A gigas sized thanks...

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RenoBart
Posts: 354
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 10:22 am

A gigas sized thanks...

Post by RenoBart »

I wanted to post a few pics here from last Saturday's outing, as well as give thanks to Porter for spending the day herping with me. I never thought I would have a chance to see a gigas. Much of what I have read makes them sound damn near extinct in the wild, or at very least extremely difficult to locate these days. But after talking to Porter a bit, he assured me we would have a good chance at spotting one in a special spot.

Overall the day was very productive. We saw a Gopher, a handful of Valley Garters, two Cal Kings and two Giant Garters. The first one was smaller and I was unable to get any quality pics, but the second one was around 3 feet and simply amazing. We were walking along a path near a canal, when Porter quickly spotted and grabbed this nice Cal King slithering off to the side:

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As we were admiring the King, I suddenly heard something really close that sounded like another snake. We quickly began scanning through the tall vegetation and Porter's eagle eyes spotted this gigas moving away towards the canal. I managed to get a few shots of the snake as it paused on some dry reeds. Then of course it took off into the water as I tried to get closer and swam safely to the other side.

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What a snake! The heads on these guys! I really hope the recovery efforts in place for these snakes are successful. It would be a shame to loose them entirely.

Also, here are a few other shots of some of the other stuff from Saturday.

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Valley Garter.
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A couple of mysterious deceased gophers.
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Alive Gopher!
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King #1.
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Again, big thanks to Porter for hanging out and showing me some gigas! Hopefully we'll have a chance to herp together again soon.

Bart
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Porter
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Re: A gigas sized thanks...

Post by Porter »

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Porter
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Re: A gigas sized thanks...

Post by Porter »

Cool man, sounds good :thumb: Looking forward to it.

I'm glad one of us got a good pic of that treefrog! It amazes me... 20-30 ft from water 80° and jumping from one sticker plant to the next seemingly without injury. In your shot it looks like he's comfortably resting right on a sticker leaf.

The coolest aspect of that large Gigas for me was how brown it was. I haven't seen a live brown since 2010 or 2011.... And this one was much browner. I did find a fresh baby DOR last year around this time that was hit probably a half hour before I return to the road, that was chocolate in color like this one but much more prettier uniformed. But this chocolate gigas took the cake. A good representative of a golden brown Gigas.It takes a certain skill to be able to differentiate between the scurrying sounds of a rodent, lizard, or serpent and Bart was spot-on :thumb: Awesome teamwork :beer:

Watching that guy swim off was pretty rad. Like a huge armored tank traveling in slow motion... I mean look at the ripples. Prehistoric looking beast...

Awesome post :thumb: Here's my shots...



ImageDSC_0364-2A by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0359-2A by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0360-2A by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0402-2A by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0403-2A by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0423-2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0426-2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0432-2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0435-2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0440-2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0444-2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0444-2A by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0452-2A by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0455-2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0457-2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0353-2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0487-2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0506-2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
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Kelly Mc
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Re: A gigas sized thanks...

Post by Kelly Mc »

Porter I enjoy always reading the way you describe a herp you like - and luckily that means it happens often.

You reflect on the gestalt of a given animal and express it in ways very few seem to.
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RenoBart
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Re: A gigas sized thanks...

Post by RenoBart »

Awesome pics, Porter! Thanks again!

Bart
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Porter
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Re: A gigas sized thanks...

Post by Porter »

Kelly Mc wrote:Porter I enjoy always reading the way you describe a herp you like - and luckily that means it happens often.

You reflect on the gestalt of a given animal and express it in ways very few seem to.
Tom Waits needs a chocolate Jesus... But all I need is a chocolate gigas ;)

Yeah, sometimes I trip myself out..lol I guess you could say I have a gigas sized hunger for intuitive characteristic description

Thanks :)



RenoBart wrote:Awesome pics, Porter! Thanks again!

Bart
Welcome. Same to you! I like that you used Flash photography for your photos. The valley garter shot looks cool and without it you wouldn't be able to see how much brown the gigas had. The two sets of photos together create a nice dynamic.
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jonathan
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Re: A gigas sized thanks...

Post by jonathan »

Herpers helping herpers. :)
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Porter
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Re: A gigas sized thanks...

Post by Porter »

jonathan wrote:Herpers helping herpers. :)
:thumb: good ta see you Jonathan. Still waiting for the next Beardoos Brothers Bash...
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Porter
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Re: A gigas sized thanks...

Post by Porter »

Beef? Who's got beef...?  Herpers got beef? Where's The Beef!? It's time to shake hands with beef ( from The Brown Album)





Also, this was co-written, recorded, edited and produced by a good friend of mine. An old friend from high school. He's an amazing artist . You should see his giant metal sculptures ...amazing! Wherever you are my friend I hope you are doing well...  turn this up loud and flow through the changes and find your peace... behold the Brown Panther Ghost Fool

Brown Panther Ghost Fool vs The Attention Span: https://m.soundcloud.com/yosephadams/br ... st-fool-vs
mark buck
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Location: Bakersfield, CA

Re: A gigas sized thanks...

Post by mark buck »

Nice work dudes

:thumb:
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