Howdy herpers,
I’ve been stationed in SoCal for three years and this was the first year that I’ve actually been stateside for the spring herping season. Many of the iconic species around here are extremely seasonal so I got to see some species that I missed out on altogether in past years and became much better acquainted with some that I had seen only rarely. I also finally made time to meet and go afield with some local herpers and learn a thing or two as well as enjoy time with folks that are as odd as me.
Despite the prospect of a full herping season in Cali, I couldn’t resist volunteering for a mission to my hometown to commission its namesake ship. This cost me three weeks of herping in April and May but it was a once-in-a-lifetime kinda gig. In case anyone’s interested in herping Anchorage, Alaska in May, here’s a view from the ice flows in Cook Inlet:
Rest assured, there are Wood Frogs under all that snow in the distance.
Here in San Diego County, Garters were on the move when things greened up.
Thamnophis hammondii - Two-striped Gartersnake
Frogs gathered at water sources to call and breed.
Pseudacris cadaverina - California Treefrogs
Sallies were found in the mountains until it started to get hot and dry.
Ensatina eschscholtzii klauberi - Large-blotched Ensatina
Having only ever seen these guys at night, it was a treat to see one in its reticulated daytime coloration. The change is dramatic, as in the evening they are light gray with black polka dots.
Xantusia henshawi - Granite Night Lizard
Red Diamond Rattlers seem to be early risers. They were the first snake I saw the year, and the one I encountered most often before anything else seemed to be moving up in the rocky hillsides.
Crotalus ruber - Red Diamond Rattlesnake
And while other harbingers of spring have made themselves scarce, I’m still seeing them as the weather gets hotter, they’re just more nocturnal.
I haven’t encountered as many Helleri as I normally do this year, but I haven’t spent as much time in their habitat either. Probably a good thing. They have a way of being where you don’t want them to be. These were both under objects I was flipping. In both cases caution saved my butt. The adult was under a board I used my hook to flip and the juvenile was under the lip of a rock that I had the presence of mind to peek under before reaching out to flip with my gloved hand.
Crotalus oreganus helleri - Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
Whipsnakes are fascinating to me but I’m rarely fast enough to catch one. Luckily this time I had my camera.
Masticophis lateralis lateralis - Chaparral Whipsnake
For a few days patchies seemed to be everywhere in the desert. Then they all disappeared again.
Salvadora hexalepis hexalepis - Desert Patch-nosed Snake
I was pleased to see horny toads holding on in the upper reaches of a trail I frequent.
Phrynosoma blainvillii - Coast Horned Lizard
I’ve had an amazing year for Rosies. Prior to February, I had only ever seen one in the wild. This year I’ve seen five in several localities. Its been satisfying to find them in places that I’ve known they were in all along but had never hit at the right time. They’ve become my favorite snake to look for because of their variation and the challenging nature of finding them. With all the ridiculous mileage I’ve put on my car road cruising and on my boots hiking washes, I think the thing I love most about them is the chase. I can’t believe all the amazing things I’ve gotten to see along the way, in mad pursuit of these sluggy little phantoms.
Lichanura trivirgata - Rosy Boas
First of the year, a unicolor-ish (repeat from February post, I know, but I’m on a rosy tangeant).
More desert-y coastals:
And a locality that has been my holy grail all along. Seeing this snake was as close as I get to a religious experience. And yes, she’s still in the wild.
Zonata have been my white whale ever since I’ve been in Cali, but the odds were always against my finding one during the hottest months of the year that I’ve been home. This year my timing was better and I got to see quite a few.
Snakes and snow… warms my Alaskan heart.
As it got warmer…
And this very special snake that I saw on three consecutive trips.
Something more common, but always nice to see a decent sized one.
Pituophis catenifer annectens - San Diego Gopher Snake
I decided I needed more pics of these odd little snakes. I think its interesting that they were considered exceedingly rare before night cruising was “discovered” and that they seem to be lizard egg specialists.
