2007 Spring Field Meet
CE Miller Ranch, Presidio/Jeff Davis Counties
4-6 May 2007
We had a great turnout at this May’s THS spring field meet in far west Texas, especially considering gas prices and distances (over 500 miles from Austin alone!). Over 40 people were in attendance, though our final count is in question as a few people ducked in and out fairly quickly without registering on Friday and Saturday. Despite the above-average rainfall for the ranch for the first four months of the year, lack of any precipitation in the preceding 10 days hampered some herp activity. Nevertheless, the green vegetation, flowing springs, and fantastic habitat provided ample opportunities and adventures for all. The Sunday show-and-tell in the Miller Ranch house yard was a lot of fun, and was especially enjoyed by the Miller Family (they really enjoyed meeting all of you!).
Twenty-eight species were collected or observed during the trip. One new county record was found (Leptotyphlops dissectus), with several other species of interest were recorded: 2 Bogertophis subocularis, 1 Trimorphodon vilkinsonii, 1 Crotalus lepidus. These latter two species had not been recorded for the ranch since the initial herpetological surveys were conducted on the ranch in 1948. Ed and Ann Stevens brought along copies of the herp list from the 1979 THS field meet at CE Miller Ranch. This list included 47 species, though it was unclear whether all species/specimens had been seen on the Miller Ranch property or on adjacent lands/roads.
A hearty thanks to the Miller Family for once again hosting THS and allowing us to enjoy and appreciate their property.
May 2007 THS field trip species list
Bufo punctatus Leptotyphlops dissectus
Hyla arenicolor Bogertophis subocularis
Kinosternon flavescens Lampropeltis getula
Crotaphytus collaris Masticophis flagellum
Cophosaurus texanus Masticophis taeniatus
Holbrookia maculata Pituophis catenifer
Sceloporus undulatus Salvadora deserticola
Eumeces obsoletus Trimorphodon vilkinsonii*
Eumeces tetragrammus Crotalus atrox
Aspidoscelis exsanguis Crotalus lepidus*
Aspidoscelis inornatus Crotalus molossus
Aspidoscelis tesselatus Crotalus scutulatus
*new species for 2004-present survey at CE Miller Ranch
[As a side note, a subsequent survey trip at the end of June/beginning of July produced two Crotalus viridis on the ranch – not seen since 1948 – as well as another Trimorphodon and six Bogertophis; 37 species in all, either seen or heard July 2007.]