Search found 113 matches

by sauceman
July 23rd, 2012, 3:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2012 - Shades of oreganus
Replies: 32
Views: 7992

Re: 2012 - Shades of oreganus

Great post! That pic #13 of the juvenile wedged into the rocks and peeking out is awesome, love it. The variability of C. o. oreganus is the one thing that helps me cope with the single crote situation in (most of) Northern California. At least they don't all look the same. Having spent most of my l...
by sauceman
July 23rd, 2012, 3:31 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2nd Attempt @ Cali lutosus
Replies: 3
Views: 1334

Re: 2nd Attempt @ Cali lutosus

I have yet to find a California lutosus so I can't help. I have had quite a bit of success with that species in Nevada though. I will be interested in seeing how it works out for you, this was something I was considering targeting myself and I figured that anything north and east of Mono Lake should...
by sauceman
January 13th, 2012, 3:57 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: My year, or how I got to sixty... (DUW, Self-indulgent)
Replies: 27
Views: 4686

Re: My year, or how I got to sixty... (DUW, Self-indulgent)

Excellent post. What ssp. is your zonata?
by sauceman
December 2nd, 2011, 4:27 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: My year
Replies: 14
Views: 2846

Re: My year

Great post.

Would be nice to see that second-to-last zonata after the shed.

Is that last zonata a multicincta (Sierras)? It looks a lot like the high black multicinctas I have seen.
by sauceman
December 2nd, 2011, 4:13 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Beautiful Coral and More
Replies: 20
Views: 4177

Re: Beautiful Coral and More

Haha, thanks mikemike but it was actually a little after 11am. Weather was extremely overcast and quite muggy. I believe the temp was right around 80.
by sauceman
December 2nd, 2011, 3:59 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Arizona Longnose
Replies: 9
Views: 2584

Re: Arizona Longnose

Wow, that one is very different. I would be pretty stoked to cruise that.
by sauceman
December 2nd, 2011, 3:57 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The Season in NOT over!!
Replies: 19
Views: 3612

Re: The Season in NOT over!!

Love those Checkers. I have now found a total of 5 marcianus (2 Pima and 3 Cochise) but every single one was DOR. I am really looking forward to seeing a live one someday.
by sauceman
August 19th, 2011, 2:12 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Channel Islands zonata?
Replies: 45
Views: 5027

Re: Channel Islands zonata?

It was me! (good timing, LOL). It's also worth considering that Cal Kings are found on Catalina, they're not found on Todos Santos, and in areas where they occur together, the Cal kings typically stop where the zonata start (but there is the occasional exception). Another exception to this would be...
by sauceman
August 11th, 2011, 2:20 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Some pics while triveling to Florida
Replies: 8
Views: 3174

Re: Some pics while triveling to Florida

Wow!!! That adamanteus is a screamer... awesome coloration.

I am a southwest herper but I decided to poke around in you guys forum a bit for some viewing variety.

Looks like a good trip, especially being so short. Thanks for sharing.
by sauceman
August 11th, 2011, 11:27 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Some fun in Iraq with Coluber ventromaculatus (updated)
Replies: 9
Views: 1485

Re: Some fun in Iraq with Coluber ventromaculatus

Indeed, thanks for sharing your find and, more importantly, thanks for your service and sacrifices.

Cool little snake.
by sauceman
August 8th, 2011, 3:53 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Thamnophis experts needed!
Replies: 18
Views: 2294

Re: Thamnophis experts needed!

I believe the blueish flecks between the scales is something I have only seen on T. atratus ssp.
by sauceman
July 28th, 2011, 8:11 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Just one mid-week critter from the ANF
Replies: 9
Views: 1950

Re: Just one mid-week critter from the ANF

Spectacular shots of a gorgeous animal dood. Thanks for posting that, never seen one like it.
by sauceman
July 28th, 2011, 8:06 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Another backpacking trip to the South Sierras
Replies: 7
Views: 1889

Re: Another backpacking trip to the South Sierras

Cool post and awesome scenery shots. And, I really like that second Sagebrush shot, captures the personality of those lizards well.
by sauceman
July 27th, 2011, 6:55 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: My year so far Ca/Az.....
Replies: 15
Views: 2908

Re: My year so far Ca/Az.....

