I have very little time these days... working a lot I'm gonna keep the narrating short without disregarding significant insight to the colour of experience...
This Thunderstorm brought forth a lifer this year. One I hadn't ever set out to look for, but was very appreciated Got the juices flown again. A new bud invited me along for a northern exposure that had little payoff due to the moody weather. Beers with bro's, outta town billiards with locals (while waiting for then boys to rondevu), and hangover crick hiking... weekend well needed.
Thunderstorm Sunbreak by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Cool thing about this find was... He dove upon seeing us. Then resurfaced not once but twice in the exact same spot! He had his escape plan well mapped out. Which became obvious to us how it had benefitted in growing to the monstrous size he was. Thanks to his reemerging from the deep pool, I was able to snap off these pics for memoir.
Foothills Yellow-legged Frog by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Foothills Yellow-legged Frog by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Foothills Frog reflection by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
There wasn't much to see of the cold blooded creatures as the sun heated things up. So, I stopped to photograph this passing opportunity. I couldn't help but acknowledge how much I wished a lady had been present...
Variable Checkerspots on Buckeye by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
...and El Rojo Drago
Flame Skimmer by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
After the Flutterbys had fluttered on by... We came across this slithery bastard feasting on small trout fry. I was suddenly reunited with the first subspecies of gartersnake I had ever found in the wild. Hadn't seen any since that camping trip from my childhood.
Oregon Gartersnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Oregon Gartersnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Oregon Gartersnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Earlier that year... I had been doing a little random session work when I could find the time and needed the refreshing rejuvenation only mother nature can offer. Here's a small tasteful peek into the beauty that caught my eye...
Sunset by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Sunset by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Leaf by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Lady Birds by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Tree Frog by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Tree Sunset by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
sunset by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
sunset by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Western Yellow-bellied Racer by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Western Yellow-bellied Racer by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
clouds by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Raven or Crow...? At first I thought crow. Then I put thought to it after the photo was taken and googled sizes... any takers?
Raven attacking Red-tailed Hawk by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Jack Rabbt by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
buzzard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Squirk by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Western Yellow-bellied Racer by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Western Yellow-bellied Racer by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Western Yellow-bellied Racer by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
DSC_0169 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Gopher Snake insitu by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Pacific Gopher Snake Insitu by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
I had a nice gigas observation this year.... I saw the same large adult I seen for the last two years. Dwelling consistently within the caverns surrounding her hunting grounds. This year, I noticed a young juvi half submerged from a hole. As I lay hanging over the decent of the levee... I looked to the right of me to get a better elbow position and noticed my old friend comfortably shadow basking within the grass above her rocky caverns. I went back on three separate occasions to find Old Gigan perched within the same clump bunch of grass. An obvious safe housing for an intelligent and wise old specimen.
Basking Old Gigan by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Basking Giant Gartersnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Giant Gartersnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Basking Old Gigan by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Giant Gartersnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Old Gigan slowly descending back into the depth of a solidified home...
Giant Gartersnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Peek-a-boo Gigan by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Giant Gartersnake home by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Then Gigan crawled through a series of tunnels and popped up for a peek from another hole three five feet away from the first...
Giant Gartersnake home by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Giant Gartersnake home by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Giant Gartersnake home by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Giant Gartersnake home by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Giant Gartersnake home by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Photos from one of the other days... a 3 days were within a two week period. This year... skinniest I've seen. I think it's just because these sighting were at the beginning of the season. Before hunting occurred. In fact, I never saw an attempt to hunt while sitting there... and I sat a very long time! lol Coolest experience with this snake was last year. I sat two feet away and watched a series of periscopes from the same rock. Each breath of air follow a whale blowhole-like exgursion of water from the nostrils (highly poetically exaggerated). No camera on me... pfft
gigas in grass by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
gigas in grass1 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
g crawl by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
DSC_1366 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
DSC_1367 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Giant Gartersnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Giant Gartersnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Giant Gartersnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Gigan by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Gigan by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
DSC_1371 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
DSC_1372 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
DSC_1375 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
DSC_1383 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
DSC_1384 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
I then spent the next hour bonding with this Egret....
