Had an excellent time in the field today (March 22, 2012) in San Mateo county. Weather was less then optimal in the morning, at about 50F with heavy mist. The higher elevation grassy hillsides were wet and very cold, so i was less than optimistic about finding anything. However, I managed to flip quite a few snakes during the wet morning. Lots of field mice and voles were nesting under the boards. As the day progressed, heading back North towards the city led to warmer, drier conditions. At a Rana draytonii pond site I frequent, Coast Garters were under discarded concrete. Egg masses were abundant in the pond, as well as newts and what looked to be Sierran Treefrogs. Here are photos of a few of the herps I managed to find today, as well as a pic or two of me.
Last year's Crotes under a wooden plank.
Four of last season's Pacific gophersnakes were found along the hillside.
Plenty of Pacific Ringnecked Snakes to go around!
Triple flip of HUGE coast garters under discarded concrete.
A small SF Alligator lizard.
Red Legged Frog egg mass.
What should be a Sierran treefrog...but it didn't act like one...almost acted like a Rana...newly metamorphed draytonii?
Total number of herps today:
3 Norpac Rattlers
4 Gophersnakes
7 Ringneckeds
6 Coast Garters
1 San Francisco Alligator Lizard
CA Red Legged Frog Egg Mass
2 Sierran Treefrogs
1 CA newt
20+ CA Slender Salamanders
8 Sceloporus
Can't wait till it gets a tad warmer here in the Bay! Would love to see more zonata and getula this year...as well as would be lifers: lateralis, infernalis, night snake, Tantilla, etc...
