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April as I Saw It (Same as CA Forum Post)

Posted: May 1st, 2014, 10:13 am
by JAMAUGHN
It's been a busy month. I've been able to make a couple of short trips, once to the Portland area, and then down to Southern California for a weekend. As a result, the diversity of my finds this month is a little better than usual. There'll likely be a sizable number of photos here, so I'll keep the commentary brief. As usual, it'll be herps first, followed by non-herps and habitat shots.

From Monterey Co.:

ImageMonterey Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzii eschscholtzii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Skink, Plestiodon skiltonianus skiltonianus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula californiae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCoast Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma blainvilli by J. Maughn, on Flickr

San Benito Co. :

ImageCalifornia Red-legged Frog, Rana draytonii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageValley Garter Snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Legless Lizard, Anniella pulchra by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageMonterey Ringneck Snake, Diadophis punctatus vandenberghi by J. Maughn, on Flickr



San Mateo Co.:

ImageRough-skinned Newt, Taricha granulosa by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSan Francisco Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Santa Clara Co.:

ImageCalifornia Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon ensatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Sagebrush Lizard, Sceloporus graciosus gracilis by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Pond Turtle, Actinemys marmorata by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSanta Cruz Black Salamander, Aneides flavipunctatus niger by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageEastern River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna concinna, and Red-eared Slider, Trachemys scripta elegans by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula californiae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Toad, Anaxyrus boreas halophilus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageOuachita Map Turtle, Graptemys ouachitensis by J. Maughn, on Flickr


Santa Cruz Co.:

ImagePacific Ringneck Snake, Diadophis punctatus amabilis by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSierran Treefrog, Pseudacris sierra by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageYellow-eyed Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Slender Salamander, Batrachoseps attenuatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Newt, Taricha torosa by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCoast Range Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Whiptail, Aspidoscelis tigris munda by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImagePacific Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer catenifer by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Alligator Lizard, Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata and Forest Sharp-tailed Snake, Contia longicaudae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Side-blotched Lizard, Uta stansburiana elegans by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSan Francisco Alligator Lizard, Elgaria coerulea coerulea by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Rubber Boa, Charina bottae by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCoast Mountain Kingsnake, Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus oreganus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

I find a weird number of herps in and around outhouses:
ImageLurking Under the Outhouse. (Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus oreganus) by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCoast Garter Snake, Thamnophis elegans terrestris by J. Maughn, on Flickr


Contra Costa Co.:

ImageWestern Yellow-bellied Racer, Coluber constrictor mormon by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCoast Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma blainvillii by J. Maughn, on Flickr


I had high hopes for my Southern CA trip, but conditions were not as good as I'd hoped. My time in the San Gabriel Mountains were mostly taken up with a seminar I was attending, but the weather was uncooperative-- one day was in the high fifties, and the next dropped down to the high thirties, and then snowed. The desert was a little better, but all the animals from there below were found in temperatures in the mid to low 70s.

San Bernardino Co.:

ImageGreat Basin Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis longipes by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Sagebrush Lizard, Sceloporus graciosus vandenburgianus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSan Diego Alligator Lizard, Elgaria multicarinata webbii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageYellow-backed Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus uniformis by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCommon Chuckwalla, Sauromalus ater by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageGreat Basin Whiptail Lizard, Aspidoscelis tigris tigris by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Side-blotched Lizard, Uta stansburiana elegans by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Treefrog, Pseudacris cadaverina by J. Maughn, on Flickr

This one was an interesting, but rather sad, sight:
ImageShell of a Desert Tortoise, Gopherus agassizii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Zebra-tailed Lizard, Callisaurus draconoides rhodostictus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis by J. Maughn, on Flickr


From Multnomah and Clackamas Cos. OR:

ImageOregon Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzi oregonensis by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageAmerican Bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageWestern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon vehiculum by J. Maughn, on Flickr
ImageWestern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon vehiculum (Melanistic Individual) by J. Maughn, on Flickr



Non-herps:

ImageGoldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) on Monterey Mariposa Lily, Calochortus uniflorus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageYellow-billed Magpie, Pica nuttalli by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageTarantula, Aphonopelma sp. (Female) by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageRed Larkspur, Delphinium nudicaule by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageThat Looks Awkward (Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus) by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageOregon Fawn Lily, Erythronium oregonum by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImagePacific Trillium,Trillium ovatum by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageGolden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImagePale Swallowtail, Papilio eurymedon by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageMount Diablo Fairy-Lantern, Calochortus pulchellus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageBonny Doon Manzanita, Arctostaphylos silvicola by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageVivid Dancer, Argia vivida by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCommon Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageBlack-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageMountain Dogwood, Cornus nuttallii by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageRedhead, Aythya americana by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageSilver Cholla, Cylindropuntia echinocarpa by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageVerdin, Auriparus flaviceps by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageBlack-chinned Sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageAntelope ground Squirrel, Ammospermophilus nelsoni by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageCactus Wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

ImageScott's Oriole, Icterus parisorum by J. Maughn, on Flickr



Landscape/habitat:

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That's all, folks. Thanks for looking.
ImageLunar Eclipse by J. Maughn, on Flickr

Re: April as I Saw It (Same as CA Forum Post)

Posted: May 1st, 2014, 5:32 pm
by Tamara D. McConnell
WOW, was that ever wonderful!
The chocolate and white Cali king is just amazingly beautiful. I also am partial to the chuckwalla in the rocks.
The curlew picture is funny. The redhead duck is really cool.
I'm gonna start hanging around outhouses.
Thanks for a totally lovely post.

Re: April as I Saw It (Same as CA Forum Post)

Posted: May 2nd, 2014, 1:24 pm
by VICtort
Nice work. The curlew and night heron caught my eye. The redhead a text book shot, how did you get so close? I also enjoyed the chuckwalla, secure in a crevice...
Thanks for sharing an impressive display of spring time in Ca. Interesting to see a variety of non-native turtles in addition to RES.

Vic

Re: April as I Saw It (Same as CA Forum Post)

Posted: May 2nd, 2014, 8:34 pm
by John Williams
Fantastic. Great Trilium shot.

Re: April as I Saw It (Same as CA Forum Post)

Posted: May 3rd, 2014, 9:01 pm
by Ribbit
That's quite a month! I'm particularly fond of the blue-speckled sagebrush lizard, the rubber boas, and the rattlesnake head (I think I recognize that outhouse). I'm surprised that a desert iguana was out in the relatively cool temps.

John

Re: April as I Saw It (Same as CA Forum Post)

Posted: May 3rd, 2014, 10:42 pm
by walk-about
J.Maughn - Great post! Excellent diversity. Of the four turtle species posted, only one native??? Are these intentional releases? I guess I could understand the Red-ear Slider as they were such a major part of the pet trade in the US for so long; But Ouachita Maps and Eastern River Cooters I don't get how they could have gotten so far west(?) What state were these shot in if you don't mind me asking...

RocK ON!

Dave

Re: April as I Saw It (Same as CA Forum Post)

Posted: May 4th, 2014, 8:59 am
by JAMAUGHN
Dave,

The one native one is the only one we have! I'm guessing the Cooters and Map Turtle are pet releases. There are enough cooters in this spot, though, that they could conceivably be breeding. All the turtle shots are from California. The invasives are from a large urban lake in Santa Clara County.

VicTORT,

The Redhead just floated by while I sat at the edge of a lake in Southern California. Apparently, I do a good impression of a rock. At least, that's what all my dance partners tell me...

Thanks, all, for your comments.

JImM