A few Crotalus from the weekend

[sauceman]

Here are a few snakes that we found this weekend. I was out with Natalie, despeleta, and Jeremy from Arkansas (can't remember his FHF name). All in all, we found about 25 snakes on Sunday but I didn't photo most of them and haven't gotten through the pics I did take. Here is what I can remember:

Saturday in Santa Clara County
1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer
3 Diadophis punctatus amabilis

Sunday in Marin County (many thanks to Nat and Devlin for the great Marin spots!!)
3 Pituophis catenifer catenifer
6-7 Crotalus oreganus
7 Diadophis punctatus amabilis
3 Charina bottae
1 Thamnophis atratus ssp. (intergrade)
TMTC Thamnophis elegans terrestris
1 Coluber constrictor mormon (seen but not caught)
1 Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis (seen but not caught)

Young adult oreganus with a MASSIVE meal inside


Another young oreganus


And, my favorite snake of the day, a juvenile oreganus flipped under a small rock by Devlin




A Santa Clara County ringneck


Here is a Marin County T. atratus that looks a lot like zanxanthus to me

[Brendan]

Nice job on the oreganus photos!!

[sauceman]

Thanks Brendan. We found some nice variety for our only local crote. I am headed down your way in a week or so for some spring herping.

[Owen]

Nice stuff. I saw 6 Santa Clara Co. oreganus Saturday and one Friday, so I'm right in there with ya.

[sauceman]

@ Owen - The funny thing is, I didn't find any Santa Clara County oreganus this weekend. I even went to my most dependable spot that often produces double digits in just minutes and not a one to be found. I even went back at different times on Saturday. Very odd. I am sure the reason was that I had someone in town from Arkansas who is a big Crotalus fan and just wanted to see his first NorPac. So, they were all being uncooperative for me. There will probably be ten there next time I stop by. Hahahaha. I told him that, if there is one snake that shouldn't be hard to find in the South Bay, it's oreganus. Instead we found South Bay ringnecks, which I don't find a lot of.

[devlin]

Nice John!!!....Should I just post my shots on your thread? That was a really fun Sunday...I haven't herped a whole day in a while! Jeremy was a really nice guy, fun to herp with. As are you and Nat! Got some good shots of y'all herpin ...

[KingCam]

Your ringnecks are beautiful. Of course the rattlers are stunning, too

[monklet]

Sounds like a really productive weekend. That first Oreganus is stunning ...I'm lovin' those more and more as so many "hot" ones are being posted. Gotta get up that way this season.

[Natalie McNear]

Awesome shots as always, John. It was great herping with you, Dev, and Jeremy, and finally getting some rattlers! Jeremy doesn't have a FHF account, but he should definitely sign up since he took so many photos.

[sauceman]

@ Devlin - Sure, post what you got. I would love to see them. It was a pretty damn good day thanks to you and Nat guiding us around.

@ Nat - I could have sworn Jeremy told me his FHF name but maybe I am trippin.

@ monklet - Let me know if you are heading up this way anytime soon. I am taking trips to Arizona (twice), Nevada, Inyo/Mono County, and back down to SoCal this year so I may not be around a lot of the time but if I am here I would love to meet up.

John

[devlin]

Here're some

The gang



Nat with the first thing we flipped





Jeremy looks like he's having fun



In sitchy



Same snake











Had a blast! Let's do it again!

[Zach_Lim]

Is that a MOLE?! Never realized those things are HUGE! I have only seen one my entire life, and oddly enough, it was a dead one in Golden Gate Park 2 blocks from my house!

Looks like a great outting, especially that awesome looking gopher! I'd love to join you guys sometime!

[yolodave]

Wow, excellent photography folks! The beanie baby is very cool also.

Dave

[Natalie McNear]

Yeah it was kind of weird for someone to put a Beanie Baby under the board like that.

[sauceman]

This was not the first time that I have been herping with Nat that she flipped and caught a mole. She seems to have a knack for moles. They are hideously disgusting looking creatures and their hands are way to human-like.

[devlin]

Hahaha....I should make a post of Nat holding stuff! I've got photos of her holding all kinds of critters...
I can't believe how fast moles burrow!

[Porter]

Haha Moles are rad! I remember seeing one in one of your vids Dev. Nice pics everyone!

[Correcamino]

Beautiful snakes and excellent photos guys!

[Kookamongus]

Devlin- is the boa from the same spot as the first pituophis? If so, that is very interesting as that place has changed dramatically, theres way less moisture and definitely no more hemlock. Crotes are the only snakes I encounter there regularly, with the occasional ringneck

[Natalie McNear]

The boa’s from a different spot, I’ve never seen one at the place where the gopher was found