TH's Western Cape herping exploits

TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby TH » Wed Aug 24, 2011 12:02 pm

It’s certainly been a while since I last posted any photos in this forum. I noticed that there is a recent trend for people to start a thread showcasing all their local herping, so I thought I would start one as well for my efforts in my home province. Hopefully, I will be able to add more and more to it in the coming months…

Anyway, as a start, here are a few photos from some of my time in the field in the last couple of months. I haven’t spent as much time as I would’ve liked in the field chasing herps, but have been able to find a few interesting things anyway. I wish I had more stuff to post in this first post, but these will have to do for now…

Hopefully, as the season down here improves over the next few weeks, I will have a few more things to post to keep you interested… :D

Reptiles:

Cross-marked Grass Snake - Psammophis crucifer
Image

Oelofsen’s Girdled Lizard - Cordylus oelofseni
Image

Cederberg Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko - Goggia hexapora
Image

Southern Rough Thick-toed Gecko - Pachydactylus formosus
Image

Ocellated Thick-toed Gecko - Pachydactylus geitje
Image


Frogs:

Clicking Stream Frog – Strongylopus grayii
Image

Cape Caco – Cacosternum capense
Image

Sand Toad - Vandijkophrynus angusticeps
Image

Raucous Toad - Amietophrynus rangeri
Image

Montane Marsh Frog – Poyntonia paludicola
Image

Landdroskop Moss Frog - Arthroleptella landdrosia
Image
follow my local exploits in the field at:
http://hardakerwildlife.wordpress.com/

see my photos and longer trip reports at:
http://www.hardaker.co.za
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TH
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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby Mat Van G » Wed Aug 24, 2011 12:42 pm

wow those are some really awesome frogs great photography!!!
looks like u had fun :D
Only when the last tree has been cut down,
the last river has been poisoned
and the last fish caught,
only then will we realize that money cannot be eaten!!
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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby Wolf777 » Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:24 pm

Great photos! I like the last two especially.
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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby Durban Keeper » Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:49 pm

I have to agree with Wolf! Wonderful photography, but the last 2 just grab you. Also like your shot of Pachydactylus geitje very much!
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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby Fooble » Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:45 pm

Just great Trevor.

That Landdroskop Moss Frog is one hell of a find!

Please don't forget about , as we are always grateful for such excellent indigenous post's not to mention those Photographs!
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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby TH » Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:11 pm

Thanks everyone for your kind words! Hopefully, I will be able to post lots more in the next few weeks/months as the season is really starting to get going down here now...
follow my local exploits in the field at:
http://hardakerwildlife.wordpress.com/

see my photos and longer trip reports at:
http://www.hardaker.co.za
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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby Groenslang » Thu Aug 25, 2011 6:41 am

The Whip snake is stunning, but the cherry on top is the photo of the Moss Frog!
The future depends on what we do in the present. - Mahatma Gandhi

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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby Westley Price » Fri Aug 26, 2011 6:57 pm

Great pictures and finds TH.

Could you please give some advice on how you photograph frogs? I always find the sky reflects too much on their wet (slimy) skin.

Toads are easier, but I really struggle with frogs. Are you doing anything special?
"I am dying by inches from not having anybody to talk to about insects." - Charles Darwin
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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby armata » Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:32 pm

Very very nice Trevor - love the sundew with the marsh frog.
' I get my kicks on Route 62 '
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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby TH » Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:27 pm

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Westley, no I don't think I am doing anything particularly special, and if I am, it is purely by co-incidence and not planned at all... :D I try and photograph the frogs at a minimum of F16 and use flash - I don't think this is much different to what others would do. It's always been a case of trial and error with me - take a few shots, review them on the back of the camera and then change settings if I think they need changing...
follow my local exploits in the field at:
http://hardakerwildlife.wordpress.com/

see my photos and longer trip reports at:
http://www.hardaker.co.za
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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby TH » Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:36 pm

Just back from a great days herping in the West Coast National Park with some friends visiting from KZN. Still busy downloading photos and will post some once I have processed them, but for what it's worth, here is the list of things we found today. Great to finally be able to get out into the field again for a dedicated herping day!

Angulate Tortoise - Chersina angulata
Striped Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko - Goggia lineata
Karoo Girdled Lizard - Karusasaurus polyzonus
Large-scaled Girdled Lizard - Cordylus macropholis
Cuvier's Blind Legless Skink - Typhlosaurus caecus
Gronovi's Dwarf Burrowing Skink - Scelotes gronovii
Variegated Skink - Trachylepis variegata
Cape Skink - Trachylepis capensis
Spotted Skaapsteker - Psammophylax rhombeatus
Karoo Sand Snake - Psammophis notostictus
Cape Sand Snake - Psammophis leightoni
Common Egg-eater - Dasypeltis scabra
Puffadder - Bitis arietans
follow my local exploits in the field at:
http://hardakerwildlife.wordpress.com/

see my photos and longer trip reports at:
http://www.hardaker.co.za
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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby nvlooi » Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:44 pm

Stunning photography as always.
Very nice list you have here.

Q - Where did you photograph the P. formosus? It is very grey coloured I have not seen ones that grey!


H
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure... - Nelson Mandela

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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby TH » Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:02 pm

Thanks Henco!

That gecko was found in the Piketberg Mountains - don't want to give very specific details here, but can give more specific gen directly to you if you are interested...

BTW, just back from another few hours in the field - not too much in the way of reptiles, but did come home having seen my first ever Bainskloof Moss Frog... :D
follow my local exploits in the field at:
http://hardakerwildlife.wordpress.com/

see my photos and longer trip reports at:
http://www.hardaker.co.za
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TH
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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby nvlooi » Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:32 pm

TH wrote:Thanks Henco!

That gecko was found in the Piketberg Mountains - don't want to give very specific details here, but can give more specific gen directly to you if you are interested...

BTW, just back from another few hours in the field - not too much in the way of reptiles, but did come home having seen my first ever Bainskloof Moss Frog... :D



Im super jelous! Bainskloof Moss frog... so unfair!

WD.

H

Ps.I would appreciate it if you can mail the info.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure... - Nelson Mandela

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Re: TH's Western Cape herping exploits

Postby TH » Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:51 am

Here are a few pics from Saturday’s efforts in the West Coast National Park…

Karoo Sand Snake - Psammophis notostictus
Image

Cape Skink - Trachylepis capensis
Image

Cape Sand Snake - Psammophis leightoni
Image

Large-scaled Girdled Lizard - Cordylus macropholis
Image

Spotted Skaapsteker - Psammophylax rhombeatus
Image

Cuvier’s Blind Legless Skink - Typhlosaurus caecus
Image

Puffadder - Bitis arietans
Image

Gronovi’s Dwarf Burrowing Skink - Scelotes gronovii
Image

Common Egg-eater - Dasypeltis scabra
Image
follow my local exploits in the field at:
http://hardakerwildlife.wordpress.com/

see my photos and longer trip reports at:
http://www.hardaker.co.za
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TH
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