I scooted him away this time, but I doubt he’ll change his ways.
P-solare-1-042810
Jan
23rd
2012
Beautiful Blacktail
One of the ways that I’ve decided to take my hobby is to start speaking at events as a local snake ‘expert’. I have a pretty decent collection of native rattlesnakes at home, but it was finally time to go try and pick up a great specimen of my absolute favorite of Arizona rattlesnakes, the Northern Blacktailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus molossus. When it comes to blacktails, there aren’t any more beautiful than as can be found in the Sky Islands region of South East Arizona. I set aside 3 days to head to my favorite range and find my prize.
Success came on the first night, finding two absolutely knockout animals. After careful comparison, I decided that the larger, and higher contrast, of the two would come home with me. Before leaving the area, however, I took this photo of him in the rocks near where he was found, stretched out in the cold rain.
Crotalus molossus
For comparison, here is another blacktail, found in the McDowell mountains earlier in the year. You can clearly see why I looked to find mine in the range that I chose.
Sleepy lady
Jan
18th
2012
Big Old Tiger Rattlesnake
This was found on a front porch in Anthem, Arizona (where I live, just North of Phoenix). They’re typically grey in this, or maybe a little bit of blue tint. This old guy looked purple. Really a pretty snake to see in person, and I was happy to relocate it so it can continue living.
c-tigris-1-090310
Jan
16th
2012
Northern Racer – My First
This is the East coast’s version of our own Coluber species, the fast, rather intelligent snakes such as coachwhips and whipsnakes … probably responsible for more bites on my hands than any other species. Our target this day was Timber rattlesnakes, but I was equally happy to see this guy. We got to get good close shots after what can only be described as a heroic dive into the rocks by an extremely knowledgeable member of our party by the name of Rex.
Coluber constrictor constrictor
Jan
11th
2012
Black Phase Timber Rattlesnakes
Two of many seen in Spring of 2011.
C-horridus-18-051411
Crotalus-horridus-2-051611
Jan
9th
2012
Eastern Collared Lizard – Blacktail Collateral
These beautiful lizards are common sights on rocks on route to one of my favorite blacktail and Arizona black rattlesnake spots. They’re a bit hard to photograph with the 28-135 I had handy, but I manage to get one from time to time. If nothing else, getting out every mile or so to chase lizards is a nice diversion during the 2 hour drive in to this location.
Eastern Collared Lizard
Jan
6th
2012
Idaho Rattlesnakes
I went up in September of 2011 to visit some friends, and of course spent some time hiking the grasslands looking for rattlesnakes. I managed to find a den of Great Basin Rattlesnakes, Crotalus oreganus lutosus, but only got to photograph one of them that was out a good distance from the others. I’ll be back.
Crotalus-oreganus-lutosus-2-090111
Here’s another shot, fashioned up HDR style.
C-o-lutosus-1-090111
Jan
4th
2012
Neonate Glossy Snake
Jan
4th
2012
Eastern Milksnake, Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
… aaaaand the milksnake mentioned in the previous post. Another very common snake in Pennsylvania, but of course the first (and only) I’ve ever seen. It’s amazing to me how much the pattern and color converge with non-Lampropeltis genera (such as Pantherophis) of similar lifestyle. Not the most colorful of the species, it was a really nice diversion on the way to the 20 or so Timber rattlesnakes we saw that day.
Lampropeltis-triangulum-triangulum
Jan
2nd
2012
Not a reptile, but still my first of these. North American Millipede
Saw this weird little thing just after photographing a milksnake in Pennsylvania in May. I’m sure they’re common as dirt out there, but it’s new to me.
Apheloria-virginiensis
Dec
26th
2011
American Toad, Anaxyrus mericanus
The first of these I’ve seen, on a 2011 trip to Pennsylvania. It was cold enough outside to see my breath that night, which isn’t something I’m used to looking for herps in back in Arizona.
Dec
21st
2011
Night Hike Tiger Rattlesnake
On a night time desert hike, taking part in a herpetological survey of a local mountain range, a friend of mine found this tiger rattlesnake sitting in in the rocks. The orange coloration is atypical for this locale, so it was cool too see, not that I’m not happy to see any tiger rattlesnake at all.
Cinnamon Bun
