Northern California herping highlights of early 2012

[otolith]

Here are a few pictures from several herping trips from this year. This first group of photos is from February.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158295680/" title="Lagunitas T granulosa by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/7158295680_098a48516e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Lagunitas T granulosa"></a>

Taricha granulosa found while on mountain bike ride. Most of them were males waiting in puddles and flooded areas until the water levels in the creeks dropped.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158280948/" title="T granulosa in a puddle by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7158280948_a669f3654b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="T granulosa in a puddle"></a>

several males in a puddle

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158280096/" title="T granulosa in a creek by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7158280096_fbbf2376b3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="T granulosa in a creek"></a>

male in a creek

 

[otolith]

These are from a bit further north later in the month. First Taricha rivularis I'd ever found as well as some other winter bonuses .
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158274844/" title="T rivularis migrating in February by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7074/7158274844_f207249242.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="T rivularis migrating in February"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158292196/" title="LS chanterelles by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5231/7158292196_a25a91de8b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="LS chanterelles"></a>
About 20 pounds of chanterelles my dad and I stumbled upon.

This group of photos is from April, this small inland creek was full of Taricha rivularis, Taricha granulosa, Rana boylii and Anaxyrus boreas.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158283348/" title="T rivularis habitat by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7158283348_199bc733df.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="T rivularis habitat"></a>
Habitat shot, you can see a few rivularis in the creek.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158284056/" title="Rana boylii amplexus and eggs by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7158284056_85f5937c40.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Rana boylii amplexus and eggs"></a>
Tons of Rana boylii eggs, you can also see a pair in amplexus in the back left.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158286314/" title="Yellow legged frogs Rana boylii by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7158286314_381881ac9a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Yellow legged frogs Rana boylii"></a>
Another pair in amplexus which dove underwater when I walked by. Didn't seem to ruin the mood though!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158286900/" title="toad eggs by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5449/7158286900_a580648ddd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="toad eggs"></a>
Anaxyrus boreas eggs, they were in a few of the slower areas of the creek. Great to see, their numbers have been dropping in a lot of areas in recent years.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158285882/" title="T rivularis by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5199/7158285882_9b1f2a0681.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="T rivularis"></a>
Rivularis in the creek, couldn't go more than 5 feet without finding them either in the creek or on the shore.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158284888/" title="T rivularis habitat by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7158284888_84078e5d31.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="T rivularis habitat"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158282770/" title="T rivularis hanging out in a creek by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5348/7158282770_74069a6dc0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="T rivularis hanging out in a creek"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47332901@N02/7158282028/" title="more T rivularis by catchin' stuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7158282028_4bca176574.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="more T rivularis"></a>
We found a lot of T granulosa morphs as well but only a handful of adults. The rivularis outnumbered them probably 20/1. Great little creek!

 

[Azhael]

It must be brilliant to just stumble upon a creek and say, oh look, newts! Over here you have to look for them xD
It´s fascinating that Taricha are so toxic that they can afford to be inmediately recognizable in the water.
Lovely pictures, thanx for sharing!

 

[otolith]

Azhael, It's not always this easy! These pictures are all taken during the height of breeding season. In another couple of months you'd be hard pressed to find any newts other than larva in the creeks and ponds. I have yet to find an adult Taricha of any species outside of the rainy season. Rivularis seem to live in the hottest and driest areas of any of the three coastal CA taricha species. The daytime temps in both areas where I've found them during the summer can get up to 100F, the creeks are a trickle and the forest is bone dry.

 

[daedae]

Gorgeous find! Nothing like seeing newts in some crystal clear water. I haven't seen water that clear since I moved from Arizona. Silly swamps and their sediments

 

[Cainschams]

Really nice finds!!!! Always love seeing photos of animals in the wild and not caged up.