San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

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yolodave
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San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by yolodave »

Time to get up to the San Antonio Valley. If you would like to participate in a herp survey at the San Antonio Valley Ecological Reserve on May 13th, be at the corner of Del Puerto Canyon Road and Mines Road at 8 AM. The address for this meet spot is: 47300 Mines Rd, Livermore, CA 94550. This area is near Mount Hamilton in Santa Clara County. Very remote area

We will be accessing the Reserve a couple of miles south of this point at an unmarked gate, so please go to the meeting spot.

Conditions should be great, hope you'll join us! Message me if you have questions.

Dave

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Owen
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Location: San Jose', Northern Catcrapistan

Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Owen »

See you then :thumb:
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JAMAUGHN
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by JAMAUGHN »

Is 130 over Mt. Hamilton open to Del Puerto Canyon at this point, or is it necessary to go up to Livermore to get down to the meeting spot? Caltrans.gov has been less than reliable for me on that front lately.

JimM
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Owen
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Owen »

As of this past Wednesday, Mount Hamilton Road still needs to be accessed via Quimby Road due to the partial road collapse of the road surface on Mt. Hamilton Rd from the past storms. Mt Hamilton Rd/San Antonio Valley Rd are fine between Quimby Rd and Del Puerto Cyn Rd.
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yolodave
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by yolodave »

Tomorrow is the day. If you want to wander in some awesome pristine Coast Range habitat, come on out!

Dave
Zach_Lim
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Zach_Lim »

Really wish I could make this- work is killing me. Good luck out there guys, miss herping with you all!
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Porter
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Porter »

Wish I could wander...lol Everyday's a struggle. Looks beautiful out there...
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Owen
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Owen »

Owen wrote:As of this past Wednesday, Mount Hamilton Road still needs to be accessed via Quimby Road due to the partial road collapse of the road surface on Mt. Hamilton Rd from the past storms. Mt Hamilton Rd/San Antonio Valley Rd are fine between Quimby Rd and Del Puerto Cyn Rd.
Mount Hamilton Rd has been fully open for about a week, so no need to use the Quimby Rd detour if coming through N. San Jose.
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yolodave
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by yolodave »

Well, not a lot of animals seen Saturday, but still a beautiful day in the San Antonio Valley with enough herps to make it interesting.

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We explored several ponds on the Eco Reserve. Lots of water in the Coast Range still.

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We found Western Pond Turtles at multiple locations. At least 17 turtles seen all day.

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It was cool to see this guy tucked into a deep pool in the intermittent San Antonio Creek.

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It was in the area depicted on the lower right hand corner of this photograph.

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We also found a couple of Diablo Garter Snakes at the edge of the ponds.

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Lots of Chorus Frog and Western Toad tadpoles in the creeks. Looks like a good year for toads.

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We also had a mystery skin.

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Couple of California Kingsnakes were found on or next to the road.

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Additionally, we had a Gopher Snake, two quick views of Striped Racers, and three California Whiptails.

All in all, a great place to spend a Saturday.

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Dave
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Brian Hubbs
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Brian Hubbs »

See any good birds out there?

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yolodave
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by yolodave »

Actually yes. Heard or saw Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Lawrence's Goldfinch, and lots of quail. Owen found a nest with 25 eggs. Last year I found a quail nest with 18 eggs. Quail are making a comeback.

Dave
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Brian Hubbs
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Brian Hubbs »

I like Larry's Goldfinches...

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Porter
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Porter »

Dave, I can't see pics :( lol Only little X-boxes. I'll try again tomorrow. Prolly a loading error on my end...
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yolodave
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by yolodave »

I have the same problem now. I'll try to fix that later today.

Dave
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Brian Hubbs
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Brian Hubbs »

I see the pics just fine. :thumb:
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Owen
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Owen »

Really nice, but cool day out. Never got out of the 50's... at least by my truck's outside temp gauge. I started out a little earlier and found this little guy under a rock near the entry gate:

Side-blotched Lizard
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First stop at one of the ponds.
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Coast Range Fence Lizards pretty common all day
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A quail shot out of the bush when I was 3 feet away revealing 25 eggs
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14 of the Southern (?) Pond Turtles at the second pond
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Diablo Range Gartersnake at the third pond
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Sierran Chorus (or Tree) Frog in one of the numerous seasonal creeks.
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Wildflowers were in transition with the winter/spring stuff on the wane and the spring/summer stuff just coming in
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Flipped this nice Sphingid larvae (Proserpinus lucidus - Pacific Green Sphinx Moth) - need to black light this area ;)
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California Alligator Lizard
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Very fat juvie Pacific Gopher Snake crossing the road
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The resident Tule Elk off in the distance
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Rock flipped spider (Kukulcania?) at the last stop to lay some new boards
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Porter
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Porter »

yolodave wrote:Tomorrow is the day. If you want to wander in some awesome pristine Coast Range habitat, come on out!

Dave
Cool :thumb:

Brian Hubbs wrote:I see the pics just fine. :thumb:
Well, I don't like you :lol: Nice bird shots Hubbs :thumb: What's that thing called with the orange head? Looks like a Reg-winged Blackbird morph lol


ImageScreenshot (55) by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
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Porter
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Porter »

Nice looking ponds there! Cool turtle shots Owen. Still no found evidence of Rana or gummies? I'm curious to see what the toads look like...
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Owen
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Owen »

Porter wrote:Nice looking ponds there! Cool turtle shots Owen. Still no found evidence of Rana or gummies? I'm curious to see what the toads look like...
No Rana, though boylii live close by. There was one baby Batrachoseps, but I didn't see it.

Way to many bass, bluegill and bullfrogs.
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Brian Hubbs
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Brian Hubbs »

Porter wrote:
Brian Hubbs wrote:I see the pics just fine. :thumb:
Well, I don't like you :lol: Nice bird shots Hubbs :thumb: What's that thing called with the orange head? Looks like a Reg-winged Blackbird morph lol


ImageScreenshot (55) by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
It's a Yellow-headed Blackbird. I finally got a decent shot of one. They've been tough for me for the last year or so. Never close enough to get good focus...
For an "inquisitive and tame" bird they have always been the opposite to me. :lol:
mark buck
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by mark buck »

Looks like a nice day

:beer:
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Porter
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Porter »

Brian Hubbs wrote: It's a Yellow-headed Blackbird. I finally got a decent shot of one. They've been tough for me for the last year or so. Never close enough to get good focus...
For an "inquisitive and tame" bird they have always been the opposite to me. :lol:
They look cool :thumb: Reminds me of a breeding male skinkage :lol: Nice shot too! You can see the distinctive characteristics clearly. Birds are tough! So many shots I lost to just being a little too far out of range or having to change setting and not getting in done in time.
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Porter
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Re: San Antonio Valley Reserve Herp Survey

Post by Porter »

Ok, I see em now Dave :thumb: Nice Pond turtle shots :beer: Man, that looks like such a beautiful place to photograph... any diagnosis on that shed yet?
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