The season started off very dry and ended very dry. In Riverside Co. it never rained enough to turn green. I can't remember the last time grass and plants were dead year round. It turned out to be our worst drought on record. There were still herps to be found though, but they were few and far between this year. Luckily I had a lot of time to put into herping. Later in the year I bought a new camera which explains the difference in quality of some of the photos. In February, our rainiest month normally, it was bone dry. This didn't stop me and my friend Mike from looking for Rosy boas.
This juvenile Granite Spiny allowed me to approach him by about a foot to get this shot.
Coastal Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata roseofusca)
I was mostly checking crevices for boas. I came up on one that ran along side a huge granite bolder that was approximately 6 inches off the ground. The crevice also faced up at about a 45 degree angle. I didn't want to have to get down on the ground to check out this crevice but I just couldn't pass it up. I got down and was glad I did because right away I noticed a nice looking rosy in the crack. This picture was taken in situ. It doesn't show the pretty orange color on the boa though. That part I will just have to go by memory.
I was mostly checking crevices for boas. I came up on one that ran along side a huge granite bolder that was approximately 6 inches off the ground. The crevice also faced up at about a 45 degree angle. I didn't want to have to get down on the ground to check out this crevice but I just couldn't pass it up. I got down and was glad I did because right away I noticed a nice looking rosy in the crack. This picture was taken in situ. It doesn't show the pretty orange color on the boa though. That part I will just have to go by memory.
This shot from April looks no different from what it looked like in August, which is very odd. This spot
was visible from the freeway and looked pretty good. There was not much AC to flip but I flipped
what little I could find.
was visible from the freeway and looked pretty good. There was not much AC to flip but I flipped
what little I could find.
Western Black-headed Snake (Tantilla planiceps)
I found this little guy under a small piece of concrete.
I found this little guy under a small piece of concrete.
I was a little surprised because it was so dry and these have always been tough to find.
I found a place on google earth that had a small pond. Rarely do I find ponds. Actually, this was the first
real pond I've ever found. In the area I found several snakes but not all in one trip. Snakes were hard
to come by and I was lucky if I found just one at any particular spot.
real pond I've ever found. In the area I found several snakes but not all in one trip. Snakes were hard
to come by and I was lucky if I found just one at any particular spot.
Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus helleri)
This pair was found under a stack of plywood a few days after some rain.
This pair was found under a stack of plywood a few days after some rain.
These two dark individuals were found at the bottom of a huge pile of boards. There was actually a little moisture down in there. We did get rain this spring, but for the most part it would rain about a quarter of an inch every two weeks. We had a total of three inches for the season. If we had those three inches all at once it might not have been so bad, for a short time at least.
Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata webbii)
This thing was huge! The largest Alligator Lizard I had ever seen. About a week later I found one just
as big in San Diego County but have never seen any that big since.
This thing was huge! The largest Alligator Lizard I had ever seen. About a week later I found one just
as big in San Diego County but have never seen any that big since.
Under this dark piece of construction paper, I found this....
California kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
Another was found under a stack of plywood.
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri)
This little fellow turned up under a piece of plywood that was not flush with the ground.
This little fellow turned up under a piece of plywood that was not flush with the ground.
Two Striped Gartersnake (Thamnophis hammondii)
This was the first Garter I've found outside the mountains. It just went to show the habitat I was in
was much different than others I've been to.
This was the first Garter I've found outside the mountains. It just went to show the habitat I was in
was much different than others I've been to.
Striped California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
And to complete my finds at this new area was this nice looking Striper. The aberrant markings on the
sides is consistent with other Western Riverside Stripers I've found. He was in blue, so I kept him till
he shed.
And to complete my finds at this new area was this nice looking Striper. The aberrant markings on the
sides is consistent with other Western Riverside Stripers I've found. He was in blue, so I kept him till
he shed.
The habitat and the board it was found under.
Here's a good picture showing how dry it was this spring.
Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata webbii)
Here are a few shots I took of these cool lizards. I didn't find any colorful ones this year but even the
drab ones can make for interesting photos sometimes.
