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.
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.
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...
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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...
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!
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.
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."