2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

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DevinBergquist
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Location: Southern California

2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by DevinBergquist »

My 2014 herping was all spent in the southwest this year, starting in Southern California and then moving through Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.
This will be mostly a photo post and I will keep the commentary to minimum, unless you have any questions.
I hope you enjoy.

California:
San Diego Gopher Snake
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Large-blotched Ensatina
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Another high elevation San Diego Gopher Snake
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San Diego Mountain Kingsnake
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San Diego Mountain Kingsnake
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Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
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Red Diamond rattlesnake
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Red Diamond Rattlesnake
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Utah:
Long-nosed Leopard Lizard
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Always a good sign to find the tracks of your target species. (Gila Monster tracks)
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Banded Gila Monster (Utah)
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Banded Gila Monster (Utah)
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California Kingsnake
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California Kingsnake
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Nevada:
Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake
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Big Horn Sheep
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Desert Tortoise
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Speckled Rattlesnake
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Desert Horned Lizard
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Desert Horned Lizard
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Banded Gila Monster (Nevada)
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Banded Gila Monster (Nevada)
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Coachwhip hunting a Desert Iguana (Iguana in top right of the photo)
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Coachwhip hiding in a cactus
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Desert Tortoise
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Speckled Rattlesnake
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Desert Horned Lizard
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Speckled Rattlesnake
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Arizona: I spent about a week in Arizona this year and had some good success
Gila Monster (Found walking down a wash in Southern Arizona)
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Gila Monster
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Desert Tortoise (Found only about 10 yards away from the Gila Monster above. Another Desert Tortoise was seen only a few yards away from this one. It turned out to be the morning of the tortoise since we spotted a few more during this hike, I think it was 5 or 6 total.)
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Sonoran Whipsnake (found in a tree while looking for a different snake)
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Brown Vinesnake (The other snake we were looking for in the trees)
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Brown Vinesnake
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2nd Brown Vinesnake (We found two that day before moving on to another area)
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Tiny Tiger Rattlesnake
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Another Tiger rattlesnake
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Baby Gila Monster (Not a very good photo, but it was a cool little Gila. I had never seen a baby before this. It was about 6 inches total length.)
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Sonoran Gopher Snake
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Mohave Rattlesnake
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Banded Rock Rattlesnake (found basking at the base of a tree with no rocks or cover nearby, it was really easy to spot)
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Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Another look)
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Banded Rock Rattlesnake
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Ridge-nosed Rattlesnakes
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Madrean Alligator Lizard
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Sonoran Whipsnake
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New Mexico Threadsnake
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Desert Massasauga (It was awesome to find one in Arizona)
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Desert Massasauga (A view from above)
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Hooded Night Snake
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Black-tailed Rattlesnake
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Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
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Banded Rock Rattlesnake
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Banded Rock Rattlesnake
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Ornate Box Turtle
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Ornate Box Turtle
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Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
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Ornate Box Turtle (The day of the Box Turtle since we saw 8 different turtles that morning)
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Ornate Box Turtle
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Ornate Box Turtle
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Texas Horned Lizard
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Mohave Rattlesnake (Plenty of these)
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Mohave Rattlesnake
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Twin Spotted Rattlesnake (From the northern part of their range)
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Black-tailed Rattlesnake
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A nice Yuma phase California Kingsnake
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Same snake
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Green Rat Snake (Found out on the crawl near a stream at about 9am)
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Green Rat Snake
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Some habitat shots along the way.
(Utah)
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(Nevada)
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(Nevada)
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(Nevada)
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(Nevada)
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(Nevada)
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(Nevada)
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(Arizona)
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(Arizona)
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(Arizona)
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(Arizona)
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(Arizona)
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(Arizona)
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(Arizona)
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And my first snake of 2015, from January, was… A Rosy Boa (What a surprise)
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Thanks for looking


Devin
Zach_Lim
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by Zach_Lim »

Devin,

Phenomenal photographs and excellent finds. Great to see all of these full sized on a screen (as opposed to the small images on instagram).

