Finally some herping, Part 1

[Gordon]

Wow as everyone knows it’s been a long winter. In my case compounded by the fact that my wheels have not been healthy. Well I finally have transport I can use so it was time to get out for a while. I had been eyeing an area near my house that was just crying for some investigation. Once I got my daily duties dealt with I was off. The day was warm but about 50% cloud cover. Once at my goal, I was actually somewhat surprised by the lack of apparent life. Quite a bit of annual flower bloom but little else, very few bees or ants.
My goal.
http://armyants.org/images/misc/landscapes/avrocks1.jpg

http://armyants.org/images/misc/landscapes/avrocks2.jpg

While wandering around the hill I was once again struck by the lack of vertebrate life forms, No Uta anywhere.

My first herp was doing its best to blend in with the surrounds by pretending to be a rock.

http://armyants.org/images/misc/reptiles/tortoise/tort3.jpg

http://armyants.org/images/misc/reptiles/tortoise/imarock.jpg

A bit of damage from a past life.
http://armyants.org/images/misc/reptiles/tortoise/damage.jpg

That was all for a while until I was preparing to step down from a ledge when I found this.

http://armyants.org/images/misc/reptiles/gophersnake/doyousee.jpg

A bit closer
http://armyants.org/images/misc/reptiles/gophersnake/640gopherfull.jpg

With a little attitude
http://armyants.org/images/misc/reptiles/gophersnake/640pitstrike3.jpg