Search found 1782 matches

by Owen
March 27th, 2014, 9:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: So Cal Rain this week?
Replies: 24
Views: 6205

Re: So Cal Rain this week?

But 10 years from now you will call that a SLOW day.. Fundad If that is a slow day then I definitely picked the wrong year to get into field herping. :lol: Smack in the middle of a drought! Yeah, slow day if you rely on set chum board lines ;) Very dry up here in SJ. Similar rainfall as SD. Log fli...
by Owen
March 26th, 2014, 4:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: March 2014- San Francisco Bay Area/Northern CA
Replies: 16
Views: 8050

Re: March 2014- San Francisco Bay Area/Northern CA

Your Snake:Lizard:Salamander ratio really seems skewed ;)

Nicely done :thumb:
by Owen
March 26th, 2014, 4:32 pm
Forum: Invertebrate Forum
Topic: ID help -- Sonoran Desert Spider and Scorpion
Replies: 6
Views: 8708

Re: ID help -- Sonoran Desert Spider and Scorpion

here you go
MadManMoore wrote:[url]https://www.flickr.com/photos/98886351@ ... 012297[url]
I found this one last year in Utah. It is about the size of my hand.
Image
by Owen
March 26th, 2014, 4:27 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: New Flickr
Replies: 70
Views: 34671

Re: New Flickr

I just got this ugly grey pane today that takes up 20% of the right of the screen. I don't know how to kill it. Sucks that it takes me two extra steps to post a picture since I select a size and insert a link. Oh well...

Improvise, adapt and overcome. Oorah :x
by Owen
March 24th, 2014, 10:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: San Luis Obispo County Database Species List update
Replies: 8
Views: 2303

Re: San Luis Obispo County Database Species List update

Thanks for doing this. I get down there once or twice a year... that's why there are more ring-necked snake vouchers. I saw 3. Most of those Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis records are T. s. fitchi. The others don't have clear enough pictures to tell. Arroyo Toads surprise me, but it looks like there...
by Owen
March 24th, 2014, 9:16 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 1,000 + ALL TIME HERP Records Club (California Chapter)
Replies: 39
Views: 7126

Re: 1,000 + ALL TIME HERP Records Club (California Chapter)

Thanks Marc. Great Job.

Also... Jim Maughn passed the 2000 vouchered barrier last weekend and currently stands at 2005 :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :beer:
by Owen
March 24th, 2014, 12:13 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Largest snake?
Replies: 18
Views: 4423

Re: Largest snake?

40" Coast Garter:
Image

36" Santa Cruz Garter (missing 3"+ of tail):
Image
by Owen
March 23rd, 2014, 6:58 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Largest snake?
Replies: 18
Views: 4423

Re: Largest snake?

Fieldherper wrote:I don't think any of these are in record territory, so I didn't see the need for exact numbers.
Those 48"+ Diablo Garters are surely record sized. I rarely see them over 28" with around 30" to maybe 32" being the biggest. At 30" they're pretty chunky.
by Owen
March 23rd, 2014, 9:41 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Largest snake?
Replies: 18
Views: 4423

Re: Largest snake?

JAMAUGHN wrote:Clocking in at a whopping 18", this was the largest Forest Sharptailed Snake I've seen:

Image
Forest Sharptailed Snake, Contia longicaudae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

:D
JimM
Banana slugs anyone?
by Owen
March 22nd, 2014, 2:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Largest snake?
Replies: 18
Views: 4423

Re: Largest snake?

Largest (or 2nd largest): In the 4-1/2' range and as big around as half way up my forearm. I just got it retreating into the rocks. http://www.roadtoadmusic.com/images/DSC04223crop.jpg This one was over 4', but no more than 52": http://www.roadtoadmusic.com/images/DSC00524crop.jpg Longest: I ha...
by Owen
March 19th, 2014, 6:09 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: It's been too long since we've had an in situ theme thread..
Replies: 212
Views: 868473

Re: It's been too long since we've had an in situ theme thre

Another C. o. oreganus.

