cool. Several of the members of the society were already there. Set up camp and visited with members.

Camp site in Alabama Creek WMA

March 10 - It was warm, humid, partly cloudy to sunny. It seemed late for salamanders but too early for most reptiles. The members still got a good variety of herps but not good numbers. I only found or observed 11 species.

Beaver dam pond

Masticophis flagellum (Coachwhip)

Amblyscirtes aesculapius (Lace-winged Roadside Skipper)

Cyllopsis gemma (Gemmed Satyr)

Ladona deplanata (Blue Corporal)

March 11 - THS members got up early and looked at some of the species that had been found on Friday and Saturday.

THS members relaxing before heading home.

THS camp ground

THS members looking at specimens caught

THS members looking at specimens caught

THS members looking at specimens caught. Sirens

THS members looking at specimens caught. Mole Salamander

THS members looking at specimens caught. Copperhead

Most headed back to their homes but we headed for western Lousiana.

Rhododendron canescens (Wild Azelea)

We found a camp site at Valentine Lake Recreation Area in the Kisatche National Forest. Since it was raining, we didn't stop much on the way to the site. Spring Peepers called after dark and I got a photos.

Pseudacris crucifer (Spring Peeper)

March 12 - Cold this morning, 40 degrees, Nothing started moving until the sun came out and it warmed up. I observed a few odes around the dam. Later in the morning, I went to Valentine seep to see if anything was out.

Anax junius (Common Green Darner)

Calopteryx maculata (Ebony Jewelwing) female

Calopteryx maculata (Ebony Jewelwing) male

Epitheca costalis (Slender Baskettail)

Epitheca cynosura (Common Baskettail)

Phanogomphus oklahomensis (Oklahoma Clubtail)

Ischnura hastata (Citrine Forktail)

Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail)

Battus philenor (Pipevine Swallowtail)

Calycopis cecrops (Red-banded Hairstreak)

We went into town to eat at 2:30 pm and then went down to Forest Road 212 off of La 287, I walked along a couple of forest roads in the area. I had searched areas on Odonata Central for areas that might have Harlequin Darners and spiketails. No luck on those, but did find a few things. We then went back to Valentine RA but had to get a different camp site this time.

Amblyscirtes hegon (Pepper and Salt Roadside Skipper)

Erynnis brizo (Duskywing)

Papilio troilus (Spicebush Swallowtail)

Phanogomphus lividus (Ashy Clubtail)

Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk)

March 13 - Cold, cold night. It didn't warm until the clouds went away mostly. The high today only got to 65 degrees. We decided to try out a trail called the Azelea Seep trail to check out for odes. Diana and I hike to the seep and then back.

Unusal erosion along the trail.

Sceloporus consobrinus (Western Prairie Lizard)

Callophrys irus (Frosted Hairstreak)

Epitheca costalis (Slender Baskettail) female

Epitheca cynosura (Common Baskettail) female

Epitheca semiaquea (Mantled Baskettail)

Ladona deplanata (Blue Corporal)

Phanogomphus lividus (Ashy Clubtail)

We ate lunch in a small town called Hineston. We then traveled to Fullerton Lake Recreation Area to spend the night. Showers Yes. A nice historic site of old logging and alcohol plant. Not much out though.

Blue-headed Vireo and Ruby-crowned Kinglet

March 14 - Diana and I looked at the ruins of the old town, saw mill, alcohol plant, school, hotel, and swimming pool. Some interesting history.

Fullerton Lake

Ruins at Fullerton saw mill, alcohol plant, and town.

Ruins at Fullerton saw mill, alcohol plant, and town.

Ruins at Fullerton saw mill, alcohol plant, and town.

Old swimming pool at Fullerton ruins.

From Fullerton we headed for Toby and Rachel's house. We stopped at the Sabine River to see if I could get some photos of map turtles. I did.

Graptemys sabinensis (Sabine Map Turtle)

Graptemys sabinensis (Sabine Map Turtle)

Graptemys sabinensis (Sabine Map Turtle) plus one Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni (Mississippi Map Turtle) one the left.

Cicindela repanda (Tiger Beetle)

Got to Toby's late.

March 15 - We all packed up and headed to Lake Steinhaugen to camp for 3 days. Toby, Racheal, Holley, Hattie in a tent and us in our camper at Sandy Creek Recreation Area (Corp of Engineers). We got there around 3:00 pm. Spent the afternoon around camp.

Our camper.

Toby and Rachel's tent

To help get away from the mesquitos.

Relaxing

Looks like a Slender Baskettail (Epitheca costalis)

Gomphurus hybridus (Coca Clubtail)

Phanogomphus oklahomensis (Oklahoma Clubtail)

March 16 - A little bit of rain. Sun was out by 11:00 am. We hiked, girls fished, and I looked for odes. Later Toby and I went night riding for herps.

Anaxyrus fowleri (Fowler's Toad)

Rana catesbieana (American Bullfrog)

White-throated Sparrow

White-footed Mouse decided to build in my pickup

Cicindela sexguttata (Tiger Beetle)

Enallagma signatum (Orange Bluet)

Gomphurus hybridus (Cocoa Clubtail)

Phanogomphus lividus (Ashy Clubtail)

Phanogomphus oklahomensis (Oklahoma Clubtail)

Actias luna (Luna Moth)

Apantesis nais

Hyphantria cunea

March 17 - Toby and I met Scott Walberg at a Cementary plot in Newton County. We were looking for salamanders. Five or six were found. I also observed several Harlequin Darners flying around. I never saw one land anywhere. Scott had a large dip net, so we caught a couple for posed photos.

Gomphaeschna furcillata (Harlequin Darner)

Gomphaeschna furcillata (Harlequin Darner)

March 18 - Rained. We packed up and headed for our homes. Toby found a Glossy Grayfish snake when packing up.

Regina rigida (Glossy Crayfish Snake) A good one to end our trip with.