Salamander Hunting!

So, yesterday was amazing! It was totally a 5 star day. This translates into sighting (and holding)two turtles, a snake and many a frog! Gotta love sunny days after rain! I saw an eastern mud turtle, which was pretty nondiscript (but that doesn't make him any less awesome!, a chicken turtle, black racer (the snake) and both southern and northern cricket frogs. I know you guys were dying to know that!

The chicken turtle's name concerns me. He did not get it because he's a coward! The whole time we held him he had his mouth wide open--possed and ready to strike at an errant finger (or the small stick we stuck close to him)! I fear that he got his name for what he tastes like and that is never a fair thing to do to an animal. Chicken turtles are actually quite beautiful. This guy had bright yellow stripes all over his head and neck and vertically striped "pants" (for some reason this is what you call the exposed part of the back legs when the turtle has retreated into its shell). Sadly, my camera chose to die before we caught the turtle.

The rest of the week was also pretty decent. Saw a couple of new species: a central newt and a gopher tortise. Both were very awesome. I can tell I'm really gonna love these monthly wetland checks. Even if I don't see any flatwood salamanders there will be call kinds of other herps for me to grab and harass!

Sadly, I'm a little timid of lunging for snakes down here. The Cape didn't have any poisonous ones and there are plenty here, so I don't think I will be catching many snakes. Of course one of my co-workers has worked with poisonous snakes before and doesn't fear them. Maybe if I can get out with her more I'll have some cool encounters!

In other news I still don't have an apartment. The one I looked at early this week kinda scared me (especially the neighbor with the truck up on monster tires and a confederate flag decal). There is another apartment available in a nicer neighborhood that is actually within walking distance of work and a small park on the bay. It sounds and looks a lot more my style. Its got lots of windows and a little yard. Its pretty tiny, but I have no furniture so it matters not.

Not much else going on here. I could tell you about the comics I bought... I will say this: astonishing xmen is awesome! This new arc is going to be fun and any one who like the x-men (or serenity for that matter since the series is written by joss whedon)should be reading this title. That's my statement.