Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A bright spring day, the smell of Mountain Misery and fresh pine needles, little patches of snow still remaining in the shady spots, the black male Sceloporus doing push-ups at you. Those six or eight Crotalus oozing out of their den into a spot of April sunshine, wading through chest-high Deerbrush, that perfect granite flake leaner that's never been touched by another human being. Little pink boas, striped Masticophis, and that icy stream to stop, sit and enjoy your picnic lunch at. These are the things I miss about California.

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Nice photos of Z's. I relly like the San Jacintos and the Santa Cruz ones myself.

What is the locale in the first pic?

Also if you have any habitat pics of Ben Lomond or any other habita shots i would love to see them.

this is my favorite post in a long time.Thanks very much for sharing.Pics of wild zonatas are the best.
Jeff Teel

I have a bumper sticker in my office that says "I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as soon as I could!" I moved here twenty years ago from San Diego to attend seminary and decided to stay. It's only this time of year, seeing pictures like these that make me a wee bit homesick!!!! I still remember the first Zonata I found in Trabuco Canyon, Orange County and the second on Palomar Mountain, in the pines, about a half mile from the observatory. Yup, sometimes I miss it, but never enough to move back!!!!!!! Great pictures!!!!!!

Preacher Pat

Although the best part is being in the field you can still visit and take one home with you every time you do.

did u move out of CA??? last time i chatted with u was about 3 years ago at one of the norcal herp society meetings at the UCdavis campus...it was good to see those old pics of the davis blackbellies and blondes...too bad i havent had much time to go herping at all...
-jon

Thats the type of picture that should be in a calander. Very nice.

Those are some pictures Eric. Thanks for posting them.
Link

Your were among the best ever posted here!

Gosh, you ALMOST make me miss California, except for:

30 million people
traffic that starts 3 hours away coming back from Holiday
living in a sea of poisonous gas air
Santa Ana winds blowing air pollution back to beach cities
high crime
high costs (my auto insurance dropped 40% when I left)
And so on...

Too much of too many things. The rest of the world can learn from the California Mistake: galloping consumerism that sacrifices everything for short-term profit & image.