Yesterday's Herping trip - garter pics included

[Loren]

I went for a nice hike yesterday in the foothills about an hour from home.
Here's some pics.
First, a couple habitat shots.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Habitat_shot.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Gartersnake_habitat.JPG

And I found 2 Valley Garters in the small stream above.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Valley_gartersnake_on_rock.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Valley_garter_.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Valley_gartersnake_.jpg
The first one.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Valley_garter_1.JPG

[Loren]

Garter #2
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Valley_garter_21.JPG

Some Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes.
This one was 10 inches from my feet when I saw it.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Adult_northern_Pacific.jpg

And there were a few babies out too. The same one is in the next 2 pics.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/northern_pac_rattler.jpg

Its neat how they flatten out to absorb as much heat as they can.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Northern_Pacific_Rattlesnake.jpg

And a large Male Gilberts Skink displaying his breeding color.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Gilberts_skink.JPG

And a young Southern Alligator Lizard.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Southern_Alligator_Lizard.jpg

[Loren]

And a male Western Fence Lizard.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Western_Fence_lizard.jpg


Also seen were Pacific Treefrogs, Bullfrogs, and tadpoles of both.

Enjoy.

[adamanteus]

Great pictures, Loren. Looks like you had a good day!

[count dewclaw]

Wonderful finds! Sounds like a busy/fun day.

[Lori P]

What GREAT pics Loren!!! Just wonderful finds there!!! Thanks so much for sharing.

[adamanteus]

Love the second picture of the fitchi.

[gregmonsta]

Fantastic shots ... love that red on the second valley garter ... such a deep shade!!!

[Loren]

Thanks. I think it was harder work cropping, resizing and posting than it was to hike all over to find them. :)

[ssssnakeluvr]

Nice valley garter!!!!!! will get pics of mine new one tomorrow. he's still a little dirty from coming out of hibernation. Utah ones have more red specking above the row of red spots....am hoping to get up to Idaho this summer for a couple more!

[anji1971]

Those are awesome pictures, Loren!! I'd call that a very successful day of herping!;)

[drache]

great pics, Loren
looks like a really great day
the area reminds me of the strip between La Honda and San Gregario, but then it all kind of looks like that there

[Lori P]

I keep looking at this pic... sigh... I want to live on top of this hill, and fill the sides of it with my horses and goats and lie in the purple flowers all day! Well, I'd have to check the purple flowers for horse and goat poop first, but then I'd lie in them.... :D

It's so flat here in my part of Va, I miss hills and mountains....

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data/500/medium/Habitat_shot.JPG

[Loren]

I keep looking at this pic... sigh... I want to live on top of this hill, and fill the sides of it with my horses and goats and lie in the purple flowers all day! Well, I'd have to check the purple flowers for horse and goat poop first, but then I'd lie in them.... :D

It's so flat here in my part of Va, I miss hills and mountains....

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data/500/medium/Habitat_shot.JPG

Yes, I agree, Lori. I would love to live there too, other than that I'm not really into horses and goats, although I wouldnt mind having them there if someone else took care of them.
Lots of people ride horses on the trails where I was at.

[Sid]

Great photos of a very productive field trip, Loren. Congratulation on your finds and thanks for sharing with us.

[GartersRock]

Those are some nice pics! And nice fitchi!

[Samm]

Wow,thats amazing,when i go out hikeing i hardly see animals like this [maybe im not observent enough]

amazing pictures

[Loren]

Wow,thats amazing,when i go out hikeing i hardly see animals like this [maybe im not observent enough]


Thanks. It can take some careful looking. In this pic, I was standing where the wet spots on the cement are(those are my bootprints), and had been standing there for a good minute or so, scoping out the area, and about to step forward(which would be straight to the right in the pic), when I noticed this.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Hidden_reptile.JPG

Do you see it yet?

.

[Samm]

lol :P

that happened to me when i got the newest snake,i stepped on it alittle though :(

but luckily..he doesnt hold a grudge :)

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

Nice finds

[Samm]

VA i think

[Stefan-A]

Absolutely amazing. :)

[Zephyr]

Thanks. It can take some careful looking. In this pic, I was standing where the wet spots on the cement are(those are my bootprints), and had been standing there for a good minute or so, scoping out the area, and about to step forward(which would be straight to the right in the pic), when I noticed this.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Hidden_reptile.JPG

Do you see it yet?

.
lol
Sneaky little devils...

[Stefan-A]

Thanks. It can take some careful looking. In this pic, I was standing where the wet spots on the cement are(those are my bootprints), and had been standing there for a good minute or so, scoping out the area, and about to step forward(which would be straight to the right in the pic), when I noticed this.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Hidden_reptile.JPG

Do you see it yet?