Wow, awesome post. You went zonata crazy. And, I can't believe nobody has mentioned the significance of the Diablo intergrade zonata find. That is EXTREMELY hard to find. Is that the first you have seen? I know a non-herper that found one last year but those are just ridiculously tough. Great job man.
by sauceman
July 27th, 2011, 6:47 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First Half of 2011 in California (Part 2)
Replies: 15
Views: 2910

Re: First Half of 2011 in California (Part 2)

Awesome variety of Kings, wow. Excellent post, great animals, congrats and thanks for posting this. And, I love the multi-species flips.
by sauceman
July 27th, 2011, 6:10 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: July Creatures
Replies: 25
Views: 4538

Re: July Creatures

Good stuff and nice post. That coastie looks very different than any I have seen, and I have seen a ton. If you don't mind, PM me the county. Not trying to find your spots, just curious what county because the coloring is so different. @ Jim - All Coast Garters I have seen have stripes down the back...
by sauceman
July 25th, 2011, 3:10 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps from the Big Island of Hawaii
Replies: 17
Views: 4035

Re: Herps from the Big Island of Hawaii

Cool stuff Robert, reminds me of home. I lived on Maui for 7 years and these were the only herps I had to live on. We did not have Gold Dust Day Geckos on Maui, not sure if the made it over there yet. You guys got some AWESOME shots of those Day Geckos. Looks like a Brahminy Blind Snake to me. I fou...
by sauceman
July 18th, 2011, 1:21 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Large Crotalus
Replies: 12
Views: 2110

Re: Large Crotalus

Nice big and healthy looking oreganus. Thanks for sharing. I have seen a few that were pretty large but most that I find are under three feet. As for the rattle strings, wild individuals that I find (assuming adults) tend to have pretty short strings with 6, 7, 8ish. I think they are just too fragil...
by sauceman
July 11th, 2011, 10:14 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Heading out to Portal AZ in August...Best spots??
Replies: 23
Views: 3311

Re: Heading out to Portal AZ in August...Best spots??

@ bioguy - Please send me a private message when you have a chance and I will have some dialogue with you. As someone here mentioned, you may try the AZ Chapter forum but I don't know how much info you will get because of sensitive species in the area. I will say that I was in Portal a little over a...
by sauceman
July 6th, 2011, 11:22 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Anyone ever traveled on commercial airline with snake hook?
Replies: 8
Views: 1871

Re: Anyone ever traveled on commercial airline with snake ho

I have flow with 2-3 hooks and tongs several times in the last couple of years (to SoCal and Arizona). I have only checked them. I use Southwest because they don't charge for checked items. I bought a long, narrow cardboard box, put them all in there and tape up with Gorilla Tape. Then, I tape a lug...
by sauceman
July 6th, 2011, 11:16 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: California trip of European alien
Replies: 43
Views: 8651

Re: California trip of European alien

Hello. I am in the San Francisco Bay Area... northern leg of your trip. If we can synch up while you are up north I can show you some spots with good herp potential. We have had a very strange year weather-wise, it would normally be much drier by now. It has gotten pretty hot up this way but there a...
by sauceman
July 6th, 2011, 10:49 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Gartersnake trip to the Bay Area
Replies: 32
Views: 5360

Re: Gartersnake trip to the Bay Area

Great post, I was looking forward to seeing your stuff from the first days of your trip. You guys got some very sweet shots of some beautiful animals. It was a pleasure to meet you guys and get out in the field. Nicholas has that awesome enthusiasm of being a young herper and it is certainly infecti...
by sauceman
June 23rd, 2011, 1:10 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2011 - so far in SoCal
Replies: 36
Views: 5040

Re: 2011 - so far in SoCal

Wow, it's a Boa extravaganza. Awesome stuff. Only, problem is that there is so much here it's hard to comment... you get overwhelmed. That Lyre has a HUGE meal in it. The zonatas are spectacular. So, the rhino really was day-cruised? I think that everything I would want to express has already been s...
by sauceman
June 21st, 2011, 8:01 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: palm springs?
Replies: 4
Views: 1002

Re: palm springs?

@ reako45 - Only other things flipped were some common lizards, mostly Side-blotched. The goal of my flipping there was specifically Shovel-nosed but no such luck.
by sauceman
June 14th, 2011, 3:39 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Quick trip down to Mojave Desert
Replies: 15
Views: 2328

Re: Quick trip down to Mojave Desert

@ Devlin

You were supposed to have been on that trip Devlin. But, we will have plenty more chances. I was doing intelligence gathering for another SoCal trip... still figuring out the lay of the land down there.
by sauceman
June 14th, 2011, 3:36 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Long day trip to Western Mojave
Replies: 35
Views: 5857

Re: Long day trip to Western Mojave

Ah, I was guessing somewhere in the 400mm range. Nice lens. I am looking to get longer with my setup, my max now is 70-200mm f/2.8 but, with a 1.7x teleconverter, it is about 340mm effective. The teleconverter sacrifices some light and sharpness so I really need to save some money.
by sauceman
June 13th, 2011, 2:54 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Long day trip to Western Mojave
Replies: 35
Views: 5857

Re: Long day trip to Western Mojave

Awesome post and incredible pics. Thanks for sharing.