This golden one just emerging in the morning last weekend:

Image
by Owen
March 18th, 2014, 11:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 1,000 + ALL TIME HERP Records Club (California Chapter)
Replies: 39
Views: 7126

Re: 1,000 + ALL TIME HERP Records Club (California Chapter)

Linsalata, Marc = 1006 :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :be...
by Owen
March 18th, 2014, 5:33 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: It's been too long since we've had an in situ theme thread..
Replies: 212
Views: 868473

Re: It's been too long since we've had an in situ theme thre

C. o. oreganus peek-a-boo rock outcrop.

Image
by Owen
March 17th, 2014, 8:03 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: King Snakes in California
Replies: 27
Views: 5594

Re: King Snakes in California

Just a friendly reminder on regulations... California possession limit: Common kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula): Limit: Four (4) Definition of "Bag and Possession Limit" 1.17. BAG AND POSSESSION LIMIT No more than one daily bag limit of each kind of fish, amphibian, reptile, mollusk or crus...
by Owen
March 16th, 2014, 5:05 pm
Forum: Invertebrate Forum
Topic: ID help -- Sonoran Desert Spider and Scorpion
Replies: 6
Views: 8708

Re: ID help -- Sonoran Desert Spider and Scorpion

Wolf spider is Hogna genus. Not sure of the species.
by Owen
March 13th, 2014, 3:44 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: To dry: get out and flip boards now..
Replies: 7
Views: 2082

Re: To dry: get out and flip boards now..

Last year through March 13th I had 50 snakes in 5 species (32 Sharp-tailed, 0 Ring-necked) This year to date, 39 snakes in 7 species (13 Sharp-tailed, 11 Ring-necked) Drier winter in 2014, so less Sharp-tailed. The Ring-necked were all since February after the rains started and finally brought the B...
by Owen
March 12th, 2014, 6:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Morro Bay data point
Replies: 22
Views: 5331

Re: Morro Bay data point

s_stocking wrote:This is consistent with what mwentz and I noted- no sightings since 2008-2009....
From May 2010:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/doliveck/4 ... otostream/
by Owen
March 12th, 2014, 6:04 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: To dry: get out and flip boards now..
Replies: 7
Views: 2082

Re: To dry: get out and flip boards now..

Flipped a tire today... very dry:

Image
by Owen
March 10th, 2014, 6:47 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Kern County Database Species List update
Replies: 8
Views: 2927

Re: Kern County Database Species List update

Diablo Range Garter Snake? I don't believe this species has been observed in Kern. Fundad I agree. The aquatics would have been Giant Garters in Kern until the ag/water stuff wiped them out. Giants and Diablos never really seem to overlap and you could probably argue for either separate sp. or ssp....
by Owen
March 8th, 2014, 9:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 1,000 + ALL TIME HERP Records Club (California Chapter)
Replies: 39
Views: 7126

Re: 1,000 + ALL TIME HERP Records Club (California Chapter)

My 3000th vouchered: http://www.naherp.com/vouchers/176350-228250.jpg Happiness is a nice plump toad :mrgreen: BTW, a couple active members quickly approaching 2000: Matt Gruen at 1991 Jim Maughn at 1986 and Marc Linsalata coming in fast toward 1000, currently at 995! UPDATED THE ABOVE FOLKS 3/18/20...
by Owen
March 5th, 2014, 1:55 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Santa Cruz Survey Spring 2014
Replies: 43
Views: 11671

Re: Santa Cruz Survey Spring 2014

I like the May 4th date as well. It pushes it further toward dates not surveyed and may have a better chance of things like Yellow-legged Frogs. Is there any chaparral that would support whiptails, whipsnakes and horned lizards???
by Owen
March 5th, 2014, 1:18 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Northeast vs. California Chapter Contest
Replies: 70
Views: 18463

Re: Northeast vs. California Chapter Contest

As I PM'd Fundad last FEB, I'm in for $25 as well. Just let me know where to send.
by Owen
March 3rd, 2014, 8:54 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: High White western fence lizard
Replies: 8
Views: 1655

Re: High White western fence lizard

I think you should name him 'Patches'. :mrgreen:
by Owen
March 2nd, 2014, 11:13 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: February Finds 2014
Replies: 17
Views: 4196

Re: February Finds 2014

Good Job! :beer: It's funny, but despite the conditions, there's surprisingly a nice diversity of herps out, though numbers are down. It did take me all the way to March to find my first toad, but I've got 9 'mander species so far this year.
by Owen
March 2nd, 2014, 10:55 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: It's been too long since we've had an in situ theme thread..
Replies: 212
Views: 868473

Re: It's been too long since we've had an in situ theme thre

Just to mix it up a little: Dicamptodon ensatus larva:

Image
by Owen
March 2nd, 2014, 10:41 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: So how bad is this drought really?
Replies: 22
Views: 4795

Re: So how bad is this drought really?