.
Took about three seconds to spot it. :) Just lucky I guess. But what exactly are we looking at? Is that a big triangular head, or does it just look that way?

[Loren]

It is the larger Northern pacific rattlesnake that is coiled up in my first set of pics. About 30-36 inches long.
True, its not really hard to see, but you can also see how easily you could walk right by one like that. The gilberts skink was found the same way- just happened to spot it through the grass.
Always makes me wonder how many more I miss.

[reptileparadise]

Very nice pictures!
If only we had so much reptiles in nature...

[Bay_area]

I didn't find any garters that day only, only rattlers;).

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2798.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2789.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2778.jpg

[Samm]

I didn't find any garters that day only, only rattlers;).

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2798.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2789.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2778.jpg

You was that close to rattler...and was calm enough to take awesome pics

._.

this forum makes me feel like a wimp :mad:

[Sid]

Very nice finds. I saw the rear of one Timber Rattler last year and that has been it over the last three years as far as Rattlers:(

[adamanteus]

I adore Rattlers, and although I have kept many species in the past I have never seen one in the wild.... a situation I hope to remedy one day.

[Thamnophis]

Very nice pics. I love the habitatpics.

[Bay_area]

You was that close to rattler...and was calm enough to take awesome pics

._.

this forum makes me feel like a wimp :mad:


Yeah, I do get close sometimes. I have to get the pics though. It drives my wife nuts:eek:

[Snaky]

They look like great herp trips! Very nice finds :)

[Bay_area]

went out yesterday in East Conrta Costa & found a couple of rattlers & a yellow belly racer. about time I spotted something other than a rattlesnake on my hikes...LOL! The old battlescared rattler was sleeping under a tin. Never moved the whole time I was taking pics of it. Must of been tired from being out the night before...LOL!

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2893.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2900.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2911.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2927.jpg

[ssssnakeluvr]

Nice racer! I am hoping to catch myself one or 2 this summer....feisty little snakes!!

[anji1971]

Nice pictures!!
That rattler was very calm!! Looks like you were nearly touching it in the second pic!
I just love the racer, don't think I've ever seen a snake with that pale yellow-green colour before!

[Lori P]

Ohhhhh, that racer is indeed gorgeous. I love him!!! Great shots of all of them... that rattler did look worn out and like he was too darn tired to be bothered with you!

[drache]

that racer is so pretty
is that green colour normal for them?

[ssssnakeluvr]

yes it is...they are green to brown with yellow bellies.

[Bay_area]

yes it is...they are green to brown with yellow bellies.

Thanks, I did a snake show @ the middle school today & didn't get a chance to respond til now.

[jeanette]

lucky lucky people. to be able to go out and see such an amazing snake in its natural habitat. fantastic pictures :)

[charles parenteau]

wow what a beautiful place nice picture ...luky poeple..

[Snake lover 3-25]

I still can't find it...:(:(:(:(:(

[adamanteus]

Here it is, Shanley, all coiled up in the bottom right corner.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//541/Hidden_reptile2.jpg

[Loren]

At least someone else had a hard time seeing it! (besides me, when I nearly stepped on it).

[Snake lover 3-25]

LOL thanks...:):):):):):)

[Bay_area]

I still can't find it...
Well I found a little garter on Thursday:D I took pics so they would be easy to see...LOL! It musked all over me when I picked it up:o I saw 3 others, but they were tooo fast to catch:(
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2934.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2935.jpg

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

is that an integrade? doesnt look like a coast or an atratus,
Thamnophis atratus intergrades (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.a.aquaticus.html)

[Loren]

I saw 3 others, but they were tooo fast to catch:(


They were too fast, or you were too slow?
:D:D

[Bay_area]

They were too fast, or you were too slow?
:D:D

ROTFL! Do you remember that time I jumped out of the car for the coachwhip? I may of looked like a fool running sideways like a crab, but I headed off the snake & would of got it if it didn't dive down that hole! Anyhow, by the time I see them, they are already going into the deep grass & bushes. I was still hurting from diving on the racer the day before:o so, I didn't do any diving on Thursday.

[Loren]

So did you I.D. the snake in the pics? Is is a Santa cruz aquatic, or Mt diablo, or an intergrade, or not sure?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

what GORGEOUS rattlesnakes!

[bulrush]

Well I found a little garter on Thursday:D I took pics so they would be easy to see...LOL! It musked all over me when I picked it up:o I saw 3 others, but they were tooo fast to catch:(
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2934.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/herping%202008/IMG_2935.jpg
This is an Eastern. We have the same coloration here in Michigan. In fact, 2 weeks ago was the first time I found a typical black/yellow eastern! This is the same color of the 4 I found Sunday.

