A few highlights from today.........

[Rich G.]

went out to check a couple of different sites than those I visited yesterday. Found somwhere around 30 cerbs. Although there were still males with their females, many are already starting to disperse as I found several well away from their hibernacula. They often beeline to their summer hunting grounds where the woods border the meadows and voles are numerous. This big males was the first for the day.

[Rich G.]

I passed one of the rookeries where females gather to cook babies all summer and not expecting to see anyone there yet was buzzed by this little female. She wasn't wasting any time!

[Rich G.]

there was still a good number of snakes but most were just under the talus making them very difficult to see. There were several male /female pile-ups and one pair was definately breeding but I couldn't get the camera in to get the pic.I settled for this little female at the edge. I was surprised when I got home to see my flash had lit up a snake behind her. For anyone interested, my readings for the rock temps averaged 122F just at the edge of where snakes were basking. Most of the snakes themselves read in the 92-94F range.Ambient temp was around 70F.

[Rich G.]

I found this male and two females in a crack. I always take on pic without flash and then one with flash to eliminate shadows and then choose the one I like best when I get home. My flash startled them and as they retreated I was in awe of how beautiful the male was. Pitch black with very minimal bright yellow.

[Rich G.]

I came upon a male laying in a pile of females. The females beat a hasty retreat. I pulled him out for some pics and then sent him into the same crevice the females had gone into.

[Rich G.]

I started heading down to my truck when I came upon this big light colored male already several hundred feet away from the densite. He was the final shot for the day.

[necoris]

Those are awesome snakes. I've always wanted a pair of cerbs but everytime I've been out I haven't seen anything. