It’s been a year since last year ended. Here's a long, meandering post to fill up a few more minutes of your new year. The Mayan Apocalypse didn't do us in, so I guess we can afford to look back, for now.
Rather than just do an inventory of the herps I saw this year, I thought I'd make a year-long photo-narrative of my rambles and the wildlife I saw during them. While herps will be well-represented, of course, I wanted to try to fit the herps into the larger context of my interactions with the outdoors this year. I hope this will be interesting, and not just self-indulgent. If it is just self-indulgent, please let it go by. I promise not to do this more than once a year. Or less. Probably less.
So, here are some highlights of what I saw in 2012.
In January of each year, the Gray Whales pass close to the coast during their migration. Here’s one off the Big Sur coast, where the water is all sorts of funny colors:
Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) at Sunset by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Herps showed up from day one. First were a couple of Slender Salamanders:
Gabilan Mts. Slender Salamander, Batrachoseps gavilanenensis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Santa Lucia Mts. Slender Salamander, Batrachoseps luciae by J. Maughn, on Flickr
I managed a couple of ehh pictures of my first Burrowing Owl this year. Here’s one of the ehh’s:
Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Back to the herps, a “Monterey” Ensatina (More likely an intergrade, but looks more Monterey than anything else):
Monterey Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzii eschscholtzii by J. Maughn, on Flickr
"Habitat" Shot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Monterey County/ by J. Maughn, on Flickr
I've been getting into birds a bit this year. I kind of like this shot of a White-tailed Kite:
White-tailed Kite, Elanus leucurus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
…and was pleased to see my first Ibis:
White-headed Ibis, Plegadis chihi by J. Maughn, on Flickr
One of the pleasures of living near the ocean is tidepooling. Here’s a Giant Green Anemone, for example:
giant green anemone, Anthopleura xanthogrammica by J. Maughn, on Flickr
In the redwoods, I found this B. attenuatus guarding its pet beetle:
California Slender Salamander, Batrachoseps attenuatus w/ Beetle by J. Maughn, on Flickr
I’m fond of mushrooms. These don’t necessarily look like much, but put them on a pizza…!
Black Chanterelle, Craterellus cornucopioides by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Coral Mushrooms are interesting to look at, but should NOT be put on pizza:
Coral Mushroom by J. Maughn, on Flickr
I'm also fond of fairly large trees.
Coast Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens by J. Maughn, on Flickr
The Arboreal Salamanders in Monterey Co. sometimes have appealingly big yellow spots:
Arboreal Salamander, Aneides lugubris by J. Maughn, on Flickr
An “Oregon” Ensatina. (See comment about “Monterey” ensatinas above.)
Oregon Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzii oregonensis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Marin County/ by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Fetid Adder’s Tongue is beautiful to see, and awful to smell:
Fetid Adder's Tongue, Scoliopus bigelovii by J. Maughn, on Flickr
My first wild boar:
Wild Boar, Sus scrofa by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Two of the five bobcats seen on my “Day of the Bobcat.”
Bobcat, Lynx rufus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
With Owen’s help I got to see my first CA Tiger Salamander this year (Lifer):
California Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma californiense by J. Maughn, on Flickr
As well as my first-time-photographed Sharp-tailed Snake (Lifer):
Common Sharptailed Snake, Contia Tenuis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Santa Clara County/ by J. Maughn, on Flickr
I found this Santa Cruz Black Salamander with Rob Schell. I think he almost certainly got a better picture of it than this, but I was happy with this one:
Santa Cruz Black Salamander, Aneides flavipunctatus niger by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A Yellow-eyed Ensatina going into defensive mode:
Yellow-eyed Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica by J. Maughn, on Flickr
I went to Chicago in February for a poetry conference. When I wasn’t at the conference, I had the pleasure of dropping by the Chicago Herp Society, and meeting the great Mike Pingleton. (…and thanks again for the ride back to the hotel, Mike.) While there wasn’t much point in trying to find any herps, I did see a few nice birds:
Wood Duck, Aix sponsa by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens by J. Maughn, on Flickr
…and one DIM (Dead in Museum) herp:
Sue, Tyrannosaurus rex by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Back in CA, with some more birds:
Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) and Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A couple of orchids:
Helleborine Orchid, Epipactis helleborine by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Calypso Orchid, Calypso bulbosa by J. Maughn, on Flickr
The first Northern Pacific Rattlesnake of the year, found with, and by, Owen:
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus oreganus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Not far from it was this nice little WYB Racer:
Western Yellow-Bellied Racer, Coluber constrictor mormon by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Here’s a CA Newt in a puddle, eating a grub:
California Newt, Taricha torosa by J. Maughn, on Flickr
And here’s the biggest Garter Snake I’ve ever seen, a four-foot CA Red-sided (SubLifer):
