Yesterday I got together with a bunch of CA Chapter NAFHA members and spent the day searching for salamanders in the mountains of San Diego County. There were six of us in total and we spent about six hours lifting logs, branches, bark, and rocks at five different spots. We started out at about 2,500 feet in elevation and worked our way up to 5,000 feet.
Overall, we did quite well and found three of the four possible species of salamanders. Here is a rough count of what we saw: 0 arboreal salamanders, 4-5 Monterey ensatinas, 6-7 garden slender salamanders, about 12 large-blotched ensatinas, a number of common lizards (alligator, fence, granite spiny, side-blotched, western skink), and zero snakes.
Here are some photos I took...
habitat shot from the first stop where we found Montereys and slenders, plus some lizards
This little Monterey ensatina was the first salamander we found
Garden slender as found under a fallen branch
Nice-sized adult Monterey
Sub-adult large-blotched ensatina walking with its tail raised in threat pose
Nate, Matt, Daniel, Cody and Summer: Thanks a lot for joining me and making it a great day!
I hope you'll add some of your favorite photos from yesterday to this post. I especially want to see pics of the largest ensatinas you found.
Jeff
Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
Moderator: Scott Waters
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Re: Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
great work you guys!
Hope you make another event like this again in the not so distant future.
Cant wait to see those klauberi!
Hope you make another event like this again in the not so distant future.
Cant wait to see those klauberi!
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Re: Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
youse guys really klaubered it... jim
Re: Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
Thanks again Jeff, what a great day!
Re: Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
Great work, you guys. I can hardly believe you found as many salamanders as you did in these dry conditions, and including 12 E. klauberi. I'd really like to see some more shots of the klauberi, too.
Robert
Robert
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Re: Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
Thanks for sharing your outing with us. Looks like a success, to me.
Love that klauberi photo. You aren't kidding about that flash effect, Jeff. Real stunning colors...
What I'm wondering - is that individual's coloration typical for klauberi, or is that an example of extreme orange?
Derek
Love that klauberi photo. You aren't kidding about that flash effect, Jeff. Real stunning colors...
What I'm wondering - is that individual's coloration typical for klauberi, or is that an example of extreme orange?
Derek
Re: Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
Thanks for posting the additional klauberi shots, Jeff. Very nice colors indeed, whether yellow or orange.
We saw some nice orange-colored herps this weekend as well and will post pics soon
Robert
We saw some nice orange-colored herps this weekend as well and will post pics soon
Robert
Re: Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
Thanks Jeff for leading us on a great day!! I had a really good time met some good folks, and got a lifer! what more could you ask for? can't wait to get back up to this location!!
Garden Slender at first location
DSCF0580 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0582 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
Habitat Shot
DSCF0584 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
Granite Spiny
DSCF0593 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
A couple of Monterey Ensatinas from second location
DSCF0599 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0603 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
Habitat Shot
DSCF0596 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
Nice Big Fence From Mt.Palomar
DSCF0605 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0606 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
And last but not least some Large-blotched Ensatinas from Mt.Palomar
DSCF0608 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0611 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0617 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0620 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0623 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0631 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
Garden Slender at first location
DSCF0580 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0582 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
Habitat Shot
DSCF0584 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
Granite Spiny
DSCF0593 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
A couple of Monterey Ensatinas from second location
DSCF0599 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0603 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
Habitat Shot
DSCF0596 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
Nice Big Fence From Mt.Palomar
DSCF0605 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0606 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
And last but not least some Large-blotched Ensatinas from Mt.Palomar
DSCF0608 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0611 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0617 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0620 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0623 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
DSCF0631 by M.Gruen, on Flickr
Re: Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
Wonderful! here they come!
I was going to say, the drought is so bad I cant even find them on the thread
Thanks for posting guys! Glad it was such a success! Gotta love those ensatinas (all of them)
I was going to say, the drought is so bad I cant even find them on the thread
Thanks for posting guys! Glad it was such a success! Gotta love those ensatinas (all of them)
Re: Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
Thanks for posting the additional shots, Matt. Looks like wonderful habitat. Robert
Re: Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
Gorgeous finds, all of them.
Klauberi are simply gorgeous!
Klauberi are simply gorgeous!
Re: Successful Salamander Search in San Diego, February 2014
Nice work on the Manders.
Cody entered all of the salamanders the whole group observed in the DB (non vouchered), is he entering them all? Where they all found in one spot? Do you think you could talk to him about that?
Cody entered all of the salamanders the whole group observed in the DB (non vouchered), is he entering them all? Where they all found in one spot? Do you think you could talk to him about that?