Spring ruber run....

[Correcamino]

As usual for me, my herping season started with a trip to California to photo Red Diamond Rattlers (Crotalus ruber), and whatever other species might be found coincidentally. Accompanying Brendan and I this year was my cousin Rich L. (without the beard, often confused with the other Rich L. commonly known as squeeks, with a beard), AKA “Gunny”.
We left Phx bright and squirrely at around 0500 and headed west. As we arrived at the borders of the “Red Zone” the temps were only in the low sixtys and we could se a low marine layer hanging over out destination. We decided to pick a nearby spot and flip for boas or whatever. An hour and a half yielded six boas, a ruber, several gophersnakes, a tantilla and some other small stuff.
Xantusia vigilis...


Aniella pulchra.....


Tantilla planiceps..


Rosy Boas (Lichanura trivirgata)....






Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber)..


Midday found us at our originally planned destination…





A pair, the female is the darker in the rear but I didn't catch all of her in the photo


the female from the other side....




Brendan spotted this incredible male out for a cruise, from his behavior I think he was trailing a female...




another female...




The next morning it was again too cold for ruber to be basking yet so we hit some coastal areas to flip Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus helleri)...



Flipped tons of ringnecks and a few Cal-Kings....




More SoPacs....













Late morning we headed back inland to look for more ruber....
Psuedacris regilla)....


rubers...








Brendan spotted this mitchellii basking, and about eight feet away, a boa coming out....









and then it was back to AZ!

Cheers,

CC

[Ross Padilla]

Great post. You guys did very good.

[geckoguy747]

looks like an awesome trip! gotta love rubers! and that second boa is gorgeous!
josh

[BlackPearl]

I can't believe you guys stopped to photo the boas...

[monklet]

The lighting balance and image quality is just stunning ...let alone all the superb animals. But what else is new eh? Tasty stuff, thanks for posting Rich!

[erik loza]

Those boas are dynamite. Thanks for sharing.

[kcmatt]

Great shots, Rich-- some nice animals in there.

[Correcamino]

Thanks guys!

BlackPearl,

What can I say, sometimes I have an off day, lol. The boas were cold and kinda held still for a moment, so what the heck, lol. The third one is actually almost insitu as flipped, it changes it's head position a tad....just as flipped..


The other three boas were ugly and ancient so I didin't bother with them.

Heck, I even shot a Nightlizard and Treefrog, may be hope for me yet!

Rich

[Bill Love]

Beautiful specimens, especially the rubers, an especially one of them! Great post and fantastic couple herping days.

[Casey Lazik]

I'll 2nd what Bill said. Beautiful photos!
Nicely done, Rich.

Casey

[justinm]

I need to say thanks for this post. I think took often you Left Coasters think of these as a common junk snake. I think the beauty of these animals is just top notch. They deserve a post like this. Great photos all around, and I really love Xantusia so that was a great way to start it off. I can't believe how underrated these snakes are!

[Correcamino]

Thanks Bill and Casey!

Justin,

I can't agree more on rubers, They are way near the top of my list of favorite rattlesnakes. I may live in Az. but I just can't imagine a year going by without making a trip out to photo them. I just love southern Cal, lol. It's always a welcome break to leave the snowpacked mountains of northern Az. for a couple days of 70 degrees and green grass.

Rich

[Fundad]

Great Photos...

Love the big Red Rubers, my favorite of all Cali Hots..



Fundad

[Mulebrother]

I loved every single thing in this post...man, makes me want to head to the west coast!

[RobertH]

Outstanding crote pictures (again), Rich. It's good to know that I am not the only one who prefers rubers (and any crotes, for that matter) to boas.

Robert

[condyle]

Nice! I love mornings like this.

[socalherper]

Nice post Rich,
I love the big red ruber out for a cruise. Yani's right you guys don't like them slugs!

T

[Mike VanValen]

WOW, great photos. Beautiful animals. Those sopacs look like an EDB x blacktail.

[Correcamino]

Thanks all!

Brad,
you guys headin' out this way for the "Biology of the Rattlesnakes"?


Tony,
Although crotes are the reason for our being, you know we are really closet boa and lamprodorks at heart bro, we just have to pretend not to like 'em. Gotta maintain the rep.

Rich

[Texas Gus]

Fabulous Ruber photos and more.. Brings back some of my most fond memories. Great job.

[John Williams]

Very cool. Do kings and SoPac rattlers hang on in some pretty small undeveloped/isolated lots there? Aerials of coastal San Diego County look as developed and depressing as Houston.

[Jason Hull]

Nice photos Rich. Some of those Ruber are great lookin.

Jason

[Correcamino]

Thanks guys!,

John,
I think all kings and helleri need is a 6 X 6 ft patch of grass to live and breed, lol. They seem to survive just fine in the green belts between buildings, lots etc. We are always amazed to park, watch the nicely dressed lady next to us get out of her car and walk in to work, then flip the board six feet past the curb and find a helleri.

Jason,

Thanks bro. I think it's bout time to head back up to Reno for some microbrews, lol. When are ya coming to AZ?

Rich

[hellihooks]

yeah... it's so easy for us Ca guys to take Reds for granted, as we bout always see them... looking for rosys... But whenever I help visitors find herps to photograph... rubers are #1 on their lists. Followed by specks, and oddly enough, legless lizards... go figure.
But... always happy to oblige... here's a few shots of a male ruber coming out to defend his den/mate...




And before we blow helleri off completely ... here's a 'desert clade' from out Barstow way...

Personally... I like specks the most... jim