California Red-sided Gartersnake, Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
On that same walk, I finally found the first California Kingsnake I have seen as an adult (Lifer):
California Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula californiae by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Ringnecks like to strike odd poses sometimes:
Pacific Ringneck Snake, Diadophis punctatus amabilis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Though still not as odd as the Red Cage Fungus:
Red-cage Fungus, Clathrus ruber by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Porter said he liked this shot of a Turkey Vulture in a tree. Since he’s a far better photographer than I am, I appreciated the compliment. So here’s the photo:
Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Cute little Hantavirus carrier:
deer mouse (Genus Peromyscus) by J. Maughn, on Flickr
My first Bald Eagle:
Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
My first Muskrat, which swam by as I watched the Bald Eagle:
Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Skilton’s Skink:
Western Skink, Plestiodon skiltonianus skiltonianus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Sierran Treefrog:
Sierra Chorus Frog, Pseudacris sierra by J. Maughn, on Flickr
The Soquel Demo Forest Surveys, put on by Lawrence (calfirecap) are always a thrill. This year I was able to participate in two, one in April, and one in November.
Finds from the April Soquel survey:
Forest Sharptailed Snake, Contia longicaudae by J. Maughn, on Flickr
California Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon ensatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Some Santa Cruz Co. habitat with herpers:
Herpers herping by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Herpers Herping by J. Maughn, on Flickr
On my own again, I came across this little neo NorPac:
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus oreganus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
And a big toad:
California Toad, California Toad, Anaxyrus boreas halophilus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
RobertH’s son, Nicholas, found this CA Slender eating a moth.
California Slender Salamander, Batrachoseps attenuatus, eating a moth by J. Maughn, on Flickr
T. elegans terrestris comes in a bewildering array of colors. Here’s one from Santa Clara Co.
Coast Garter Snake, Thamnophis elegans terrestris by J. Maughn, on Flickr
And one from San Mateo County, with a WYB Racer. (I didn’t notice the Garter in this shot until I got home.):
Western Yellow-bellied Racer, Coluber constrictor mormon & Coast Garter Snake, Thamnophis elegans terrestris by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A Foothill Yellow-legged Frog from Sonoma Co. (Lifer):
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog, Rana boylii by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Sonoma County/]J. Maughn[/url], on Flickr
This Sharptailed Snake was a NAFHA Database county record for Santa Cruz Co.
Common Sharp-tailed Snake, Contia tenuis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
The endemic Mt. Diablo Globe Lily:
Mount Diablo Fairy-lantern, Calochortus pulchellus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A couple more Mt. Diablo flowers:
Wind Poppies, Papaver heterophyllum by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Red Larkspur, Delphinium nudicaule by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Habitat:
Contra Costa County by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A Crimson Columbine, from Santa Cruz Co.
Crimson Columbine, Aquilegia formosa by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A Wild Turkey:
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo by J. Maughn, on Flickr
CA Striped Racer:
California Striped Racer, Coluber lateralis lateralis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
An adult Santa Cruz Black Salamander:
Santa Cruz Black Salamander, Aneides niger by J. Maughn, on Flickr
My first-ever CA Nightsnake. (Lifer) This one was a thrill:
California Nightsnake, Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha nuchalata by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A silly shot of a WYB Racer:
Western Yellow-bellied Racer, Coluber constrictor mormon by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Habitat (San Mateo County):
Lots and lots of Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Lazuli Bunting:
Lazuli Bunting, Passerina amoena by J. Maughn, on Flickr
The first adult CA Kingsnake I’ve found as an adult, from Monterey Co. My friend, who was with me on the hike, said this snake was at least five feet. It was about 3 and a half:
California Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula californiae by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Western Pond Turtle:
Western Pond Turtle, Actinemys marmorata by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Mariposa Lily:
Butterfly Mariposa Lily, Calochortus venustus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
CA Whiptail:
California Whiptail, aspidoscelis tigris munda by J. Maughn, on Flickr
This CA Mountain Kingsnake was the tiniest I’ve ever seen, only about 5”:
Coast Mountain Kingsnake, Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Another, larger, CA Mountain Kingsnake:
Coast Mountain Kingsnake, Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata by J. Maughn, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Santa Cruz County/ by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Calochortus tolmiei:
Tolmie Star-tulip (Pussy-ears), Calochortus tolmiei by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A trip to visit my folks in Portland, OR produced some interesting creatures, and a number of lifers, as well.
