Kofa National Wildlife Refuge September 2016

Dedicated exclusively to field herping.

Moderator: Scott Waters

Post Reply
User avatar
davidburkart
Posts: 17
Joined: March 2nd, 2014, 8:19 am
Location: Carbondale, Il

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge September 2016

Post by davidburkart »

This summer I worked and lived in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. In September I joined SurfinHerp, Nature Nate, and a few others on a trip to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona. A big thanks to them for the invitation!

We arrived in the evening and did a little road cruising and night hiking:

ImageSpeckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageSidewinder (Crotalus cerastes) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageRed-Spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageSonoran Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageDesert Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus variegatus) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageTailless Whipscorpion (Paraphrynus sp.) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageWestern Desert Tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes) by David Burkart, on Flickr




The next day an exploration of the area produced lots of lizards:

ImageCommon Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageCommon Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageCommon Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) by David Burkart, on Flickr
*Thanks to SurfinHerp for the idea on this one

ImageLong-Nosed Leopard Lizard by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageLong-Nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia wislizenii) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageLong-Nosed Leopard Lizard by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageZebra-Tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides draconoides) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageGreat Basin Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris tigris) by David Burkart, on Flickr




That night we explored Palm Canyon. We didn't find many herps, but did see two ringtails (unfortunately no photos):

ImagePalm Canyon by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImagePalm Canyon by David Burkart, on Flickr




The next morning we returned to Palm Canyon:

ImagePalm Canyon by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageWestern Black-Tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageWestern Black-Tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageWestern Black-Tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageWestern Black-Tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageDesert Centipede (Scolopendra heros) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageDesert Centipede (Scolopendra heros) by David Burkart, on Flickr




Then we headed back to California, making a quick road cruise stop near Joshua Tree NP:

ImageRed Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageLong-Nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageRed Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber) by David Burkart, on Flickr

ImageRed Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber) by David Burkart, on Flickr




Again, thanks to the crew for showing me around!:

ImageThe Crew by David Burkart, on Flickr
User avatar
Fieldnotes
Posts: 1474
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:12 pm
Location: Anaheim, California
Contact:

Re: Kofa National Wildlife Refuge September 2016

Post by Fieldnotes »

Amazing how lush things appear once crossing over The River from California, even the insects get bigger and cooler. I would never have imagined Sonoran Desert Toads there; amazing trip. :beer:
Post Reply