[Loren]

Except we dont have easterns on the west coast- unless he was on vacation when he found it.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

maybe i can go herping with you and Loren?besides the fact that u can actually find snakes and i cant, sounds like u need a runner :D

ROTFL! Do you remember that time I jumped out of the car for the coachwhip? I may of looked like a fool running sideways like a crab, but I headed off the snake & would of got it if it didn't dive down that hole! Anyhow, by the time I see them, they are already going into the deep grass & bushes. I was still hurting from diving on the racer the day before:o so, I didn't do any diving on Thursday.

[Charlet_2007]

It is the larger Northern pacific rattlesnake that is coiled up in my first set of pics. About 30-36 inches long.
True, its not really hard to see, but you can also see how easily you could walk right by one like that. The gilberts skink was found the same way- just happened to spot it through the grass.
Always makes me wonder how many more I miss.

for the life of me i cant spot it lol im must be almost blind.. :D:D NEVER mind i acadently skipped a page.. lol im blond too lmao..

[Bay_area]

Except we dont have easterns on the west coast- unless he was on vacation when he found it.

Everyday is a vacation...LOL!

The Garter was in Marin County;)

[ssssnakeluvr]

looks more like a vagrans to me...wandering...typical green for them....

[Loren]

looks more like a vagrans to me...wandering...typical green for them....

Marin county is not vagrans range either.
Jerry, what is it? You found it.:)

I say santa cruz, or santa cruz/diablo/oregon aquatic intergrade. (2 of the 3 anyways)

[anji1971]

Whatever it is, it sure is a pretty one!;)

[Thamnophis]

I think it is a Thamnophis atratus zaxanthus.
http://www.kousebandslangen.nl/atratusfoto%27s/Thamnophis_atratus_zaxanthus_Contra_Costa_County_0 1.jpg

This one is from Contra Costa county...

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

it could be but if your look closely you can see little black checkers that look like they could come from breeding with a coast garter, so i think its an integrade
see this one looks a lot like the one u posted but its an integrade with a coast garter
Thamnophis atratus intergrades (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.a.aquaticus.html)
http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/images/tatratus04pr.jpg

I think it is a Thamnophis atratus zaxanthus.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.kousebandslangen.nl/atratusfoto%27s/Thamnophis_atratus_zaxanthus_Contra_Costa_County_0 1.jpgThis one is from Contra Costa county...

[Loren]

it could be but if your look closely you can see little black checkers that look like they could come from breeding with a coast garter, so i think its an integrade
see this one looks a lot like the one u posted but its an integrade with a coast garter
Thamnophis atratus intergrades (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.a.aquaticus.html)



I dont think that coast garters are known to breed with aquatics. If they did, I believe they would actually be considered hybrids.

"North of the San Francisco Bay(Marin county), there is a very large intergrade range between T. a. hydrophilus (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.a.hydrophilus.html) and T. a. atra (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.a.atratus.html)tus (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.a.atratus.html) or T. a. zaxanthus." (californiaherps.com)

T. a. hydrophilus (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.a.hydrophilus.html) and T. a. atra (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.a.atratus.html)tus (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.a.atratus.html) and T. a. zaxanthus (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.a.zaxanthus.html) are all of the T. atratus, or Aquatic garter species.

T. e. terrestris - Coast Gartersnake (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.e.terrestris.html) is of the t. elegans (western terrestrial garter) species.

Looking again at a county map, and ca. herps.com range maps, I would say that either a pure Zaxanthus or an intergrade of the it and the other atratus sub species would be most likely.

Either way, its very pretty.



Anyone confused yet?:D

[Bay_area]

Marin county is not vagrans range either.
Jerry, what is it? You found it.:)

I say santa cruz, or santa cruz/diablo/oregon aquatic intergrade. (2 of the 3 anyways)
I thought it was a coast garter, T. e. terrestris

[Loren]

"I thought it was a coast garter, T. e. terrestris"

I guess it is possible that is is just a coast garter that lacks all red, and has a different shade of background color to it. I dont know, but I still lean toward aquatic. So far I havent found any concrete descriptions in feild guides, other than thatif it were a coast. it should have red on it.

[ssssnakeluvr]

not all coast garters have red.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

yea but i havent seen a pic of one thats green-ish

not all coast garters have red.

[Loren]

yea but i havent seen a pic of one thats green-ish

I agree Reed- that greenish tint is what leans me toward aquatic the most.

[ssssnakeluvr]

I'm thinking the same...the coast garters with no red I have seen are dark, no where near that color greed.

[Loren]

I guess we could just call it a garter snake. :D

[Thamnophis]

I guess we could just call it a garter snake. :D

That's the best idea I heard in weeks. ;)