A Northwestern Garter Snake (Lifer):
Northwestern Gartersnake, Thamnophis ordinoides by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Western Redbacked Salamander:
[
Western Redbacked Salamander, Plethodon vehiculum by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Larch Mountain Salamander(Lifer):
Larch Mountain Salamander, Plethodon larselli by J. Maughn, on Flickr
An “actual” Oregon Ensatina:
Oregon Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzii oregonensis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Dunn’s Salamander (Lifer):
Dunn's Salamander, Plethodon dunni by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Rough-skinned Newt:
Rough-skinned Newt, Taricha granulosa by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Pacific Treefrog(Lifer):
Pacific Treefrog, Pseudacris regilla by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Red-spotted Garter Snake (subLifer):
Red-spotted Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis concinnus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Some habitat (Multnomah Co. OR):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Multnomah Co./ by J. Maughn, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Multnomah Co./ by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Back, again, in CA, my first Rubber Boa of the year:
Northern Rubber Boa, Charina bottae by J. Maughn, on Flickr
In San Benito Co., I was very excited to see my first San Joaquin Coachwhip (SubLifer):
San Joaquin Coachwhip, Coluber flagellum ruddocki by J. Maughn, on Flickr
San Benito County by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Side-blotched Lizard:
Western Side-blotched Lizard, Uta stansburiana elegans by J. Maughn, on Flickr
California Red-legged Frog:
California Red-legged Frog, Rana draytonii by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A goofy Fence Lizard:
Coast Range Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Valley Garter Snake:
Valley Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi by J. Maughn, on Flickr
In Santa Clara Co. I visited a small pond with RobertH, his wife, and son, Nicholas. The pond had some big Santa Cruz Garter Snakes, and more American Bullfrogs per square foot than anyplace I've ever seen:
Santa Cruz Garter Snake:
Santa Cruz Garter Snake, Thamnophis atratus atratus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
American Bullfrog:
American Bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Bird-in-a-hole:
Violet-Green Swallow, Tachycineta thalassina by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Brush Rabbit:
Brush Rabbit, Sylvilagus bachmani by J. Maughn, on Flickr
The Mount Hermon June Beetle is endemic to the Santa Cruz Sandhills:
Mount Hermon June Beetle, Polyphylla barbata by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Southern Sea Otter, with a crab:
Southern Sea Otter, Enhydra lutris nereis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Whiteflower Rein Orchid, piperia candida:
Whiteflower Rein Orchid, piperia candida by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Hoping for a certain Garter Snake, I found instead a nice place to watch Virginia Rails:
Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Summer in the Monterey Bay region is a great time for whale watching. Many different species are possible. Here are a few.
Humpback Whales:
Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Blue Whales:
Blue Whale, Balaenoptera musculus, lunge feeding by J. Maughn, on Flickr
More Blue Whales:
Blue Whales, Balaenoptera musculus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Another whale-watch trip produced some Risso’s Dolphins:
Risso's Dolphin, Grampus griseus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
From whales to ants. Wasps, actually:
Velvet Ant, Dasymutilla aureola pacifica by J. Maughn, on Flickr
My partner, Jessica, and I, made a couple of trips to the Sierra Nevadas. During the first, to Lake Tahoe, we made a side trip to the Nevada Desert. I saw a few interesting things:
Great Basin Fence Lizard:
Great Basin Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis longipes by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Northern Sagebrush Lizard:
Northern Sagebrush Lizard, Sceloporus graciosus graciosus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
…and the best find of all, a Desert Striped Whipsnake:
Desert Striped Whipsnake, Coluber taeniatus taeniatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Habitat:
Washoe County, NV by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Back in the mountains, a few other things:
Clark’s Nutcracker:
Clark's Nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Mountain Garter Snake:
Mountain Garter Snake, Thamnophis elegans elegans by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Explorer’s Gentian:
Explorer's Gentian, Gentiana calycosa by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Sierra Lily:
Tiger Lily, Lilium lancifolium by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Northwestern Fence Lizard:
Northwestern Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis occidentalis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
More habitat:
El Dorado Co. by J. Maughn, on Flickr
In Santa Clara Co. I came upon this young Great Horned Owl:
Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus (Fledgling) by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Then back to Oregon, briefly, where I saw my first Nutria:
Nutria, Myocastor coypus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
As Autumn settled in, I visited a park in Monterey Co., where I saw this coyote:
Coyote, Canis latrans by J. Maughn, on Flickr
As well as this young Coast Horned Lizard:
Coast Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma blainvillii by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Monterey County by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Autumn also sees the male tarantulas start to wander:
California Tarantula, Aphonopelma sp. by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Allen’s Hummingbirds turn up:
Allen's Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Alameda County by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Another of the varied Coast Garter Snakes:
Coast Garter Snake, Thamnophis elegans terrestris by J. Maughn, on Flickr
There’s nothing quite like seeing a California Condor flying overhead:
California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Our second Sierras trip took us to Yosemite. Not a lot of herps to be seen, but there were some other things:
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Callospermophilus lateralis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Coyote, Canis latrans by J. Maughn, on Flickr
White-headed Woodpecker, Picoides albolarvatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
We did see a Western Sagebrush Lizard or two:
Western Sagebrush Lizard, Sceloporus graciosus gracilis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
As well as San Joaquin Fence Lizards below the park:
San Joaquin Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis biseriatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
There were also more large trees:
Giant Sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Not to mention scenery:
Pack Train crossing the Tuolumne River by J. Maughn, on Flickr
On an outing with Owen in Santa Clara Co. I finally got a picture of a Diablo Range Garter Snake in which the snake is discernably a snake:
Diablo Range Garter Snake, Thamnophis atratus zaxanthus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
On the coast, some of the winter birds began appearing:
Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Around the beginning of October, the local birder community went crazy over reports of a Common Cuckoo sighted in Southern Santa Cruz Co. This was only the third time this bird has been seen in the lower 48 states. I went to see it on the last day it was visible, after that it disappeared, and was never seen again. (I suspect a Cooper’s Hawk had a very exotic meal.) Almost as interesting as seeing the bird was meeting the out-of-town birders, some of whom had flown in from the other side of the country. I met people from new Hampshire, Louisiana, and Texas who had come just to see the cuckoo. It was a little mind-boggling.
The bird didn’t prove terribly photogenic for me:
Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Visiting a friend in Sonoma County, I came across this angry neonate Gopher Snake:
Pacific Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer catenifer by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Here’s a strangely-shaped Pacific Madrone:
Pacific Madrone, Arbutus menziesii, looking like a Twizzler. by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A Peregrine Falcon:
Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A bizarrely-patterned San Francisco Alligator Lizard:
San Francisco Alligator Lizard, Elgaria coerulea coerulea by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Interesting beetle found by Zach Lim:
Golden Tortoise Beetle, Charidotella sexpunctata by J. Maughn, on Flickr
A trip to Merced Co. gave me my first sightings of Sandhill Cranes, and a three-week fungal respiratory infection called “San Joaquin Valley Fever.” The cranes were great, but skip the latter one, if you can.
Along the way I also saw:
A Merlin:
Merlin, Falco columbarius by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Tule Elk:
Tule Elk by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Here are the cranes:
Sandhill Cranes, Grus canadensis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Back in Santa Cruz County, I saw this Pied-billed Grebe eating a fish:
Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps by J. Maughn, on Flickr
On the November Soquel Survey, some interesting herps turned up. Best for me was this gorgeous CA Giant Salamander, found by Yolodave:
California Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon ensatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
I kind of like this shot of an Anna’s Hummingbird:
Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna by J. Maughn, on Flickr
And this Spotted Sandpiper:
Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius by J. Maughn, on Flickr
This mushroom, a prized edible, looks much too much like several poisonus amanitas for me to want to try it. It’s a handsome mushroom, though:
Coccora, Amanita calyptroderma by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Another prized edible, this one I can't pass up:
King Bolete, Boletus edulis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Last herps of the year, Dec. 31st:
"Monterey'' Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzii eschscholtzii by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Arboreal Salamander, Aneides lugubris by J. Maughn, on Flickr
I'll finish with a couple more habitat shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Santa Cruz County/ by J. Maughn, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmaughn/Monterey County/ by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Long Shadows by J. Maughn, on Flickr
So, that's my year. Thanks for looking, and sorry it was so long. The post, that is, not the year. Really, 2012 was about average in terms of length. I blame the Mayans, for no particular reason.