Just a little update on the rainfall numbers to put all in perspective. These were taken from today's (Sunday) Mercury News. Rainfall season beginning July 1, 2013 as of 5:00PM March 1 2014. San Jose: 2.76" season to date; 11.43" normal to date; percent of normal = 24% San Francisco: 5.29&...
by Owen
March 1st, 2014, 6:38 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: amphibian day - San Diego - 2/28/14
Replies: 6
Views: 1925

Re: amphibian day - San Diego - 2/28/14

Very nice. Love the klauberi. Looks like you're getting hammered with rain this afternoon/evening as well.
by Owen
February 27th, 2014, 12:21 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 1,000 + ALL TIME HERP Records Club (California Chapter)
Replies: 39
Views: 7126

Re: 1,000 + ALL TIME HERP Records Club (California Chapter)

I would like to welcome Lawrence Erickson (our current Conservation Specialist) to the 1000 record club, coming in at 1001 as of this morning.

WAY - TO _ GO! :beer:
by Owen
February 27th, 2014, 9:03 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Contra Costa County Species List and Database Gaps
Replies: 29
Views: 13178

Re: Contra Costa County Species List and Database Gaps

I wonder if Hanna saw any close to the county during her work with the giants.
by Owen
February 26th, 2014, 8:37 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Rain!
Replies: 31
Views: 5563

Re: Rain!

It started around 8:00AM here. Light rain so far. It should pick up around noon. I found a 5-1/4" Batrachoseps while weeding on Sunday. They'll be on the crawl in the yard this evening. I only saw one around the pool deck, but we only got about 5/8" rain here. I do have a 30 gal waste barr...
by Owen
February 25th, 2014, 8:57 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Contra Costa County Species List and Database Gaps
Replies: 29
Views: 13178

Re: Contra Costa County Species List and Database Gaps

I have to wonder if Giant Garters occasionally touch the eastern border with all the canals, sloughs and islands in the delta.
by Owen
February 24th, 2014, 7:15 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Rain!
Replies: 31
Views: 5563

Re: Rain!

I'll keep my fingers crossed. Looks like LA (2"-3") will get more than SJ (1.5") out of the next storm, but we have an extra storm following up early next week, so it could even out. It will at least grow the grass.
by Owen
February 24th, 2014, 7:11 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Alameda County Species List and Database Gaps
Replies: 7
Views: 2376

Re: Alameda County Species List and Database Gaps

Thanks Derek.

I do have a picture of a couple horny toads from Alameda Co. from late 70's and I could map them. Just no date!

Hard to believe no Whiptails or YLF yet. If it were a good rain year, I could probably do the YLF this summer.
by Owen
February 22nd, 2014, 9:16 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Los Angeles County Database Species List
Replies: 23
Views: 3737

Re: Los Angeles County Database Species List

So i had the day free, thought i would tackle this monster .... here we go............ Missing from database: Leopard Frogs ( i'm sure they are introduced somewhere) Missing from database: tiger salamander (introduced somewhere maybe) Missing From Database : Alligator Snapping Turtle Common Snappin...
by Owen
February 22nd, 2014, 7:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: County Species Profiles and Database holes.
Replies: 21
Views: 3163

Re: County Species Profiles and Database holes.

Thanks Elliot.

I need to finish up my adjacent counties as well. I haven't really had time to venture out of my own much other than one/two day things in SLO, Alameda, San Benito... probably March to finish those and Stanislaus.
by Owen
February 22nd, 2014, 7:38 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Mono County - Needs Work
Replies: 18
Views: 5869

Re: Mono County - Needs Work

monodriver... I like it, but if it were monohiker 8-)

Thanks for all the good work out there.
by Owen
February 22nd, 2014, 7:34 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: San Bernardino County DB species list
Replies: 14
Views: 3362

Re: San Bernardino County DB species list

Thanks for doing this. Over 100 herp types... that's crazy :shock:

It would be interesting to see how complete a year list one could do there.
by Owen
February 22nd, 2014, 8:42 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Crotalus ruber combat dance.
Replies: 17
Views: 4015

Re: Crotalus ruber combat dance.