That baby Gila is just adorable!
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Porter
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by Porter »

Awesome photog dude :thumb: Diggin the box turtle variation and that blacktail shot.
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Neil M
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by Neil M »

WOW I can't even imagine success like that. It was like reading a herping guidebook showing every cool species one could find. I hope to someday see half those species. well done
VICtort
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by VICtort »

Beautiful work, the Sonoran whip snake is one of several stunning photos. The Nevada banded gila equally so...You really have this figured out, I hope to be so fortunate.

Vic :beer:
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DevinBergquist
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Joined: May 26th, 2014, 10:15 am
Location: Southern California

Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by DevinBergquist »

Zach, Thanks for your comments. The baby Gila was awesome, I had always wanted to see a baby Gila so it was really cool to finally check that off.

Porter, Thanks man. It was interesting to see all the variation in the box turtles that were all found within a close proximity to each other.

Neil M, it was a fun year, I appreciate your comments. Hopefully 2015 is even better.

Vic, Thank you very much. I am kind of a Gila nut so it was awesome to target and find Gilas in both Utah and Nevada, probably my favorite finds of the year.


Devin
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Roki
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by Roki »

Beautiful photography. Awesome assortment of finds and good going on the gila monsters. Still have never seen one.
semasko
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Joined: June 18th, 2014, 6:30 am
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by semasko »

Great photos! I like the black-tailed the best if I had to pick.
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Ameron
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Another Visual Feast

Post by Ameron »

I've enjoyed many posts on this forum, but this one is Uncommonly interesting.

The way that you arranged texture along with color is stunning. The canyon shots of AZ look like one of my ideal locations. (It's hard to beat a desert canyon for hiking & hanging out for the day - or week - or month.)

The Yuma Cal King was my first good photo of such a specimen.

I also recognize some of the spots. I lived in SoCal for 10 years, and in the Las Vegas area for a few months.

This was a true gem of a post, and the photos are Stunning.
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SurfinHerp
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by SurfinHerp »

Awesome Devin!

Incredible photos of almost all of my favorite herps, in one post :beer:
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Jeroen Speybroeck
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by Jeroen Speybroeck »

Nice! What's up with the rosy's eye, though?
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DevinBergquist
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Location: Southern California

Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by DevinBergquist »

Roki, thank you for the comments. Gila's are well worth the wait, your first one will definitely be a memorable experience.

Semasko, Black-tailed are awesome, thanks.

Ameron, Thank you for your comments, they are much appreciated. The southwest is a special place to herp and explore, that's for sure.

SurfinHerp, Thank you, it was a fun year. Hopefully 2015 is even more fun. I have always enjoyed your San Diego posts, especially since I am down there often, keep it up.

Jeroen, Thank you. To be honest I am not real sure what is up with the Rosy's eye. It looked to have a fairly fresh shed, maybe it was left over from the eye cap? Not sure though since I haven't seen that before, otherwise it was a healthy and large boa, so I guess everything was ok. Maybe some of the other boa experts on here might have seen that before or know why it is like that?

Devin
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chris_mcmartin
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by chris_mcmartin »

Check your PMs... :thumb:
Viperas.de
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by Viperas.de »

Awesome, thanks for sharing :)
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DevinBergquist
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Location: Southern California

Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by DevinBergquist »

Chris, I checked my PMs sorry it took a few days, thanks.

Viperas.de, Thanks for looking and commenting.

Devin
hellihooks
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by hellihooks »

Best post I've seen in a long while. just outstanding, in all respects. :thumb: jim
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Rothdigga
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Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by Rothdigga »

Killing it Devin. Can't wait to meet up and find some more stuff.
Amazing collection of photos as always.
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DevinBergquist
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Location: Southern California

Re: 2014 - The Southwest (CA, NV, UT, and AZ)

Post by DevinBergquist »

Jim, Thank you very much for your comments, they are much appreciated. I am glad you enjoyed it.

Jason, thanks man, 2014 was a good year. We'll have to get out again this year, let me know when you have a free weekend. Things are really picking up in Southern California.

-Devin
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