JimM
A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DUW.
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
One hell of a year, Jim.
Words cannot express how much joy was had in viewing your year in review.
We shall hit the field together soon.
Zach
Words cannot express how much joy was had in viewing your year in review.
We shall hit the field together soon.
Zach
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Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Thx Jim,
That was GREAT. And... the best way I can think of (given my low-T ) to start 013.
Are you familiar with R. Wakefield's work (which eerily mirrors mine, or visa versa) and along with being the Lit critic for the Seattle Times, and a English Professor, is an avid Mushroom photographer...?
Make it down to the Mojave this year and you'll get your 2nd live bore... jim
That was GREAT. And... the best way I can think of (given my low-T ) to start 013.
Are you familiar with R. Wakefield's work (which eerily mirrors mine, or visa versa) and along with being the Lit critic for the Seattle Times, and a English Professor, is an avid Mushroom photographer...?
Make it down to the Mojave this year and you'll get your 2nd live bore... jim
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Jim,
Awesome year! Great photos and stories all. Thank you for sharing with all of us.
Hope I get to go out into the field with you again sometime soon.
Awesome year! Great photos and stories all. Thank you for sharing with all of us.
Hope I get to go out into the field with you again sometime soon.
- Speckled Rosy
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Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Nice post! I really enjoyed the habbi photos..
-Dan
-Dan
- axeman2729
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Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
i just love red spotted garters they are so brightly colored a nice change for the uniform black with yellow stripes over in the east
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Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Fantastic stuff and great narrative! From mushrooms to whales and everything in between--always a joy to read your posts.
Luke-
Luke-
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Very entertaining post!! The non-herps are a much welcomed bonus.
I had no idea that Monterey Co. lugubris had such large and colorful spotting. They are stunning!
Congratulations on a fantastic year, Jim!
I had no idea that Monterey Co. lugubris had such large and colorful spotting. They are stunning!
Congratulations on a fantastic year, Jim!
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Sweet ecletic mix... waiting for that upcoming tropical blend .
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Fantastic assemblage Jim ...so much variety. Highly enviable
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Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
WOW, this was so wonderful! I loved the inclusion of the birds and mammals. You make poetry with your camera.
- walk-about
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Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
JAMAUGHN,
Great trip! Been to the west coast one time - norCal back in 80's, but never saw anything like this. Great work. The adder's tongue, Tolmie star-tulip and white-tailed kite I will never likely see in my lifetime in the wild. My favorite pic here though is easily the Anna's hummer. Fantastic shot sir.
RocK ON!
Dave
Great trip! Been to the west coast one time - norCal back in 80's, but never saw anything like this. Great work. The adder's tongue, Tolmie star-tulip and white-tailed kite I will never likely see in my lifetime in the wild. My favorite pic here though is easily the Anna's hummer. Fantastic shot sir.
RocK ON!
Dave
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Go to the gulf states. Commons there are variable too.axeman2729 wrote:i just love red spotted garters they are so brightly colored a nice change for the uniform black with yellow stripes over in the east
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Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Well done Jim, quite the year. I like the DIM voucher shot.
L
L
- axeman2729
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Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
ill put it on my bucket list dery
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Beautiful post Jim
Nick
Nick
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Awesome stuff, Jim!
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Great stuff.
Saw a bunch of the Ibis last weekend in Chino. Didn't know what they were til I read it here.
Saw a bunch of the Ibis last weekend in Chino. Didn't know what they were til I read it here.
- SurfinHerp
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Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
What a terrific post James! Do we really have to wait nearly a full year before your next year-end post?
My favorites were the 4-foot gartersnake, the perfect tiny zonata, the blue whales, the sea otter, the white-tailed kite, the striped whipsnake, and the baby coast horned lizard, and uh, many others.
Your tule elk photos reminded me of a creature I've only seen as a preserved specimen a long time ago at the Pt. Reyes National Seashore Visitor's Center: the mountain beaver. Have you ever come across one of those things? Might be a fun thing to try to photograph. Would probably be a first on this forum.
Anyway, congrats on a great 2012, and I look forward to your next post!
Jeff
My favorites were the 4-foot gartersnake, the perfect tiny zonata, the blue whales, the sea otter, the white-tailed kite, the striped whipsnake, and the baby coast horned lizard, and uh, many others.