Really cool. I saw that last year with NorPacs (http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16436&p=193871&hilit=baile#p193871) and the entire thing took less than a minute. I have to think that stumbling on to this must be extremely rare given the short time that it takes th...
by Owen
February 19th, 2014, 4:50 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Ultra-violet photography with digital cameras?
Replies: 27
Views: 12861

Re: Ultra-violet photography with digital cameras?

The last image is very nice, but the scorpion now looks like it is made from plastic :) I think that part of that is due to the sky reflections. UV was coming from the side and some ambient light from the top. Here's Harpaphe haydeniana from the same day. You can see the true black and yellow color...
by Owen
February 19th, 2014, 10:37 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: So how bad is this drought really?
Replies: 22
Views: 4795

Re: So how bad is this drought really?

So here's my take on this: It's actually a historic level drought, so getting out there and recording what you see is important. Be careful when flipping cover and make sure to take the time to reseat and reseal the cover since moisture is at a premium. If something goes down a hole, don't try and d...
by Owen
February 18th, 2014, 7:44 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: So how bad is this drought really?
Replies: 22
Views: 4795

Re: So how bad is this drought really?

I was down in SLO over the weekend visiting friends and it looks pretty bad as far as new grass growth. Lots of trees with brown leaves. I managed 4 slenders, 2 skinks, 2 Scelops, 1 Elgaria and 1 Ringneck in about 30 minutes of actual searching. Like up here, no grass for the cows. :(
by Owen
February 18th, 2014, 7:38 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Riverside County on Sunday
Replies: 12
Views: 3670

Re: Riverside County on Sunday

Nice post. Nice healthy fat ruber. Take advantage of the next couple months as I don't see rain in the near forecast. I have a feeling everything is going to be slim pickens once we hit May.
by Owen
February 18th, 2014, 6:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Rosy Boa now Three-lined Boa?
Replies: 20
Views: 6268

Re: Rosy Boa now Three-lined Boa?

High Desert Rosy Boa? ;)
by Owen
February 18th, 2014, 6:26 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Ultra-violet photography with digital cameras?
Replies: 27
Views: 12861

Re: Ultra-violet photography with digital cameras?

One more from today. I did the exposure so that the background was decently lit and balanced and that only the scorpion (Uroctonus mordax) is affected by the UV:

Image
by Owen
February 18th, 2014, 4:58 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: San Mateo County Species List and Database Gaps
Replies: 16
Views: 2906

Re: San Mateo County Species List and Database Gaps

Zach, way to go on the Night and yes, the sharp looks like tenuis. Now you need a San Mateo Tantilla!
by Owen
February 14th, 2014, 12:11 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: So how bad is this drought really?
Replies: 22
Views: 4795

Re: So how bad is this drought really?

Basically, everything from San Francisco Bay on southward is in a severe drought with the central part of the state in the worse shape. Ranchers around here need to bring in hay to feed their cows since the grass has been completely grazed and we haven't had any new growth yet. Here's some San Jose ...
by Owen
February 13th, 2014, 4:54 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 1,000 + ALL TIME HERP Records Club (California Chapter)
Replies: 39
Views: 7126

Re: 1,000 + ALL TIME HERP Records Club (California Chapter)

So long as success in high-stakes data entry contests lead... and lucrative endorsement contracts that go with those things... JimM I'm still waiting for Garmin's endorsement since I cracked the glass on my 60CSx and I was hoping they would sponsor me at least some new glass given that I keep a tra...
by Owen
February 13th, 2014, 3:59 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Ultra-violet photography with digital cameras?
Replies: 27
Views: 12861

Re: Ultra-violet photography with digital cameras?

I do not know what type of LEDs the Nitecore torch uses though. It would be interesting to find this type of information. I can't find any info on the UV chip from their literature. The white XP-G2 is a 3.45mm square chip, but the UV chip is bigger and looks like it's 5mm. I actually got it when it...