The Whiptail shot is very sweet. Those are very challenging to photograph.

One question... what lens did you use for the Zebra-Tail from the car shot?
by sauceman
June 13th, 2011, 2:48 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: palm springs?
Replies: 4
Views: 1002

Re: palm springs?

Last weekend I saw stacks of geckos on the roads at night in the same areas you mentioned. I would safely say that, at the peak, I was seeing probably 2-3 for every ten miles of road. I also flipped one underneath a piece of particle board at midday near Joshua Tree. The temps hadn't been too high a...
by sauceman
June 13th, 2011, 2:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New guy-first post
Replies: 21
Views: 2906

Re: New guy-first post

Nice to meet you. I am in the South Bay Area which is a lot closer to you than many of the members here. I do know a few members up in Marin County and Sonoma County. Do you get down to the Bay Area at all?
by sauceman
June 13th, 2011, 2:32 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The low life
Replies: 32
Views: 3672

Re: The low life

I love this post. The Lyre is absolutely AWESOME!!! Great pics and beautiful animal! Funny enough, I just drove like 9 hours south to herp down there last weekend. It was a cool trip and we found some fun stuff but the entire trip was to give me a chance to find a Speck. I have made two trips to SoC...
by sauceman
June 13th, 2011, 2:18 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Local Flavor (SFV style)
Replies: 6
Views: 1148

Re: Local Flavor (SFV style)

Well, most of us NorCal herpers can VERY excited by Coachwhips. We don't get to see them much without traveling. We have YBR's like you guys have Coachwhips I think.

Thanks for posting, cool stuff.
by sauceman
June 13th, 2011, 2:14 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Quick trip down to Mojave Desert
Replies: 15
Views: 2328

Re: Quick trip down to Mojave Desert

Thanks everyone. I am a HUGE fan of deserticola and I think this was my first California specimen. I have been finding them in Northern Nevada for 20+ years but haven't spent much time in their Cali range. That particular animal was gorgeous. @ reako45 - The patch-nosed was on a pretty low traffic r...
by sauceman
June 7th, 2011, 7:40 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Quick trip down to Mojave Desert
Replies: 15
Views: 2328

Re: Quick trip down to Mojave Desert

Yeah, you should be good with garters. I am sure you know what you are looking for, but send me a PM if you have any questions about Bay Area Thamnophis , I think I have seen all but one. It has stayed cool and wet so you will probably find Contia , Diadophis and maybe Charina in the process of look...
by sauceman
June 7th, 2011, 6:31 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Quick trip down to Mojave Desert
Replies: 15
Views: 2328

Re: Quick trip down to Mojave Desert

Nice shots John! Really like the Chucks and Glossy shots. Thats rad those two didn't get killed... any permanent damge? Thanks Porter! I think I wasn't very clear. Unfortuntely, they both died. They were alive for a few moments. Those gopher shots rock :thumb: It's funny you say you're getting tire...
by sauceman
June 7th, 2011, 2:41 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Quick trip down to Mojave Desert
Replies: 15
Views: 2328

Quick trip down to Mojave Desert

Hello everybody. I couldn't take this garbage weather up north anymore so I headed down to the Mojave for a few days this last weekend. I spent my time mainly in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. It wasn't epic but was certainly better than I could have done up in the Bay Area. Trip totals: (2)...
by sauceman
May 25th, 2011, 3:15 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Horseshoe Two Fire Map
Replies: 12
Views: 2455

Re: Horseshoe Two Fire Map

Wow, this one is really rough. When I arrived in AZ on the 12th there were 10,000 acres on fire. By the time I left, about 27,000 acres were burning. I was supposed to be staying in Portal. We actually went up there because a lot of the area northwest of Portal was still open and not even smokey. Un...
by sauceman
May 25th, 2011, 3:04 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Springtime finds in SE Arizona (jungle-cat rattler included)
Replies: 7
Views: 2164

Re: Springtime finds in SE Arizona (jungle-cat rattler inclu

@ Nat - Thanks! We failed on the Oxybelis though, I guess we need you there to find those for us.