Here are a few shots I took of these cool lizards. I didn't find any colorful ones this year but even the
drab ones can make for interesting photos sometimes.
Some more extremely dry habitat.
This huge area between rocky hills was completely plowed but to this day, nothing has been done
with the land. What a waste.
with the land. What a waste.
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri)
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
Several Cal kings were found, but most were juveniles. I guess juveniles aren't as moisture sensitive
as the adults. Whatever the case is, I personally found no adults under these extremely dry conditions.
Several Cal kings were found, but most were juveniles. I guess juveniles aren't as moisture sensitive
as the adults. Whatever the case is, I personally found no adults under these extremely dry conditions.
Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber)
This one was found under a piece of foam rubber that might have come from the cushion of a couch.
This one was found under a piece of foam rubber that might have come from the cushion of a couch.
One weekend reached up into the upper 80's. I decided to try my luck in the upper elevations of the
Santa Ana Mountains where it wouldn't be so hot. I was surprised to finally find a little moisture. It was
very moist under the rocks and a little bit of grass was starting to grow.
Santa Ana Mountains where it wouldn't be so hot. I was surprised to finally find a little moisture. It was
very moist under the rocks and a little bit of grass was starting to grow.
Under one of these rocks I found....
...a small snake tucked into the side of the rock. He fell to the bottom of the cavity when I lifted the rock.
Western Black-headed Snake (Tantilla planiceps)
Its not often I will run across two in a year.
Its not often I will run across two in a year.
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnakes (Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus)
These two turned up a month later when I returned to these mountains for night driving. I'm always very
excited to find Specks. They are like the Rosy boas of rattlesnakes, IMO.
These two turned up a month later when I returned to these mountains for night driving. I'm always very
excited to find Specks. They are like the Rosy boas of rattlesnakes, IMO.
I also found this Tarantula crossing the road before dark.
Striped California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
During the same time in the lower elevations, I roadcruised another striper. These are about as common
as Tantila where I hunt. By far the majority are banded.
During the same time in the lower elevations, I roadcruised another striper. These are about as common
as Tantila where I hunt. By far the majority are banded.
I thought the strip was pretty cool. They don't look like this on the majority.
Another thing you find on Riverside stripers are checkered or partially checkered belly patterns.
I heard S.D. had got a lot more moisture than we did up north in L.A. and Riverside, so decided to take a trip down there and see if I could turn up a S.D. striper. I had never found one and thought this was a great time to try my luck since I was getting bored with finding one or two snakes a day. I took a look at google earth and found an open area surrounded by development. Took note of several different likely spots in that area just in case I couldn't access it. While driving south on the 15 into S.D. Co. I started seeing green! Even though it was spring it felt strange to see green. Then I started seeing flowers. What a feeling it was to see Spring again. I felt like I was stuck in August with cooler temps. lol I drove right to the spot I wanted to try and it was open with no fences. I walked in and started looking around.
Garden Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps major major)
It was so moist in this area that all I was finding was salamanders. Here's the smallest of the bunch.
It was so moist in this area that all I was finding was salamanders. Here's the smallest of the bunch.
Striped California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
I found quite a few things to flip but it wasn't until I was leaving that I found a small old box to turn. To
my surprise was this nice little juvenile striper. In situ
I found quite a few things to flip but it wasn't until I was leaving that I found a small old box to turn. To
my surprise was this nice little juvenile striper. In situ
Just when I thought I struck out, there it was. My first San Diego snake and it was a striper. Just the
snake I wanted to find most.
snake I wanted to find most.
I returned the next day and found this nice wide banded juvenile just across the road from there. It was
also a first for me because of how wide the bands were. You don't see that in Riverside and L.A. Co.
also a first for me because of how wide the bands were. You don't see that in Riverside and L.A. Co.
San Diego Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer annectens)
I also found this Gopher snake with an orange belly. It was the first time I've seen that.
