Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Went out to check a few spots this morning in San Mateo County. I have been itching to do some herping, and waking up this morning with the bright sun shining through the window, I knew I had to go out! San Francisco, and I guess most of CA has been soaking in rain for last few weeks, so I didn't really have that high of expectations in the field, as everything was pretty wet. The wildflowers were blooming everwhere, making for a very visually stunning outting.

First few rocks and boards flipped reviewed some stunned Scelops that ran away too quick for me to grab my camera. Treking on and flipping nothing but slender salamanders, pill bugs, and centipedes, my best flip of the day:

Under a board that usually houses tons of Coast garters, a very wet and cold baby Coastie was resting with his rubbery pal, a gorgeous male rubber boa! Coastie was about 7 inches long, while the boa was about a foot or so?

After these guys went back under their board, I flipped 3 adult Southern Alligators (Elgaria), two of which bolted. Managed to shoot some pics of one:

Then found this HUGE arboreal:

Then headed out back towards the City to a spot I have been boarding that usually has gophers, garters, and racers. Only found this little guy today:

All together for today's trip:
1 Charina bottae
1 Coast Garter
2 Arboreal Sal
3 Alligator Lizards
tmtc Scelops
tmtc slender sals

I think most would consider a rubber boa the holy grail of finds, especially if they are from anywhere besides the west coast. I would love to keep them again. Alligator lizards are pretty neat too, I have been fortunate enough to herp all over the west coast, and for the northern part, that sounds like a typical spring day, we usually had a few ringnecks pop up when we found all of the species you found out today. We been out quite a few days this week here in mississippi, wish I was more experienced in finding sallies, there are suppose to be some neat ones around here. Thanks for the pics