Doesn't look like I'll be making any more trips out to AZ the rest of this year, and if I do, I doubt I'll be finding much so I might as well do a quick picture dump.
Early in the year I did some hiking in/around the Bullhead City/Kingman Area and found a good population of Chucks...
Chuckwalla (sauromalus ater) by jrothdog, on Flickr
These juveniles have cool colors, there were 4 on one rock. 2 adult and 2 juvies
juvenile Chuckwalla (sauromalus ater) by jrothdog, on Flickr
This was the first time I had seen a Sonoran Lyre right around the Kingman area. It had just barely got clipped by a car I think cause it's eye was a little bloody.
Sonoran Lyre Snake by jrothdog, on Flickr
A quick Phoenix road trip yielded some commonly seen road snakes in the area I was in...
Sidewinder Rattlesnake (crotalus cerastes) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Mojave Rattlesnake (crotalus scutulatus) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Longnosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) by jrothdog, on Flickr
And an early April trip to Tucson yielded this Atrox that I helped get out of the way of sure danger.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (crotalus atrox) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Other than a couple of horned lizards in June, I didn't have a ton of success seeing anything in the heat of that month, but I did get 2 Sky Island trips done during the monsoons. It wasn't the most ecologically friendly trip as we had 4 people and 4 cars. Everyone was coming from different directions and schedules but I got to hang out with them for 3 days to hit it with them.
I didn't really expect to find one of these Vine Snakes when we went looking for one, so it was a pleasant surprise.
Brown Vine Snake (Oxybelis aeneus) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Brown Vine Snake (Oxybelis aeneus) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Never tired of seeing these Tiger Rattlesnakes
Tiger Rattlesnake (crotalus tigris) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Tiger Rattlesnake (crotalus tigris) by jrothdog, on Flickr
This guy was wandering on the side of the road that same night as well
Reticulate Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) by jrothdog, on Flickr
as well as the first baby Gila I have ever witnessed.
Reticulate Gila Monster hatchling (Heloderma suspectum) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Sometimes even the most common things make good poses for you.
Elegant Earless Lizard (Holbrookia elegans) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Nicely patterned Mojave
Mojave Rattlesnake (crotalus scutulatus) by jrothdog, on Flickr
We walked right up on this Banded Rock sitting at the base of a tree. It stuck out like a sore thumb which was nice.
Banded Rock Rattlesnake (crotalus lepidus) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake (crotalus willardi) by jrothdog, on Flickr
This Whipsnake shot through the grass and bailed up a tree. So a quick walk up a hill yielded a good vantage point to shoot it
Sonoran Whipsnake (Coluber bilineatus) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Banded Rock Rattlesnake (crotalus lepidus) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Back to the Kingman area I visited a mountain range I had never really herped before but found a few gems.
Only can see these guys once they move
Juvenile Greater Short Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) in the Hualapai Mountains by jrothdog, on Flickr
Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) in the Hualapai Mountains by jrothdog, on Flickr
Juvenile Greater Short Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Another Tucson area trip yielded me my first ever baby tort that I've hiked upon. My wife was so stoked to see it.
Hatchling Sonoran Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) by jrothdog, on Flickr
This Badger skull would have been better if it was attached to a live Badger
Badger skull? by jrothdog, on Flickr
I cruised all night finding absolutely nothing...only to see this Atrox on the freeway onramp. So I backed up (carefully) and moved it off the road.
Juvenile Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (crotalus atrox) by jrothdog, on Flickr
One of the cooler finds of the year for me was finding a large population of Sonoran Mud Turtles. I first saw this adult as we were crossing a stream and a "rock" moved just in front of my car.
Sonoran Mud Turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Sonoran Mud Turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Then just down the road I saw something else move before I crossed a very small stream. We ended up seeing 15 hatchlings up and down the creek after hiking around.
Sonoran Mud Turtle hatchling (Kinosternon sonoriense) by jrothdog, on Flickr
There are 3 in this photo. 2 in the water and 1 on the far left against the rocks.
Sonoran Mud Turtle hatchling (Kinosternon sonoriense) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Santa Rita Mountains Lightning by jrothdog, on Flickr
Next year I'm actually going to try to get good lightning pics other than just pulling over for 10 minutes and then keeping cruising.
Santa Rita Mountains Lightning by jrothdog, on Flickr
I had one more group of meetings to do in Phoenix in October and did some quick road cruising there and back. Only live snakes I found were sidewinders (2 DOR atrox and Mojave's also).
I like it when they're flattened out like this.
Sonoran Sidewinder (crotalus cerastes) by jrothdog, on Flickr
Next year I've got a few more new spots to try out. So much land to explore out there and never enough time.
Arizona 2014 pics review...
Moderator: Scott Waters
- ratsnakehaven
- Posts: 2272
- Joined: June 8th, 2010, 9:08 am
- Location: Southern Arizona
Re: Arizona 2014 pics review...
Dang, that's an awesome post. Love the lizard pics in there. Best to ya.....
Terry
Terry
Re: Arizona 2014 pics review...
Nice post, great pics