Part 1
Part 3
Part 4
Part 2 of this post begins in early May. I returned home from a great trip in Washington County. I made a few quick trips around home and turned up the usual finds.
Western Yellow-bellied Racer-Coluber constrictor mormon by Rye Jones, on Flickr
American Bullfrog-Lithobates catesbeiana by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Wandering Garter Snake-Thamnophis elegans vagrans by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Found this garter basking at the top of this grass clump.
Wandering Garter Snake-Thamnophis elegans vagrans by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Western Yellow-bellied Racer-Coluber constrictor mormon by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Wandering Garter Snake-Thamnophis elegans vagrans by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Trio by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Trio by Rye Jones, on Flickr
American Bullfrog-Lithobates catesbeiana by Rye Jones, on Flickr
A few more birds I ran into along the way.
Black-crowned Night Heron by Rye Jones, on Flickr
American White Pelican by Rye Jones, on Flickr
American Avocet by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Black-necked Stilt by Rye Jones, on Flickr
These little guys were fun to watch.
Red Fox Kits by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Red Fox Kits by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Made a couple trips out west.
Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Western Yellow-bellied Racer-Coluber constrictor mormon by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Great Basin Skink-Plestiodon skiltonianus utahensis by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Desert Striped Whipsnake-Coluber taeniatus taeniatus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Western Yellow-bellied Racer-Coluber constrictor mormon by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Desert Striped Whipsnake-Coluber taeniatus taeniatus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
I was happy to turn up a couple milks this spring
Utah Milk Snake-Lampropeltis triangulum taylori by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Utah Milk Snake-Lampropeltis triangulum taylori by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Desert Striped Whipsnake-Coluber taeniatus taeniatus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Great Basin Skink-Plestiodon skiltonianus utahensis by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Desert Striped Whipsnake-Coluber taeniatus taeniatus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Great Basin Skink-Plestiodon skiltonianus utahensis by Rye Jones, on Flickr
I also came across some interesting non-herps while cruising around the desert.
Pronghorn by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Pronghorn by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Burrowing Scorpion-Anuroctonus phaiodactylus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Desert Tarantula-Aphonopelma iodius by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Wild Horse by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Pronghorn by Rye Jones, on Flickr
In June I made it out to the Four Corners Survey (Thanks, Tim!) Good times, good company and lots of good herps.
I made a quick stop on the way down to get out and strecth my legs. Turned up a bunch of collared lizards.
Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr
California Kingsnake-Lampropeltis getula californiae by Rye Jones, on Flickr
California Kingsnake-Lampropeltis getula californiae by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Apparently this was the year for garter snake morphs. I wasn't able to capture the colors of this one very well.
Wandering Garter Snake-Thamnophis elegans vagrans by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Wandering Garter Snake-Thamnophis elegans vagrans by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Prairie Rattlesnake-Crotalus viridis viridis by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Prairie Rattlesnake-Crotalus viridis viridis by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Painted Desert Glossy Snake-Arizona elegans philipi by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Painted Desert Glossy Snake-Arizona elegans philipi by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Plateau Striped Whiptail-Aspidoscelis velox by Rye Jones, on Flickr
I watched a couple of male collared lizards battle it out for the spot on this rock. I was disappointed my shots of the fight did not turn out, but I did get a shot of the winner.
Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Northern Plateau Lizard-Sceloporus tristichus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Woodhouse Toad-Anaxyrus woodhousii woodhousii by Rye Jones, on Flickr
I got to witness another battle over a spot on the rock. This one wasn't as great as the two male collareds. This collared lizard moved in and really didn't seem to care what the other guy thought. The spiny lizard eventually gave up and went on his way.
Eastern Collared Lizard-Crotaphytus collaris and Orange-headed Spiny Lizard-Sceloporus magister cephaloflavus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Plateau Tiger Whiptail-Aspidoscelis tigris septentrionalis by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Ornate Tree Lizard-Urosaurus ornatus wrighti by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Variable Skink-Plestiodon multivirgatus epipleurotus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Variable Skink-Plestiodon multivirgatus epipleurotus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Variable Skink-Plestiodon multivirgatus epipleurotus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Great Basin Gopher Snake-Pituophis catenifer deserticola by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Prairie Rattlesnake-Crotalus viridis viridis by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Plateau Striped Whiptail-Aspidoscelis velox by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Greater Short-horned Lizard-Phrynosoma hernandesi hernandesi by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Great Horned Owl by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Great Horned Owl by Rye Jones, on Flickr
We hit a couple spots on the way home and turned up a couple lutosus.
Great Basin Rattlesnake-Crotalus oreganus lutosus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
Great Basin Rattlesnake-Crotalus oreganus lutosus by Rye Jones, on Flickr
More to come...
2016 Review Part 2
Moderator: Scott Waters