NC Herps in Green

[jaspersail]

I visited the Nags Head Ecological Preserve last month while vacationing on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The preserve protects one of the few remaining mid-atlantic maritime forests with deciduous hardwoods (up to 500 yrs old). Interesting place to visit/hike if you're out that way... Click the attachment to fly there using Google Earth.

The main freshwater pond was coated in green with some aquatic plant growth... and it coated the herps who happened into it!

Redbelly Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster)
http://photos.repashy.com/data/500/RedbellyWaterSnake_9723_a.jpg

Basking Turtles
http://photos.repashy.com/data/500/BaskingTurtles_9719.jpg

I also saw anoles and toads but didn't photograph them.

One of my other photographic interests is butterflies... Here are a couple from Roanoke Island, NC, on the same trip.

Red-Banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)
http://photos.repashy.com/data/500/RedBandedHairstreak_Calycopis_cecrops_Manteo_9858. jpg

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
http://photos.repashy.com/data/500/AmericanLady_Vanessa_virginiensis_Manteo_9847.jpg

--John

[baugh]

nice pics. that red belly pic is cool.

do u have any scenry shots?

[count dewclaw]

I love hairstreaks! Awesome pictures, the red belly looks nice in green:D

[Palex134]

very nice red belly water snake! I love that first butterfly picture! Incredible!

[umop_apisdn]

once again, delighted to see some herping posts from my home state!

[Salzy]

Cool finds. I also enjoy that pic of the redbelly. I found one of those once back when I was little and it spooked the heck out of me. Rolling rocks for anoles and out comes one of those. Wasn't quite prepared for it. Very cool though. Sounds like an amazing place as well.

[slygecko]

Nice finds! I love that Hairstreak.

[jaspersail]

do u have any scenry shots?

Baugh,

Here are a couple scenery shots.
http://photos.repashy.com/data/500/NagsHeadWoods_9728.jpg

http://photos.repashy.com/data/500/NagsHeadWoods_9729.jpg

Most of the Outer Banks is flat because it's basically just a long, thin sand bar. Note the hill in the second pic--there is a large, tall sand dune that runs through the preserve and is held in place by roots and vegetation.

I've been going to the Outer Banks for almost 40 years and watched it change from a quiet shoreline to a tourist zoo! This place is a great little peaceful refuge not far from the maddening crowd...

--John

[Chicubswally]

Wonderful photos.

For some reason, I looked at the first photo for several seconds before focusing on the redbelly snake! Either old eyes or I was enthralled by the duck weed on its back :)

Great shots.

[Joe Farah]

The shot of the water snake blew me away! I've caught a few of them in NC before and I can't believe how huge they get! One of the scariest non-venomous snakes in the country if you ask me.

Nice finds and beautiful photos!