Field Herp Forum

Fantastic post! The only ID I'd question is "Bridge."

JimM

I use all three. I just can't get enough data entry. I'm a monster at parties.

JimM

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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Excellent first post, Isaiah! I look forward to seeing more. Those bobcat shots...wow. FWIW, your username seems fine. At least you didn't pick one that just looks like you're yelling your actual name.

JimM

Very cool. Thanks for posting this, it cheered me up!

JimM

Oh, and I should mention that at the spot Jonathan describes, both species, Harbor Seal and Sea Lion, are ridiculously abundant.

JimM

I agree with everything you're saying here, Craig, and it could well be a Harbor Seal. My only reason for preferring the Sea Lion ID is the length of the foreflipper. It just seems a little long for a Harbor Seal. Also, I've noticed that when Harbor Seals do that kind of jump-n'roll, they tend to tu...

Bottlenose Dolphins would be the most likely dolphin species to be viewable from the beach , and they are very common close to Monterey Bay beaches. I usually see them every fourth or fifth trip to the beach. This doesn't look right for Tursiops, though. The position of the "fin" seems odd. Still, i...

Jonathan, do you know how far out in the Bay they were, and where they canoed out from, ie Santa Cruz, Monterey, or Moss Landing? My guess is the fin is the foreflipper of a California Sea Lion, and the spots are bits of water. I think the seal lion is doing a corkscrew dive, checking out the canoes...

Very nice to see this. It looks like there was a lot of enthusiasm. Well done!

JimM

PS- I particularly like the loose Coral Snake next to Alex and her friend!

Man, I never get tired of these posts, John. Fantastic...everything.

JimM

Excellent, Nick. Very, very excellent.

JimM

That's awesome, Dave. Hurray, Diane!


JimM

I've never knowingly identified a rock. I have been mistaken for one, once in a while.

...and just for that comment, Mr. Hubbs, I condemn you to Moth Identification. Your eyes will bleed.

http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/

JimM

Welcome to the forum, NIcholas!

JimM

Welcome, Ryan!

JimM

Damn!

JimM

Here's a few. I think this category constitutes about 3/4 of the photos I take. The oldest herp photo I have. Taken in 1991: https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5579/14548651108_87b56ac9c8_b.jpg Black Racer, Coluber constrictor constrictor by JAMES MAUGHN , on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2895/145...

Nicholas gives me something to aspire to. And, yeah, I guess Hubbs, too.

Just sloggin' along,
JimM

Congratulations, Nicholas! Those are stellar photos, both. A well-deserved victory.

Here's to many more!

JimM

I'm hardly an expert, or even a novice, really, but it looks kind of like an American Mink to me.

Cool find!
JimM

Fantastic find! I'm now completely consumed with jealousy.

JimM

Augggh, I really want to do this one, and it's quickly receding from my reach. This is an amazing area, and I strongly encourage anyone who can make it to do so.

JimM

Here's a couple of shot of Banana Slug eggs (and hatchlings)...seems like it could be a good match. I have no idea if that's what's in that salamander, though. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/622/22584603059_e39799e4e2_c.jpg Banana Slug Eggs (Ariolimax genus) by J. Maughn , on Flickr https://farm1.st...

I'd have to agree about you're having mastered the S.C. Mountains. You saw some things I still haven't seen yet this year, and I've had a bit more than a week to spend looking. The tiny boa in the Coast Live Oak leaf is fantastic.

JimM

Not incoherent at all, esp. considering it it was your first time chaperoning HS students! Very enjoyable post, Zach, and congratulations on that Lyre Snake.

JimM

Welcome, Jeremy! As everyone has already said, great photos. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next!

JimM

Those ensatina are so beautiful!

There were also a few newts out yesterday, though not on my driveway...

A Few California Newts (Taricha torosa) by J. Maughn, on Flickr

JimM

Yesterday's rain brought out the salamanders...onto my driveway. Right in the middle of downtown Santa Cruz:

Arboreal Salamander, Aneides lugubris by J. Maughn, on Flickr

JimM

I was pretty happy with record #4,000:

California Red-sided Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis by JAMES MAUGHN, on Flickr

Hadn't seen one in 2+ years.

JimM

Agreed!

JimM

I didn't get the macro shot of the foot...didn't have that camera on me. The feet, though, did look smaller than that of B. gavilanensis, and was reminiscent of B. attenuatus. I noticed that before I looked at the belly. Ditto the narrow head, long tail, etc.

Ha, I didn't know that about Wanda Sykes. I just thought it was an accurate description of Southern San Benito County!

JimM

Hi all, So, this is a Slender I found today down towards the bottom of San Benito County. It had a narrower head, longer tail, and littler little feet than the B. gavilanensis I've seen. It also had a Black belly. I'm inclined to call it a B. nigriventris, except they're not really supposed to be in...

Finally managed to see my first American Badger yesterday:

American Badger, Taxidea taxus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

I love how many of these I'd give my eye teeth to see. (Rough Green Snakes! Queen snakes! I mean, really...) Anyway, here's a Western Side-blotched Lizard I saw yesterday: https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1495/24251252899_5774090b9b_h.jpg Western Side-blotched Lizard, Uta stansburiana elegans by J. Ma...

I love this idea, too. Here are a few: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7590/17220474536_7327d7a157_k.jpg California Slender Salamander, Batrachoseps attenuatus, with a Tylobolus Millipede by JAMES MAUGHN , on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7608/16201083864_ae50326ab1_k.jpg Coast Range Fence Li...

These are all fantastic photos, everyone. Most of my favorite finds this year are either of nonherps or are from far-flung destinations. Here's a couple of locals, though: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8734/16868649566_eeb63d92c4_k.jpg Coast Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma blainvillii by JAMES MAUGHN , o...

Spectacular photos and finds, Elliot!

JimM

Excellent series, John. The photos are all stellar, and you are one of those people who's posts I would turn to even if it had only text. Your writing style is so engaging and enjoyable.

I hope 2016 will find you in more places that compel you to post long series on FHF!

JimM

That was a blast. I can't wait for the rest!

JimM

Very nice, Zach! That first Rough-skinned looks a little thin, though.

JimM

Very nice, Dave!

Excellent, Zach! That Torrent is fantastic.

JimM

I agree with Fieldnotes. Get a bag, so you can put this one in it.

JimM

Excellent photography, Zach. That waterbug is imposing!

JimM

Fair points.

JimM

Matt,

So long as the coordinates are accurate, I don't really see a problem, either. Christopher Smith is a Herpmapper project coordinator, and I assume got in touch with the finder via the facebook thingamajig. Seems legit enough for me.

JimM

Did anyone else catch this reference in the LA Times?

"Officials are warning the public not to touch such snakes. Instead, they said to take photos and report sightings and locations to iNaturalist and HerpMapper websites."

HerpMapper!

JimM