I also found this Gopher snake with an orange belly. It was the first time I've seen that.
About a week or two later me and Matt McCarthy got to talking, so we met up and Matt showed me some cool snakes at some of his spots. I also showed him the two best spots I had found. One of them he said was already well known. One day we went there to see what we could turn up.
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
Right away I found this king under a piece of flat concrete. This was the first picture that made me realize I need to use fill flash when taking pictures against the sun. As soon as I flip him Matt called me to come check out a Gopher snake he had just found under tin.
San Diego Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer annectens)
This was the coolest looking S.D. Gopher I had ever seen. He wasn't skinny at all like most Gopher snakes his same length. This snake was almost built like a Rosy boa. Probably the first time I've got excited over seeing a Gopher snake. lol
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri)
Matt then showed me a piece of thin there I didn't know about. Under it was 3 helleri. I had never
seen that many under tin. his was the prettiest one.
Later when I returned to this area I turned up mostly helleri. Here's another of the nicer looking ones.
Here's a cool looking scorpion we turned up under one of Matts boards. The next series of shots are of
snakes we found under Matt's boards. Of course I was very happy to see each and every one of those.
snakes we found under Matt's boards. Of course I was very happy to see each and every one of those.
California Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
San Diego Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer annectens)
Night Snake (Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha klauberi)
At another spot I happened onto I turned up these very cool looking Cal kings. Wow, S.D. has some
nice looking kings.
nice looking kings.
Here's a nice shot of a place me and MikeD got skunked looking for boas.
This was my first year roadcruising Anza Borrego. My main goal here was to find a desert phase striper, but of course I never found one. I haven't even found once since. I know I'm in the right area, but they must not be terribly common. Its still been a blast finding everything else along the way.
Intergrade Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans eburnata X occidentalis)
These are by far the most common snakes in the areas I hunt. I seen so many Glossies that it has gotten to the point that I only photograph the ones that stick out to me for one reason or another. Here's a juvenile I happened to photo. I must have been desperate that night.
Baja California Lyresnake (Trimorphodon biscutatus lyrophanes)
I didn't see too many of these this year and I think it may have been because of my limited time in rocky
habitat. I've found them outside of rocky habitat before but I didn't find them outside of that habitat in
Borrego.
Colorado Desert Shovel-nosed Snake (Chionactis occipitalis annulata)
Unfortunately this one was a DOR but I thought it was cool looking because of the faded red markings.
San Diego Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer annectens)
This subadult was easily spotted on the side of the road.
And another.
Intergrade Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans eburnata X occidentalis)
This thing was a monster 40 inch Glossy. I'm not sure but it may have been gravid also. Looking at the
pattern you can tell you're in the area for the striped Glossies. I found one a couple of years later not far
from this one.
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri)
This one was alive but it may have been hit because of the way it laid. I had no snake stick to check
it out with.
Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei)
These were not very common this year. I may have seen one other.
Western Banded Geckos (Coleonyx variegatus variegatus)
These were common in some areas. They look like sigaret buts on the road at night. These are
definitely one of my favorite lizards.
Long-tailed Brush Lizard (Urosaurus graciosus)
I actually seen a couple of these and they were just laying in the middle of the road at night.
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
This nice looking king was in the path of an on coming car. Luckily I was there before the car reached it. It was a very nice find for me. The light bands are wide and it is till this day the only adult I've found there, but that might have a lot to do with me only hitting it in the fall the past few years.
Red Diamond Rattlesnakes (Crotalus ruber)
Finding this individual stretched out on the road is the way I like to find them.
This one was found just like this. Its hard to tell but it may have been hit.
If any snake was showing any effects of the drought it was this one.
Coastal Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata roseofusca)
This old boa was found one evening while I was driving into the desert. This boa looked to be on
his way out.
Colorado Desert Sidewinders (Crotalus cerastes laterorepens)
I always enjoy finding these. First one is a juvenile.
In prime boa habitat before dark with Mike D.
Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus)
I missed this one but Mike spotted it.
