California herping

[TJ]

I'll be driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles for 2-3 days in late April and would like to see and photograph some sals and newts. I'll be hugging the coast the whole way, probably overnighting in Carmel.

I had no idea California had so many species until I saw the list at:

http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/salamanders.html

Hoping to see some Taricha torosa and T.granulosa, as well as any Batrachoseps that present themselves. I guess I'm too late for the breeding season. Any tips on where to search along the coast (without pin-pointing locations) would be highly appreciated

 

[jesper]

Pin-pin-pointing the location you mean?

 

[TJ]

Well, I'm indeed hoping that our very own Pin-Pin will come up with the goods -- Taricha-wise, that is

 

[TJ]

I hasten to add...I won't be collecting anything, just taking photographs. After all, my next destination after LA is Death Valley

 

[eddie]

If your going to be near santa cruz try Big Basin state park,they got just about every common california caudate,when i was there all i saw were ensatinas,but tarichas are there also,try the coast also.San mateo county has a few parks with caudates.Your best bet would be to meet up with someone familair with the area.

 

[brian]

If we get anymore rain you might want to look for Anurans as well. Especially on the way to Death Valley.

The bad news is this early heat is drying up the ground.

 

[i.]

Big Basin is also a great place to camp if that's something your looking into. They rent small cabins so you don't need to carry camping gear. You'd have to reserve in advance though.
If you're planning to do SF to LA using highway 1 by the sea, you'll definitely need 3 days. It's gorgeous but a very winding and slow going road. You might want to do highway 1 until San Simeon to see all the Big Sur area and then switch over to highway 101 for the rest of the way if you plan to do it in 2 days.
Have a great trip!

 

[travis]

If you are in Carmel you should come across Ensatina escholtzii and Aneides lugubris. It is drying out now but you should still have some luck.
-Travis

 

[brian]

I heard we might get some more rain in a week.