April as I Saw It

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JAMAUGHN
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April as I Saw It

Post by JAMAUGHN »

It's been a busy month. I've been able to make a couple of short trips, once to the Portland area, and then down to Southern California for a weekend. As a result, the diversity of my finds this month is a little better than usual. There'll likely be a sizable number of photos here, so I'll keep the commentary brief. As usual, it'll be herps first, followed by non-herps and habitat shots.

From Monterey Co.:

ImageMonterey Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzii eschscholtzii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Skink, Plestiodon skiltonianus skiltonianus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula californiae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCoast Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma blainvilli by J. Maughn, on Flickr

San Benito Co. :

ImageCalifornia Red-legged Frog, Rana draytonii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageValley Garter Snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Legless Lizard, Anniella pulchra by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageMonterey Ringneck Snake, Diadophis punctatus vandenberghi by J. Maughn, on Flickr



San Mateo Co.:

ImageRough-skinned Newt, Taricha granulosa by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSan Francisco Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Santa Clara Co.:

ImageCalifornia Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon ensatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Sagebrush Lizard, Sceloporus graciosus gracilis by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Pond Turtle, Actinemys marmorata by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSanta Cruz Black Salamander, Aneides flavipunctatus niger by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageEastern River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna concinna, and Red-eared Slider, Trachemys scripta elegans by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula californiae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Toad, Anaxyrus boreas halophilus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageOuachita Map Turtle, Graptemys ouachitensis by J. Maughn, on Flickr


Santa Cruz Co.:

ImagePacific Ringneck Snake, Diadophis punctatus amabilis by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSierran Treefrog, Pseudacris sierra by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageYellow-eyed Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Slender Salamander, Batrachoseps attenuatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Newt, Taricha torosa by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCoast Range Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Whiptail, Aspidoscelis tigris munda by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImagePacific Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer catenifer by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Alligator Lizard, Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata and Forest Sharp-tailed Snake, Contia longicaudae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Side-blotched Lizard, Uta stansburiana elegans by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSan Francisco Alligator Lizard, Elgaria coerulea coerulea by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Rubber Boa, Charina bottae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCoast Mountain Kingsnake, Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus oreganus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

I find a weird number of herps in and around outhouses:
ImageLurking Under the Outhouse. (Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus oreganus) by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCoast Garter Snake, Thamnophis elegans terrestris by J. Maughn, on Flickr


Contra Costa Co.:

ImageWestern Yellow-bellied Racer, Coluber constrictor mormon by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCoast Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma blainvillii by J. Maughn, on Flickr


I had high hopes for my Southern CA trip, but conditions were not as good as I'd hoped. My time in the San Gabriel Mountains were mostly taken up with a seminar I was attending, but the weather was uncooperative-- one day was in the high fifties, and the next dropped down to the high thirties, and then snowed. The desert was a little better, but all the animals from there below were found in temperatures in the mid to low 70s.

San Bernardino Co.:

ImageGreat Basin Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis longipes by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Sagebrush Lizard, Sceloporus graciosus vandenburgianus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSan Diego Alligator Lizard, Elgaria multicarinata webbii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageYellow-backed Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus uniformis by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCommon Chuckwalla, Sauromalus ater by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageGreat Basin Whiptail Lizard, Aspidoscelis tigris tigris by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Side-blotched Lizard, Uta stansburiana elegans by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Treefrog, Pseudacris cadaverina by J. Maughn, on Flickr

This one was an interesting, but rather sad, sight:
ImageShell of a Desert Tortoise, Gopherus agassizii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Zebra-tailed Lizard, Callisaurus draconoides rhodostictus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis by J. Maughn, on Flickr


From Multnomah and Clackamas Cos. OR:

ImageOregon Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzi oregonensis by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageAmerican Bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon vehiculum by J. Maughn, on Flickr
ImageWestern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon vehiculum (Melanistic Individual) by J. Maughn, on Flickr



Non-herps:

ImageGoldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) on Monterey Mariposa Lily, Calochortus uniflorus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageYellow-billed Magpie, Pica nuttalli by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageTarantula, Aphonopelma sp. (Female) by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageRed Larkspur, Delphinium nudicaule by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageThat Looks Awkward (Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus) by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageOregon Fawn Lily, Erythronium oregonum by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImagePacific Trillium,Trillium ovatum by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageGolden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImagePale Swallowtail, Papilio eurymedon by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageMount Diablo Fairy-Lantern, Calochortus pulchellus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageBonny Doon Manzanita, Arctostaphylos silvicola by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageVivid Dancer, Argia vivida by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCommon Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageBlack-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageMountain Dogwood, Cornus nuttallii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageRedhead, Aythya americana by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSilver Cholla, Cylindropuntia echinocarpa by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageVerdin, Auriparus flaviceps by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageBlack-chinned Sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageAntelope ground Squirrel, Ammospermophilus nelsoni by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCactus Wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageScott's Oriole, Icterus parisorum by J. Maughn, on Flickr