DOR Cal kings (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
One night Mike spotted this DOR while we were driving home. Too bad it was dead. Its the first 60/40
king I've seen.
This one I found one night on the way home also. You don't often see banded kings with this much of
the belly white.
the belly white.
It was so dry I hardly found anything this year. I remember at one point it rained enough for the grass
to grow about an inch or two. The next time I returned to that spot, the grass was already dead.
to grow about an inch or two. The next time I returned to that spot, the grass was already dead.
San Diego Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer annectens)
This was one of 2 adults I found. This one was under a large piece of concrete without any kind of
moisture seal. The other adult was under a board the size of a railroad tie.
Under this piece of concrete was this....
California Striped Racer (Masticophis lateralis lateralis)
Western Banded Geckos (Coleonyx variegatus variegatus)
I spent several nights hunting this desert and was skunked most of the time. Conditions felt good
but maybe it was the drought that killed activity here. One night all I had to show for was this
Banded Gecko.
California Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
One day in Sept. some strong thunder storms with lots of rain rushed through the area. I seen what areas were hit hard on the web and went there that evening. That part of the desert was really wet with puddles everywhere. The rain was gone and conditions seemed perfect. That night I ran across my target species, two b&w Cal kings. Seeing them on the road after months of night driving with no kings was amazing. The first was an adult.
Next was this juvenile.
This is our closest mountain range in the L.A. area. One afternoon my friend Mike called me up and let me know he would be night driving in these mountains that night. We then made plans to meet up and cruise around in his truck.
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri)
This was the first live snake of the night for us. We were only seeing DOR helleri until this point.
Also seen this juvenile and a few other helleri we didn't photo.
Coastal Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata roseofusca)
I guess Mike had a prior engagement because he left around 10PM when condition were a little cool but still decent. We hadn't seen anything in about an hour but I decided to stay a little longer. Not 10 minutes after driving up the road I drive up on a little snake. I didn't see it until it was right in front of me so I passed over it, stopped, and ran back. When my light hit the snake I couldn't believe what I was seeing. A juvenile Rosy boa that nearly everyone comes to these mountains for. The feeling was indescribable, an incredible feeling. The Coastal boas up here are about as nice as it gets for Coastal's.
I made several more trips to these mountains and tried my luck on other near by roads.
Night Snake (Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha klauberi)
Although a common snake, this was the only one I found this year.
Southwestern Blind Snake (Leptotyphlops humilis humilis)
A few of these turned up this year. Even though they were small, they always really stuck out on the road.
One night I drove up on this Black Bear. It wasn't very big but it was my first and quite an experience.
He ran up into this tree and gave me a minute to snap several shots.
He ran up into this tree and gave me a minute to snap several shots.
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri)
These were by far the most common snakes up there.
This was the nicest of the bunch and seeing this snake in person was like finding a boa. The black
coloration of this snake really set it from the rest. It even looked like it recently shed but of course
that doesn't show through in my photos.
coloration of this snake really set it from the rest. It even looked like it recently shed but of course
that doesn't show through in my photos.
Baja California Lyresnake (Trimorphodon biscutatus lyrophanes)
One night I found this on the edge of a rock cut near the side of the road. I had no idea they were up
there at the time. This was the only one I found.
Western Black-headed Snake (Tantilla planiceps)
My third and final for the year. I think I've only done that one other time. That time I flipped three in a
field all in about ten minutes. I've never been that lucky since and probably never will be again.
Coastal Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata roseofusca)
My second and final boa came about two weeks after the first. I was just as amazed with this one as I
was with the first. It was actually pretty warm this night. 78 degrees.
California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata parvirubra)
This snake absolutely topped off the season for me. An adult on July 25th during our worst drought on
record was the last snake I figured I would have found. And it was a lifer too!
Even though we experienced our worst drought on record, I still had my best year ever. That year I
had all the time in the world to herp and will probably never have another year like that. I hope you
all enjoyed.
had all the time in the world to herp and will probably never have another year like that. I hope you
all enjoyed.