2016 Review Part 2

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Rancorrye
Posts: 400
Joined: June 18th, 2012, 8:05 pm
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2016 Review Part 2

Post by Rancorrye »

I posted these in the Rocky Mountain Chapter. Figured I'd post them here too, just in case anyone cared to take a look.

Part 1
Part 3
Part 4

Part 2 of this post begins in early May. I returned home from a great trip in Washington County. I made a few quick trips around home and turned up the usual finds.

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Western Yellow-bellied Racer-Coluber constrictor mormon by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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American Bullfrog-Lithobates catesbeiana by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Wandering Garter Snake-Thamnophis elegans vagrans by Rye Jones, on Flickr


Found this garter basking at the top of this grass clump.

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Wandering Garter Snake-Thamnophis elegans vagrans by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Western Yellow-bellied Racer-Coluber constrictor mormon by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Wandering Garter Snake-Thamnophis elegans vagrans by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Trio by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Trio by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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American Bullfrog-Lithobates catesbeiana by Rye Jones, on Flickr


A few more birds I ran into along the way.

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Black-crowned Night Heron by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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American White Pelican by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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American Avocet by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Black-necked Stilt by Rye Jones, on Flickr


These little guys were fun to watch.

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Red Fox Kits by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Red Fox Kits by Rye Jones, on Flickr


Made a couple trips out west.

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Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Western Yellow-bellied Racer-Coluber constrictor mormon by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Great Basin Skink-Plestiodon skiltonianus utahensis by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Desert Striped Whipsnake-Coluber taeniatus taeniatus by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Western Yellow-bellied Racer-Coluber constrictor mormon by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Desert Striped Whipsnake-Coluber taeniatus taeniatus by Rye Jones, on Flickr


I was happy to turn up a couple milks this spring

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Utah Milk Snake-Lampropeltis triangulum taylori by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Utah Milk Snake-Lampropeltis triangulum taylori by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Desert Striped Whipsnake-Coluber taeniatus taeniatus by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Great Basin Skink-Plestiodon skiltonianus utahensis by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Desert Striped Whipsnake-Coluber taeniatus taeniatus by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Great Basin Skink-Plestiodon skiltonianus utahensis by Rye Jones, on Flickr


I also came across some interesting non-herps while cruising around the desert.

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Pronghorn by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Pronghorn by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Burrowing Scorpion-Anuroctonus phaiodactylus by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Desert Tarantula-Aphonopelma iodius by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Wild Horse by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Pronghorn by Rye Jones, on Flickr


In June I made it out to the Four Corners Survey (Thanks, Tim!) Good times, good company and lots of good herps.

I made a quick stop on the way down to get out and strecth my legs. Turned up a bunch of collared lizards.

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Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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California Kingsnake-Lampropeltis getula californiae by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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California Kingsnake-Lampropeltis getula californiae by Rye Jones, on Flickr


Apparently this was the year for garter snake morphs. I wasn't able to capture the colors of this one very well.

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Wandering Garter Snake-Thamnophis elegans vagrans by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Wandering Garter Snake-Thamnophis elegans vagrans by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Prairie Rattlesnake-Crotalus viridis viridis by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Prairie Rattlesnake-Crotalus viridis viridis by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Painted Desert Glossy Snake-Arizona elegans philipi by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Painted Desert Glossy Snake-Arizona elegans philipi by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Plateau Striped Whiptail-Aspidoscelis velox by Rye Jones, on Flickr


I watched a couple of male collared lizards battle it out for the spot on this rock. I was disappointed my shots of the fight did not turn out, but I did get a shot of the winner.

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Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Northern Plateau Lizard-Sceloporus tristichus by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Woodhouse Toad-Anaxyrus woodhousii woodhousii by Rye Jones, on Flickr


I got to witness another battle over a spot on the rock. This one wasn't as great as the two male collareds. This collared lizard moved in and really didn't seem to care what the other guy thought. The spiny lizard eventually gave up and went on his way.

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Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris and Orange-headed Spiny Lizard-Sceloporus magister cephaloflavus by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Plateau Tiger Whiptail-Aspidoscelis tigris septentrionalis by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Ornate Tree Lizard-Urosaurus ornatus wrighti by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Variable Skink-Plestiodon multivirgatus epipleurotus by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Variable Skink-Plestiodon multivirgatus epipleurotus by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Variable Skink-Plestiodon multivirgatus epipleurotus by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Prairie Rattlesnake-Crotalus viridis viridis by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Plateau Striped Whiptail-Aspidoscelis velox by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Greater Short-horned Lizard-Phrynosoma hernandesi hernandesi by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Great Horned Owl by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Great Horned Owl by Rye Jones, on Flickr


We hit a couple spots on the way home and turned up a couple lutosus.

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Great Basin Rattlesnake-Crotalus oreganus lutosus by Rye Jones, on Flickr

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Great Basin Rattlesnake-Crotalus oreganus lutosus by Rye Jones, on Flickr

More to come...
User avatar
Porter
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Joined: March 19th, 2011, 7:43 pm

Re: 2016 Review Part 2

Post by Porter »

Some great balance and cropping in a lot of these shots! Nice job :thumb:

I really liked seeing all your mutant garter shots. Especially that pale and meanisic variation :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: Best thing I've seen all year. That shot of the one crawling/hiding in the grass is cool too, the toad shots rock, and the Great Horned Owl staring at the camera has some good emotional quality. Thanks for sharing :beer:
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mtratcliffe
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Re: 2016 Review Part 2

Post by mtratcliffe »

Great series and great shots! I enjoyed the non-herp finds just as much as your large variety of herps. The pale Wandering Garter was certainly a stand-out.

Thanks for taking the time to share your finds with us.
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Rancorrye
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Re: 2016 Review Part 2

Post by Rancorrye »

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you guys enjoyed them.
BethH
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Re: 2016 Review Part 2

Post by BethH »

They're more like portraits than pictures. You captured the essence of the individuals. I love looking at the pictures on this forum, because all kinds of creatures get photographed. Thank you for sharing.
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Rancorrye
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Re: 2016 Review Part 2

Post by Rancorrye »

BethH wrote:They're more like portraits than pictures. You captured the essence of the individuals. I love looking at the pictures on this forum, because all kinds of creatures get photographed. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Beth!
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BlakeMolone
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Re: 2016 Review Part 2

Post by BlakeMolone »

that pic of the collared lizard with the snowy mountain in the background is incredible! loving youre posts, looks 2016 treated you well!
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ClosetHerper
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Re: 2016 Review Part 2

Post by ClosetHerper »

Those collared lizards are stunning. Great batch of pics. I like the diversity.
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Rancorrye
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Re: 2016 Review Part 2

Post by Rancorrye »

BlakeMolone wrote:that pic of the collared lizard with the snowy mountain in the background is incredible! loving youre posts, looks 2016 treated you well!
Thanks! 2016 was a great year.
ClosetHerper wrote:Those collared lizards are stunning. Great batch of pics. I like the diversity.
Thanks. There is enough diversity here to keep me entertained...for the most part, haha.
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ahockenberry
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Re: 2016 Review Part 2

Post by ahockenberry »

Awesome work !!
Thanks for sharing
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JakeScott
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Re: 2016 Review Part 2

Post by JakeScott »

Just stunning! I enjoyed all of it!

-Jake
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