Landscape/habitat:

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That's all, folks. Thanks for looking.
ImageLunar Eclipse by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Chrispherp
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Joined: April 12th, 2014, 9:42 am

Re: April as I Saw It

Post by Chrispherp »

Nice finds and awesome pics as always. Sorry SoCal wasn't as good to you as you had hoped but you seemed to do pretty well considering.
hellihooks
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Re: April as I Saw It

Post by hellihooks »

Nice April you had there, Jim... love the swimming Newt... :thumb: jim
RobertH
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Re: April as I Saw It

Post by RobertH »

Great variety. I think I already told you before, but I really like the low-angle YBR shot. And I agree, considering the cool conditions in the high desert last weekend, you did rather well.

Robert
Zach_Lim
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Re: April as I Saw It

Post by Zach_Lim »

Great finds, Jim!

Quite jealous of the Valley Garter!

Excellent Monterey King, as well- love the shot!
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Owen
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Re: April as I Saw It

Post by Owen »

Best month yet :thumb:

Next time you're in one of those palm oasis canyons, look for Dinapate wrightii. It's about twice the length as the next biggest in the family.
reako45
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Re: April as I Saw It

Post by reako45 »

Wow, you had a very productive April. Love the Rubber boas and the z the best. Good stuff.

reako45
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Calfirecap
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Re: April as I Saw It

Post by Calfirecap »

I find a weird number of herps in and around outhouses:
You're not out there 'flipping port-a-potties' are you James? :lol:

Seriously, that big Crote was a pretty cool shot. Looks like April was your month.
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JAMAUGHN
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Re: April as I Saw It

Post by JAMAUGHN »

You're not out there 'flipping port-a-potties' are you James? :lol:
:lol: :lol: No, you know as well as I do that the day I start looking for herps under outhouses is the day I stop ever seeing them there.

In addition to the crote, though, I found the Gopher Snake that is in my forum avatar inside an outhouse in Santa Clara Co. (After a five mile hike that turned up no snakes.) I've also seen Alligator Lizards, Fence Lizards, skinks, CA Newts, and even a Batra. I've also found enough Black Widows in some outhouses to make me never want to use one again.

The day I find a zonata in an outhouse might just be the day I retire from field herping, and check myself into a mental institution. In the meantime, people should just be glad I don't get too literal when I post "habitat" shots.

ImagePacific Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer catenifer by J. Maughn, on Flickr

JimM
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Owen
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Re: April as I Saw It

Post by Owen »

JAMAUGHN wrote:
You're not out there 'flipping port-a-potties' are you James? :lol:
:lol: :lol: No, you know as well as I do that the day I start looking for herps under outhouses is the day I stop ever seeing them there.

In addition to the crote, though, I found the Gopher Snake that is in my forum avatar inside an outhouse in Santa Clara Co. (After a five mile hike that turned up no snakes.) I've also seen Alligator Lizards, Fence Lizards, skinks, CA Newts, and even a Batra. I've also found enough Black Widows in some outhouses to make me never want to use one again.

The day I find a zonata in an outhouse might just be the day I retire from field herping, and check myself into a mental institution. In the meantime, people should just be glad I don't get too literal when I post "habitat" shots.

ImagePacific Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer catenifer by J. Maughn, on Flickr

JimM
I've heard that a full moon isn't so great for herps, but you're having great luck with the half-mooners :lol:
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Speckled Rosy
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Re: April as I Saw It

Post by Speckled Rosy »

NIce post and not bad for one months work! The first cal king is really pretty and good diversity throughout..

Nice crisp, clear pictures too.. :thumb:

-Dan
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El Garia
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Re: April as I Saw It

Post by El Garia »

Spectacular post, Jim! :beer:

Derek
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Porter
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Re: April as I Saw It

Post by Porter »

Always a good variety :beer: Looking through your style of photos always reminds me of that moment you come across them in the field. Awesome Chuck between the rocks shot. I like that tortoise shell shot as well... captures how harsh there habitat/biome is. Nice stuff :thumb:
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