Afternoon Hike

[Cmpyrrhus]

It was a wonderful afternoon today, and the wind had calmed down a bit. So I decided to make the best of it and get out of the house and into the hills.

My first spot took me to one of my favorite places. The first herp that crossed paths with me was a nice wandering garter. I was unable to get any pictures. It was the only snake for the day. Kinda bummed for you folks though...they are gorgeous around here...

I came across this skink a little while later. Amazingly I was able to have him surrender unto my hands. These guys are normally very good at getting away and slipping into the ground cover and under rocks and logs. I believe this is a ssp of Western skink? Same species I believe that Kerby posted a while back. I can usually count on seeing one of these during a good hike.

[Cmpyrrhus]

This is another shot of that skink. The tail loss is not due to me, I assume from another forest creature.

[Cmpyrrhus]

...herps were to be seen. I came across a few Canyon Tree frogs in another spot I enjoy going to.

I was not able to hike the area as I wanted to, someone had been skinny-dipping in a pool down the ways, so I turned around. ;)

Canyon Tree Frog

[Cmpyrrhus]

I thought I would take the time to photograph more of the Urosaurus, commonly called Blue-belly lizards around here.

Here is a couple that stopped for some shots, just for me.

[Cmpyrrhus]

Belly shot of the previous lizard...

These bellies on these lizards can be the most gorgeous blue color....just cool.

[JJFeldner]

is Eumeces gilberti arizonensis, the Arizona Skink. I think Kerby called his the Western Redtailed Skink (E. g. rubricaudatus) but I don't think it was.