2013 and 2014 were hard years for California Reptiles, due to the massive (third worse year recorded) drought.
2013 was rough bad weather, busy, less time over all. Didn't see much at all, but here's a bit that I did end up Photographing.
Rubber Boa.
Rubber Boa (Charina bottae) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Gartersnake. Rather nice looking on for the area.
Sierra Gartersnake (Thamnophis couchii) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Gartersnake (Thamnophis couchii) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Sorry for the bad picture, but this was a MASSIVE Sierra Gartersnake.
Giant Sierra Gartersnake (Thamnophis couchii) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake.
oreganus by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
oreganus t by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
oreganus head by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Delta Aberrant Black Belly Kingsnake found by some friends.
black head by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
black belly by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
This is a repost, but many may enjoy it.
While out cruising one warm night with a my friend Austin I shined a California Kingsnake on the side of the road. I proceeded to get out of my truck and just watch it instead of moving it away from the road.
I'm sure glad I did! As I was watching this Kingsnake I noticed he was tongue flicking and moving his head side to side in an odd behavior that I've never witnessed before. I noticed a car coming and I turned around to make sure it was going to pass. As I looked back I noticed about three feet in front of the Kingsnake there was a California Nightsnake. Instead of grabbing either snake, or photographing them I watched to see if the Kingsnake was hunting the Nightsnake. Sure enough the Kingsnake crawled up to the Nightsnake and was within 2-3 inches and lost the scent due to the wind. There was a large weed directly behind the Nightsnake. The Kingsnake moved over the Nightsnake down to the weed, then caught the scent moving back up towards the Nightsnake where I watched it grab the Nightsnake and while constricting the Nightsnake it rolled 20-25 feet down the hill, at which point I yelled to Austin "The Kingsnake grabbed the Nightsnake!" I run to my truck to grab my camera and here are the results.
Sorry for the long Photo scene instead of making it short, I thought it showed the story of what I was witnessing better.
Went camping in the Sierra Nevada, and my friend Ricky came up to visit and toss the pole in the water while I was doing a little herping.
Ricky by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Marmot.
Mar by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Chipmunk. ID anyone?
Chimpmunk by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake.
elegans w by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
elegans by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Chaparral Whipsnake.
lateralis b by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
lateralis h by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
2014 lined up to be a bit better of a year. I married the love of my life, one of my dogs became mature enough to do some hiking with me, and I got into the field a bit more.
Something I hadn't tried to find before, so when a friend called and asked if I wanted to try for them I jumped on it, and we found my lifer Stripped Gophersnake.
Excuse the sub-par photos.
striped Gopher by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
striped Gopher 2 by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Did a hike with Natalia my (Cane Corso).
004 by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
A creek in the Sierra Nevada.
Relax by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Took some out of towners out into the Sierras to see what we could turn up. It was great finally meeting many of you, Mike, Andy, Mack, Marisa, and Tim.
Andy and Mike Photographing a juvenile Yellow Belly Racer I had flipped.
Andy and Mike by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Mike doing what he does!
Mike by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Yellow Belly Racer.
Racer H by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Racer by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Natalia unimpressed while we were taking photos.
Natalia by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
California Red-Legged Frog rather nice individual.
Red-Legged Frog by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Marisa and I took a trip to AZ the weather was odd, but we managed to turn up some neat finds for me at least.
Chiricahua Mountains by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Desert Kingsnake. (Lifer)
Desert Kingsnake. (Lampropeltis splendida) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Desert Box Turtle. (Lifer)
Desert Box Turtle. (Terrapene ornata luteola) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Desert Box Turtle. (Terrapene ornata luteola) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Arizona Black Rattlesnake found by Marisa our first night in AZ. (lifer what the hell)
Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Tiger Rattlesnake. (Lifer)
Tiger Rattlesnake. (Crotalus tigris) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Tiger Rattlesnake. (Crotalus tigris) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Coral Snake. (Lifer) I stopped for a snake in the left lane of the road, ran back to find nothing... as I was walking back to the truck some 30 feet away from what I had "saw" there was a Coral snake on the right side just off the road. It was sorta neat "walking" my first Coral Snake.
Coral 1 by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Sonoran Coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Sonoran Coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Gila Monster. (Lifer)
Gila Monster. (Heloderma suspectum) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Gila Monster. (Heloderma suspectum) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Sonoran Desert Tortoise. (Lifer)
Sonoran Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Mexican Hognose Snake. (Lifer)
Hognose by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Mexican Hognose Snake. (Heterodon kennerlyi) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Huachuca Mountains over looking Mexico.