Your tule elk photos reminded me of a creature I've only seen as a preserved specimen a long time ago at the Pt. Reyes National Seashore Visitor's Center: the mountain beaver. Have you ever come across one of those things? Might be a fun thing to try to photograph. Would probably be a first on this forum.
Anyway, congrats on a great 2012, and I look forward to your next post!
Jeff
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Thanks, everyone. I hope to get out in the field with all of you again soon. Sorry not to respond sooner, but I've been in Hawaii since the beginning of the year. I'll post a full report about that, you know, this time next year. In the meantime, here's a smattering of 2013.
Cane Toad, Rhinella marina by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Metallic Skink, Lampropholis delicata by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Green Anole, Anolis carolinensis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
House Gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Gold Dust Day Gecko, Phelsuma laticauda laticauda by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Indo-pacific Gecko, Hemidactylus garnotii by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Mourning Gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Stump-toed Gecko, Gehyra mutilata by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Green Sea Turtle, Chelonia mydas by J. Maughn, on Flickr
No Jackson's Chameleon, sadly. I must be the only herper to go there and not find one. It wasn't for lack of effort, either.
Oh well.
Thanks again,
JimM
Cane Toad, Rhinella marina by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Metallic Skink, Lampropholis delicata by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Green Anole, Anolis carolinensis by J. Maughn, on Flickr
House Gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Gold Dust Day Gecko, Phelsuma laticauda laticauda by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Indo-pacific Gecko, Hemidactylus garnotii by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Mourning Gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Stump-toed Gecko, Gehyra mutilata by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Green Sea Turtle, Chelonia mydas by J. Maughn, on Flickr
No Jackson's Chameleon, sadly. I must be the only herper to go there and not find one. It wasn't for lack of effort, either.
Oh well.
Thanks again,
JimM
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Wow, great post with a fine array of wildlife. Taken time to go through it a couple of times now and although the photos are excellent two stand out for me. The Hummingbird shot is beautifully focused, pin sharp. The silhouette of the vulture sitting in the tree is the shot that sticks in my mind. If I'd been clever enough to take that it would be framed and hanging above my fireplace!
Thanks for taking the time to put this together.
Thanks for taking the time to put this together.
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Really nice Hawai'i finds, Jim. Glad to see that Hawai'i's earliest arrivals are hangin' in there... lugubris, garnoti, mutilata, and the Lampropholis
What's the story behind that garnoti trying to down the Black Witch? Was it successful?
What's the story behind that garnoti trying to down the Black Witch? Was it successful?
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Thanks! Yes, it took about twenty minutes, and it left some of each wing behind, but it eventually downed the thing. I wish I had gotten more shots of the process, but my flashlight batteries were failing, and the pictures didn't come out. Also, the groundskeeper's credulity was starting to show some serious strains when I was in the same place twenty minutes later, watching the same lizard. This was about 10:30pm.) He finally came up to me, and said, (I kid you not...) "Ya know, they're an invasive species, those geckos."
Actually, he was a sweet guy, and he gave me the idea to concentrate on tree roots instead of lit areas, which is how I found the mutilata.
Jim
Actually, he was a sweet guy, and he gave me the idea to concentrate on tree roots instead of lit areas, which is how I found the mutilata.
Jim
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Jeff: I'm heading to Point Reyes tomorrow for a week. I'll be keeping an eye out for the mountain beaver!
Everyone: Thank you!
JimM
Everyone: Thank you!
JimM
- SurfinHerp
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Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Pt. Reyes is a great park...
Go getcha some beaver!
Go getcha some beaver!
Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
Wow, what a wonderful post! I loved the variety of habitats, plants and animals shots that you included. Very nice to see the jumping Risso's Dolphin. Years ago, I organized pelagic seabird trips out of Wollongong. We saw that species at times during the summer along with many other species of cetaceans.
That Red Cape Fungus was really strange. I don't recall ever seeing photos of it before. Do you see it often?
Your zonatas were beautiful with great colours. That Alligator lizard certainly looked strange. It made me think of the wall lizards in Europe.
Regards,
David
That Red Cape Fungus was really strange. I don't recall ever seeing photos of it before. Do you see it often?
Your zonatas were beautiful with great colours. That Alligator lizard certainly looked strange. It made me think of the wall lizards in Europe.
Regards,
David
- Will Wells
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Re: A Naturalist Year- CA, NV, OR and a little Chicago. DU
very nice series of photos, thanks for sharing