Egret hunting grounds by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Egret Hunting by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Egret Hunting by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Egret Hunting by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Egret fluff hunting by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Egret Hunting by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
DSC_1551 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Egret cleaning by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Egret by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Then I came across an orphaned opossum. Unbelievable how at home these guys are in the trees... even at this young of age! The usage of tail hooking and tightrope walking skills is incredible to say the least. I took this little guy to the Wildlife Care Association for assurance of survival
Awesome possum by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Opossum climbing 8 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Opossum climbing 6 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Opossum climbing 1 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Opossum climbing 2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Opossum climbing 3 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Opossum climbing 1 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
possum1 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
opossum walk by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
opossum walk 1a by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
opossum sit 2 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Sometime after this... I hooked up with the Chadster on a bunk night to cure some boredom. Masterfocus Chaderalis gave me some valuable tips on night photog with the 90mm mac. These shot would not have been possible without his expertise with DOF and nocturnal flash photo mastery! Much obliged compadre
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Then with help of a new bud... I set out to search for another lifer. It wasn't long before I came across these two emerging from there sandy domain to devourer negligent Harvester Ants. I must have spent close to two hours patiently slow moving around these guys to capture these Insitu's. Pretty rewarding and graciously satisfying day. After two hours with the toads... I spent the heat of the day photographing plant life and bugs. Reminded of some of Nicholas's butterfly photography I saw earlier this year... I began slow and steadily chasing down these pollen hungry flying dwazzle boppers
Blainville Horned Lizard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Blainville Horned Lizard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Blainville Horned Lizard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Blainville Horned Lizard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Blainville Horned Lizard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Blainville Horned Lizard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Blainville Horned Lizard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Blainville Horned Lizard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Blainville Horned Lizard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Monarch1 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Monarch4 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Cucumber Beetle on Chia by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Bee Clarkia by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Butterfly Mariposa Lily by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Butterfly Mariposa Lily by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Lupine by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Bumblebee by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Stickey Monkeyflower by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Anise Swallowtail by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Blow-wives by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Clarkia by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Ithuriels Spear by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Ithuriels Spear by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Lupine by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Wild Mustard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
plant neg 30 by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
I then returned that evening to the place I photographed the toads earlier that day. Saw the same lazy liz tuckered out after arising from his mid day sand nap... In situ as well. After that, I called it a day.
Blainville Horned Lizard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Blainville Horned Lizard by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Right about now, I think I'll call it a night...lol I have more that I'll add later in another post with wather I find twards the end of the year. Also, reminde of long post taking forever to view/upload... I'll save us all the headache peace
TO BE CONTINUED...
I'll leave you with a few sleepy shots of a sunset over Sutter crop fields...
Iridescent Cloud by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Sutter Crop Fields Sunset by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
Iridescent Cloud by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr
-Porter
2015 Field Photography 1
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Calfirecap
- Posts: 638
- Joined: June 16th, 2010, 8:09 am
- Location: Santa Cruz Co. California
- Contact:
Re: 2015 Field Photography 1
Awesome Post Richard, your photography is second to none.
-
- Posts: 8025
- Joined: June 8th, 2010, 8:12 am
- Location: Hesperia, California.
- Contact:
Re: 2015 Field Photography 1
good stuff....
Re: 2015 Field Photography 1
Amazing photos porter, especially the sky shots.
- Brian Hubbs
- Posts: 4735
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:41 am
- Location: "Buy My Books"-land
Re: 2015 Field Photography 1
Some nice pics Porter, as usual...and you must have liked this post so much you posted it twice today...
Re: 2015 Field Photography 1
Much obliged Gentlemen
i was so tired when i finally finished it, I thought I was just seeing doubles lol i thought it wasn't uploading because of how long it was taking, so i clicked the upload button again... then was like I sent a pm to Fundad asking to move one of them to the main forum. I know that's something you guys want anyway. Is there a way for me to delete one? If so, i couldn't figure through it
i was so tired when i finally finished it, I thought I was just seeing doubles lol i thought it wasn't uploading because of how long it was taking, so i clicked the upload button again... then was like I sent a pm to Fundad asking to move one of them to the main forum. I know that's something you guys want anyway. Is there a way for me to delete one? If so, i couldn't figure through it
Re: 2015 Field Photography 1
Very nice post! I digged the Giant Garter shots!
Re: 2015 Field Photography 1
Great pictures. The buzzard is actually a vulture though. I like the sound of buzzard better, but it's a vulture not a buzzard.
- Fieldnotes
- Posts: 1474
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:12 pm
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Contact:
Re: 2015 Field Photography 1
You make finding Giant Garters Snakes look easy.
Re: 2015 Field Photography 1
Great shots. I'm really diggin' the 'macros'
Fantastic post, Porter!
-Derek
Fantastic post, Porter!
-Derek
Re: 2015 Field Photography 1
Turkey Vultures are commonly referred to as buzzards, like blainsville are called coastal, toads, or even spiky after eaten midnight gremlins. However, i do agree... they look nothing like a buzzard. Besides, everyone knows they are more closely related to Turkeys anyway....
Thanks guy's! ..I'll have a little more here in a bit
Thanks guy's! ..I'll have a little more here in a bit
Re: 2015 Field Photography 1
Also... something I noticed while uploading the pics. The First gigas I mentioned that was my target of interest before Old Gigan, is actually snuggle nudging Gigan in the hole pic with the dirt in the web hanging from above. It's dark and hard to see, but if you click on the pic...it takes you to my Flickr page...then click on the photo while in the flickr window and it auto zooms for you. Pretty cool nose to nose shot
Also, Gigan could be male or female...idk. Looks shot and robust when full of fish...skinny and long when hungry. Anyone know how to tell without sexing?
Also, Gigan could be male or female...idk. Looks shot and robust when full of fish...skinny and long when hungry. Anyone know how to tell without sexing?