2015 - EOY (CA, NV, UT, AZ, Costa Rica, Mexico)

[DevinBergquist]

2015 was a good year and I had a great time herping with some close friends. My herping year, as usual, started off in Southern California. From there I took a few short weekends in Nevada and Utah. I then spent about 5 days in Costa Rica, it was not a herping trip, but a vacation with my wife. We did, however, have some memorable wildlife experiences. After that it was back to California. I then took a 5 day trip with a few friends to Southern Sonora, Mexico, with a day and a half pit stop on the drive there/back in Arizona. I managed to get back down to Arizona for one more, quick weekend trip towards the end of the season. This will be a photo post without much commentary, but let me know if you have any questions. I hope you enjoy.

First Snake of 2015 in January.

Coastal Rosy Boa by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
San Diego Gopher Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
San Diego Gopher Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Red Diamond Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Speckled Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Red Diamond Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Granite Night Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Rosy Boa by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Rosy Boa by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Large-blotched Ensatina by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
California Mountain Kingsnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Red Diamond Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Red Diamond Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Red Diamond Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr


Then off to Costa Rica for a few days

Green Basilisk by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
White-faced Capuchin by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Iguanas by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Spectacled Caiman by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Red-eyed Tree Frog by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Red-eyed Tree Frog by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Boa Constrictor by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Brown Wood Turtle by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Pink-bellied Litter Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Spider Monkey by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Eyelash Viper by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Green and Black Poison Dart Frog by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr

My favorite wildlife experience of the year was seeing this wild Puma in Costa Rica.

WILD PUMA by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr


Back in the states the snakes were really starting to move.

California Mountain Kingsnake 1 by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
California Mountain Kingsnake 3 by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
California Mountain Kingsnake 2 by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Pile of Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr


Utah

Desert Horned Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Striped Whipsnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Striped Whipsnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr


Nevada

Desert Horned Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Desert Horned Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Banded Gecko by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Long-nosed Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Lyre Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Sidewinder Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Speckled Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Speckled Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Speckled Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Pair of Coachwhips by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Regal Ring-necked Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Regal Ring-necked Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Banded Gila Monster by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Banded Gila Monster by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Desert Tortoise by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Desert Tortoise by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr


California

Lyre Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Leaf-toed Gecko by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Leaf-toed Gecko by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Baby Desert Tortoise by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Southern Rubber Boa by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Desert Horned Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Speckled Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Speckled Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Desert Rosy Boa by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mohave Desert Sidewinder by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr


Off to Mexico. I love Heloderma, so naturally our main target for this trip was the Beaded Lizard. We ended up doing pretty well and found 5 alive.
On our first day in Mexico I was hiking up a wash and saw our first Beaded Lizard hanging out, it was a thrill. Sorry about the picture overload, I was pretty excited.

Mexican Beaded Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mexican Beaded Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mexican Beaded Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mexican Tree Frog by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Parrot Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Leaf-toed Gecko by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mexican Leaf Frog by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Spiny Tailed Iguana by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Undescribed Night Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Lowland Burrowing Treefrog by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Beaded Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Spiny Tailed Iguana by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mexican West Coast Indigo Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mexican West Coast Indigo Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Beaded Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Coachwhip by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
West Mexican Coral Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
West Mexican Coral Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Sinaloan Desert Tortoise by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Speckled Racer by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Speckled Racer by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Tree Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Thornscrub Hook-nosed Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Sinaloan Milk Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr


Back in Arizona for a few days.

Tiger Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Saddled Leaf-nosed Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Black-tailed Rattlesnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Regal Ring-necked Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Ornate Box Turtle by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Ornate Box Turtle by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Crevice Spiny Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Collared Lizard by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Ornate Box Turtle by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mexican Spadefoot by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Couch's Spadefoot by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mexican Hog-nosed Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Mexican Hog-nosed Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Desert Kingsnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Desert Kingsnake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr


Some habitat shots along the way

Arizona:

Southern Arizona by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Southern Arizona by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Arizona Sunset by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr

Mexico:

Hecho Cactus - Sonora, Mexico by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr

Habitat - Sonora, Mexico by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Habitat - Sonora, Mexico by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Habitat - Sonora, Mexico by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Sonora, Mexico by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr

California:

Ocotillo by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr
Spring in the Canyon by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr

My last snake of 2015 in California was this neonate Lyre Snake

Neonate Lyre Snake by Devin Bergquist, on Flickr



For those of you that made it all the way through, I hope you enjoyed some of the photos. Hopefully 2016 will be a good one.


Devin

[Steve Barten]

Epic, post, what a year you had. Outstanding photography too, really enjoyed it.
One photo was better than the next, it's hard to pick favorites.
Loved the Mexican indigo and all the Lampropeltis.
Congrats on the puma sighting, what a thrill that must have been.

[TravisK]

I am loving this EOY/YIR post. Great list and awesome photography!

[Brian Eagar]

Dude this has to be the most epic year end post I've ever seen.
I'm so jealous of your year on so many levels.
Congrats on seeing and photographing so many amazing animals and places in 2015!

[Muchobirdnerd]

2015 kilt. Great post.

[DevinBergquist]

Steve Barten,

Thank you, it really was an awesome year. The Mexican Indigos were definitely impressive, the one in this post was just over 6ft and thick. The Puma was special for sure.

[DevinBergquist]

Travis,

Thank you very much.

[DevinBergquist]

Hey Brian,

How have you been? You had a good year yourself. We still need to get out herping together sometime.

Thanks a lot man, it really was an awesome year, got to see a few species that I grew up dreaming about. Hopefully 2016 is even better.

[DevinBergquist]

Thanks Jim, it was a great year. I am looking forward to an upcoming trip in 2016, should be a good one.

[sjohn]

Just wonderful.

[ChadHarrison]

Insane post. Entirely too many cool things to single out; however, I am shocked at the lack of love for the Thornscrub Hooknose. I'll happily be the only applause; spectacular find.

[DevinBergquist]

Thank you very much SJohn

[DevinBergquist]

Chad,

Thanks for your comments. The Thornscrub Hooknose was definitely a welcome find. I haven't seen one in Arizona yet, but was excited to find one in Mexico.

[Rancorrye]

Amazing post, Devin. I found myself constantly looking forward to your posts on Flickr throughout the year. Loved the stuff from Mexico. Hopefully we will run into each other in Utah one of these days.

Rye.

[MattSullivan]

pretty solid year dude. nice job

[Soopaman]

Great year, man. I love all the Mexico stuff, and the black-faced Z's.

[DevinBergquist]

Thanks, Rye. I also enjoyed your Flickr throughout the year. I especially liked all the Southern Utah stuff, I love that area. You'll have to let me know when you'll be down in Southern Utah, Nevada, California, or Arizona and we'll see if we can meet up. I might end up in North Utah (Provo area) for a few days in spring for my little brothers college graduation, I'll let you know if I do.

[DevinBergquist]

Thanks Matt, It was definitely a fun year. Hopefully 2016 will be better. I have a few cool trips planned, I hear you do as well.

[DevinBergquist]

Thanks for your comments, Kyle. Mexico was probably my favorite herp trip to date, I've got a pretty cool trip planned this year, hopefully I can top it.