Phyllorhynchus decurtatus - Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake
Another low desert critter of warm summer nights. On my to-do list is photographing one in the dunes at dawn.
Crotalus cerastes laterorepens - Colorado Desert Sidewinder
Followed some sidewinder trails in the dunes but only found these. No complaints, one cool lizard.
Uma notata - Colorado Desert Fringe-toed Lizard
Decided to spend a week in Arizona at the worst possible time of year. Among my few finds were a few specimens of the coolest horny toad I’ve ever seen.
Phrynosoma Solare - Regal Horned Lizard
The only other critter I spend much time shooting in AZ was this feisty Atrox.
Crotalus atrox - Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
And a local lifer that turned up this week.
Phyllodactylus nocticolus - Peninsular Leaf-toed Gecko
It’s been an amazing spring. Summer is heating up and I’m doing my best to become nocturnal along with the local herps. I have a couple months of warm herping left before I return to the frozen North and work on becoming the Wood Frog king of the H.E.R.P database.
--Jamez
SoCal Spring and some Arizona
Moderator: Scott Waters
- jamezevanz
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Re: SoCal Spring and some Arizona
These shots are incredible! I need a better camera so much!
Roki
Roki
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Re: SoCal Spring and some Arizona
That Z is phenomenal!
J.P.
J.P.
Re: SoCal Spring and some Arizona
You found those AZ animals in December? I think December is the worst time of the year here.jamezevanz wrote: Decided to spend a week in Arizona at the worst possible time of year.
Anywho, great photography and nice finds! Love the zonata shots! No speckled rattlesnakes?
- Jeroen Speybroeck
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Re: SoCal Spring and some Arizona
Great collection of species and outstanding photography.
- MichaelCravens
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Re: SoCal Spring and some Arizona
Some really amazing photos in here. Thanks!
Michael Cravens
Michael Cravens
- SurfinHerp
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Re: SoCal Spring and some Arizona
Awesome post Jamezzz!
I especially like the desert rosy and the 'diamondback' zonata. The closeup of the leaf-toed gecko eyes is sweet too. Didn't you get any good shots of the speck you found recently with Kathleen?
I hope we can hit the field together at least a few more times before you return to the North. I'm sure we'll find a coachwhip one of these days.
Jeff
I especially like the desert rosy and the 'diamondback' zonata. The closeup of the leaf-toed gecko eyes is sweet too. Didn't you get any good shots of the speck you found recently with Kathleen?
I hope we can hit the field together at least a few more times before you return to the North. I'm sure we'll find a coachwhip one of these days.
Jeff
- jamezevanz
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Re: SoCal Spring and some Arizona
Thanks everyone.
Went to Arizona in June for the third year in a row. Same result as always: very hot, very few snakes. What's the definition of insanity again? Something about doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Yeah, that's me. I'm sure December is worse, but even I don't know why I keep making trips in June. I went during the monsoons last year and saw lots of snakes but got hassled by BP and LE every time I tried to photograph anything and decided to leave early. Will try again this August...
I've seen two specks this year, one found by Jeff on a NAFHA survey that was on a previous post and the one we saw the other night when I was being lazy and letting my visiting friend shoot everything. Come to think of it, she owes me pics so I can enter that one in the database.
Jeff- Just let me know when and where, weekends are best but i can usually free up a week night if I know a few days out.
Went to Arizona in June for the third year in a row. Same result as always: very hot, very few snakes. What's the definition of insanity again? Something about doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Yeah, that's me. I'm sure December is worse, but even I don't know why I keep making trips in June. I went during the monsoons last year and saw lots of snakes but got hassled by BP and LE every time I tried to photograph anything and decided to leave early. Will try again this August...
I've seen two specks this year, one found by Jeff on a NAFHA survey that was on a previous post and the one we saw the other night when I was being lazy and letting my visiting friend shoot everything. Come to think of it, she owes me pics so I can enter that one in the database.
Jeff- Just let me know when and where, weekends are best but i can usually free up a week night if I know a few days out.