2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little St. L

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Chad M. Lane
Posts: 567
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 4:40 pm
Location: Manteca, CA

2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little St. L

Post by Chad M. Lane »

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.
ImageRubber Boa (Charina bottae) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Sierra Gartersnake. Rather nice looking on for the area.
ImageSierra Gartersnake (Thamnophis couchii) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Gartersnake (Thamnophis couchii) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Sorry for the bad picture, but this was a MASSIVE Sierra Gartersnake.
ImageGiant Sierra Gartersnake (Thamnophis couchii) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Northern Pacific Rattlesnake.
Imageoreganus by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Imageoreganus t by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Imageoreganus head by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Delta Aberrant Black Belly Kingsnake found by some friends.
Imageblack head by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Imageblack 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.

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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.
ImageRicky by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Marmot.
ImageMar by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Chipmunk. ID anyone?
ImageChimpmunk by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Mountain Gartersnake.
Imageelegans w by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Imageelegans by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Chaparral Whipsnake.
Imagelateralis b by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Imagelateralis 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.

Imagestriped Gopher by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Imagestriped Gopher 2 by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Did a hike with Natalia my (Cane Corso).
Image004 by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

A creek in the Sierra Nevada.
ImageRelax 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.
ImageAndy and Mike by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Mike doing what he does!
ImageMike by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Yellow Belly Racer.
ImageRacer H by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageRacer by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Natalia unimpressed while we were taking photos.
ImageNatalia by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

California Red-Legged Frog rather nice individual.
ImageRed-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.
ImageChiricahua Mountains by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Desert Kingsnake. (Lifer)
ImageDesert Kingsnake. (Lampropeltis splendida) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Desert Box Turtle. (Lifer)
ImageDesert Box Turtle. (Terrapene ornata luteola) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageDesert 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)
ImageArizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageArizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageArizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Tiger Rattlesnake. (Lifer)
ImageTiger Rattlesnake. (Crotalus tigris) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageTiger 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.
ImageCoral 1 by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageSonoran Coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageSonoran Coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Gila Monster. (Lifer)
ImageGila Monster. (Heloderma suspectum) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageGila Monster. (Heloderma suspectum) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Sonoran Desert Tortoise. (Lifer)
ImageSonoran Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Mexican Hognose Snake. (Lifer)
ImageHognose by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageMexican Hognose Snake. (Heterodon kennerlyi) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Huachuca Mountains over looking Mexico.
ImageHuachuca Mountains over looking Mexico by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Sonora Desert Toad.
ImageSonora Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Banded Rock Rattlesnake.
ImageBanded Rock Rattlesnake. (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Marisa Photographing the Coral Snake.
ImageMarisa by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Clarus Phase Western Longnose Snake.
ImageClarus Phase Western Longnose snake. (Rhinocheilus lecontei) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Texas Horned Lizard (lifer)
ImageTexas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageTexas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageTexas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Mojave Rattlesnake. (Lifer)
ImageMojave Rattlesnake. (Crotalus scutulatus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Storms coming!
ImageStorm over Mexico by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Rocky landscape.
ImageYoung by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Back home I did a little local road cruising.
Longnose Snake.
ImageWestern Longnose Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Northern Pacific Rattlesnake.
ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Did a little herping on the coast. San Mateo Co.
ImageSanta Cruz Mountains, San Mateo County. by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Santa Cruz Gartersnake.
ImageSanta Cruz Gartersnake. (Thamnophis atratus atratus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageSanta Cruz Gartersnake. (Thamnophis atratus atratus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageSanta 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.
ImagePacific Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus amabilis) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageNatalia (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)
ImageLesser Antillean Frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Barbuda Bank Bush Anole (Anolis wattsi) Juvenile (Lifer)
ImageBarbuda Bank Bush Anole (Anolis wattsi) Juvenile by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

ImageBarbuda Bank Bush Anole (Anolis wattsi) Juvenile by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Crab.
ImageYellow Crab ID? by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Barbuda Bank Bush Anole (Anolis wattsi) Adult.
ImageBarbuda Bank Bush Anole (Anolis wattsi) Adult by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Barbados Anole (Anolis extremus) (Lifer)
ImageBarbados Anole (Anolis extremus) by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Coastal sunset of the fog rolling in San Mateo Co.
ImageSunset with fog rolling in. by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Natalia on a hike.
ImageNatalia by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Last but not least a CA lifer.

Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander.
ImageSanta Cruz Longtoe Salamander in-situ by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

Tiger Salamander Photo-bomb!
ImageTiger photobomb by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

California Tiger Salamander.
ImageCalifornia Tiger Salamander by Chad M. Lane, on Flickr

I hope you enjoyed!



Thanks,
Chad
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walk-about
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S

Post by walk-about »

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
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walk-about
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S

Post by walk-about »

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
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chrish
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S

Post by chrish »

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!
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Mike Pingleton
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S

Post by Mike Pingleton »

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
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Scott Waters
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S

Post by Scott Waters »

The cal king - night snake showdown was a cool observation! We featured it in Issue #13 of Herp Nation Magazine. Thanks Chad!
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Chad M. Lane
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Location: Manteca, CA

Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S

Post by Chad M. Lane »

Thanks Dave, I agree I think the more photos tells the story of what I observed better than cutting it down. :P

Chris H. Yes those E. johnstonei are LOUD!

Mike, Thanks man!

Thanks Scott!




Cheers,
Chad
cherper
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S

Post by cherper »

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
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axeman2729
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S

Post by axeman2729 »

great post man! love the close up of the horned lizard btw the crab is a ghost crab.
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CamStatic
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S

Post by CamStatic »

So many gorgeous photos. The mojave headshot is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
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Muchobirdnerd
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Re: 2013 and 2014 review. Slow years. CA, AZ, and a little S

Post by Muchobirdnerd »

Awesome.
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