Huachuca Mountains over looking Mexico by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Sonora Desert Toad.
Sonora Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Banded Rock Rattlesnake.
Banded Rock Rattlesnake. (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Marisa Photographing the Coral Snake.
Marisa by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Clarus Phase Western Longnose Snake.
Clarus Phase Western Longnose snake. (Rhinocheilus lecontei) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Texas Horned Lizard (lifer)
Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Mojave Rattlesnake. (Lifer)
Mojave Rattlesnake. (Crotalus scutulatus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Storms coming!
Storm over Mexico by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Rocky landscape.
Young by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Back home I did a little local road cruising.
Longnose Snake.
Western Longnose Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake.
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Did a little herping on the coast. San Mateo Co.
Santa Cruz Mountains, San Mateo County. by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Santa Cruz Gartersnake.
Santa Cruz Gartersnake. (Thamnophis atratus atratus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Santa Cruz Gartersnake. (Thamnophis atratus atratus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Santa Cruz Gartersnake. (Thamnophis atratus atratus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
I took Natalia to the coast on her second birthday, and turned up a little Pacific Ringsnake Snake.
Pacific Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus amabilis) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Natalia (Cane Corso) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
For our honeymoon we went to St. Lucia, and I turned up a few species.
Lesser Antillean Frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei) (Lifer)
Lesser Antillean Frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Barbuda Bank Bush Anole (Anolis wattsi) Juvenile (Lifer)
Barbuda Bank Bush Anole (Anolis wattsi) Juvenile by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Barbuda Bank Bush Anole (Anolis wattsi) Juvenile by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Crab.
Yellow Crab ID? by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Barbuda Bank Bush Anole (Anolis wattsi) Adult.
Barbuda Bank Bush Anole (Anolis wattsi) Adult by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Barbados Anole (Anolis extremus) (Lifer)
Barbados Anole (Anolis extremus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Coastal sunset of the fog rolling in San Mateo Co.
Sunset with fog rolling in. by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Natalia on a hike.
Natalia by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Last but not least a CA lifer.
Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander.
Santa Cruz Longtoe Salamander in-situ by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
Tiger Salamander Photo-bomb!
Tiger photobomb by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
California Tiger Salamander.
California Tiger Salamander by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr
I hope you enjoyed!
Thanks,
Chad
2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little St. L
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Chad M. Lane
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- walk-about
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S
Chad - that is an amazing experience and observation. Actually, I am glad you captured that with all of those pics. In a situation like that, one can not take enough of them. For some reason (probably my computer) many of the pics from this post did not show(?). THanks for sharing the 'mighty king' doing what kings do.
Dave
Dave
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S
Never mind. They did come through finally and WOW! That is a fantastic post. Natalia is a real specimen for sure. THanks for sharing such an incredible post. I will be back on this for several more day to come.
Dave
Dave
Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S
Great series. Great photos. Thanks for putting those together.
Don't get too close to one of those Eleutherodactylus johnstonei while they call. They can bust an eardrum!
Don't get too close to one of those Eleutherodactylus johnstonei while they call. They can bust an eardrum!
- Mike Pingleton
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S
Awesome photos - the coral shots especially.
I liked the Cal King supper sequence! The one time I've seen that it was interrupted by a hominid
Good to meet you and your pup!
-Mike
I liked the Cal King supper sequence! The one time I've seen that it was interrupted by a hominid
Good to meet you and your pup!
-Mike
- Scott Waters
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S
The cal king - night snake showdown was a cool observation! We featured it in Issue #13 of Herp Nation Magazine. Thanks Chad!
- Chad M. Lane
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S
Thanks Dave, I agree I think the more photos tells the story of what I observed better than cutting it down.
Chris H. Yes those E. johnstonei are LOUD!
Mike, Thanks man!
Thanks Scott!
Cheers,
Chad
Chris H. Yes those E. johnstonei are LOUD!
Mike, Thanks man!
Thanks Scott!
Cheers,
Chad
Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S
Chad, great stuff!! That was a fun time out in AZ. You and Marisa found some awesome animals that I wish I could have seen while there. I love to see the Northern Cali stuff, too, especially the Rubber Boa. Great photos!
Cary
Cary
- axeman2729
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S
great post man! love the close up of the horned lizard btw the crab is a ghost crab.
Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S
So many gorgeous photos. The mojave headshot is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
- Muchobirdnerd
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