Desert Walkabout

Sunday, May 3, 2009n was the second Field Trip for the Eastern Sierra Herp Club. We went out to the Chalfant Area to Chidago Canyon to walk around and hopefully find some reptiles.

It was a nice day, having a Field Biologist with us was very cool. Jeff showed us how to sex lizards, and had LOADS of incredibly useful information about every species we found.

AND we found a sleeping Sidewinder…the first time I have ever seen a Sidewinder during the day and NOT on pavement…

So…here’s some pictures!


Northern Desert Horned Lizard






Long Nose Leopard Lizards. These things were everywhere...

Continued in next post...

Continued...






Zebra Tail Lizards


Sagebrush Lizard

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Continued...


Whiptail Lizard, convinced I don't see him


Mallow


Scale Bud

The 2 wildflowers pictured above are the only wildflowers I saw all day. It is VERY dry in Chidago Canyon, and by the looks of the place…most of the people that go there are there to drink and shoot guns, not find reptiles and wildflowers. It was a nice canyon…but not well cared for. Perhaps a club clean up day is in order…??

Anyhow…this last couple of pictures are my pride. I was looking around under a buish for a small sideblotch lizard that was hiding from me. I gave up on him because he was really good at that game, and when I turned around, I saw this…





I hollered out “SNAKE!!” and everyone came running over. There were 5 of us hovering over this guy taking photographs. He never once flicked his tongue or moevd a muscle…because he was sleeping, and digesting what appeared to be a very healthy meal…probably a Leopard Lizard.

Andrew, one of the members, got down on his knees for a closer shot, and POP!! This little guy JUMPED out of his burrow, quicker than lightening, ready in a strike position. He started buzzing his tail, and flicking his tongue, and crawling closer to people than we were comfortable with. I put my camera down and picked up my hook to control the snake while others took a few more photos. It was really quite funny how quickly he responded the second he realized he was being watched. Imagine sleeping comfortable in your bed, and suddenly your whole bed shakes, and there are 5 giants surrounding you taking your picture!!

He slithered off under a bush, and we left him alone.

All in all, a fantastic trip. I would have liked to have seen at least one Collared Lizard, but…there’s always next time!

Thanks for Looking!!

That little horned lizard is awesome! I would love to find one of those someday.....

Looks like you had a great day. I wish I could come along on one of your field trips Our herp club, well, is trying to get it together.
I love the sidewinder shots.. And the leopard lizard is cool looking

Its sad that the canyon is so abused. If you need help cleaning it up, I'm down.. Im so conservation minded right now its not even funny

Thanks for sharing another nice set of photos..

Great pictures! I'm starting to wish I lived there.

Oh and that is one really cute horned lizard

I bet chris could have used you hooker skills steph

I love those long nose leopard liz's. pretty pattern, they look so soft.

By the sounds of it you're probably bored of them if they are everywhere...but I don't get to see beauties like that

wow, those last pictures are amazing! what cool shots. Looks like it was a lot of fun. I agree, the the Leopard Lizards are very pretty.