@ Biker Dave - Thanks! I always enjoy your beautiful state. Looking forward to monsoons again.
by sauceman
May 24th, 2011, 2:50 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Springtime finds in SE Arizona (jungle-cat rattler included)
Replies: 7
Views: 2164

Re: Springtime finds in SE Arizona (jungle-cat rattler inclu

Congrats Sauceman on the lifer. Tigris is one of my favorite and most encountered crotes (the other being speckled). Found a few this spring, but monsoons bring numbers. Plan on a monsoon trip? Thanks Norman. I was very excited about the tigris , I have been fascinated by them in books since I was ...
by sauceman
May 23rd, 2011, 3:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Planning an AZ trip, and I have a couple of questions
Replies: 12
Views: 1996

Re: Planning an AZ trip, and I have a couple of questions

The Micruroides and Heloderma are difficult to target, as others pointed out. I haven't been fortunate enough to see Heloderma yet but, from what I have read, May is the most active month for them. Some publications I have seen state that their total surface activity per year is likely less than 30 ...
by sauceman
May 23rd, 2011, 11:18 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Springtime finds in SE Arizona (jungle-cat rattler included)
Replies: 7
Views: 2164

Springtime finds in SE Arizona (jungle-cat rattler included)

I returned, last week, from a spring herping trip in SE Arizona. As you AZ residents well know, things are VERY dry, even by normal spring standards. There wasn't much activity, even in the lower deserts but we had one very awesome find. All in all, the herps were thin but we saw some incredible new...
by sauceman
May 10th, 2011, 12:09 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Quick High Desert Trip
Replies: 7
Views: 2120

Re: Quick High Desert Trip

Sceloporous magisters rock, I love those things. I have only found them in AZ thus far.
by sauceman
May 10th, 2011, 12:06 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Diablo Range herpin'
Replies: 51
Views: 46060

Re: Diablo Range herpin'

Great stuff, really awesome images. I have lived in Santa Clara County most of my life and you point out something that I am constantly noticing... very little AC in SC County. It's odd, but it seems almost impossible to find any AC around here and, in other counties, I tend to stumble into it. I ha...
by sauceman
May 7th, 2011, 1:58 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Rescheduled! Herp Survey on June 11th - Santa Clara County
Replies: 34
Views: 5720

Re: Herp Survey on May 15th - Santa Clara County

Man, I really wish I could do this. I live in San Jose and have herped in that area quite a bit in the past. Unfortunately, I will be herping in the Chiricahuas on that day. Well, that is not unfortunate... just wish I could do both. I look forward to seeing what you guys find.
by sauceman
May 6th, 2011, 4:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Look what the Shrike dragged in...
Replies: 35
Views: 6561

Re: Look what the Shrike dragged in...

Upon further research I see that this bird is on the Endangered Species List in California so it is probably pretty unlikely that I will be finding any caches in the near future.
by sauceman
May 6th, 2011, 4:07 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Look what the Shrike dragged in...
Replies: 35
Views: 6561

Re: Look what the Shrike dragged in...

Wow. Another member told me about this post last night while we were road cruising in California and I had to come see it for myself. This is a fascinating behavior. Thanks for sharing this, I had never heard of shrike caches. Last year a bird in Arizona alerted me to the presence of a handsome Crot...
by sauceman
May 6th, 2011, 3:26 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: hiking boots
Replies: 15
Views: 4064

Re: hiking boots

I used to go through cheap boots a lot and, just like chrish, I bought a pair of Vasque hiking boots and they are AWESOME. I honestly can't believe how comfortable they are and how sure-footed I feel in them. At this point, I can't imagine myself trying anything else. They weren't cheap but they roc...
by sauceman
May 6th, 2011, 3:20 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping groups?
Replies: 3
Views: 1019

Re: Herping groups?

Hi SamS. Welcome to the forum and to NorCal. Where did you live before? I get together frequently with a number of members here and hit the roads or the field. I think you will find some friendly folks here pretty quickly. Get to know some people and you may find yourself some new herping compadres....
by sauceman
May 6th, 2011, 3:15 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Morons kill a kingsnake
Replies: 13
Views: 2197

Re: Morons kill a kingsnake

Hellihooks you are so right. With the right education and introduction many people can fully overcome their misconceptions and biases (is that a word?) about snakes. I have seen it happen with many people. There are some stubborn ones that are unwilling to consider any new ideas but many can come ar...
by sauceman
May 6th, 2011, 3:06 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Three beauties
Replies: 5
Views: 1327

Re: Three beauties

Sweet! I can't get tired of seeing beautiful rubers. Thanks for sharing.
by sauceman
May 6th, 2011, 3:03 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A LIFER and almost a LIFER
Replies: 8
Views: 1392

Re: A LIFER and almost a LIFER

Sweet! Love that Lyre. Thanks for sharing.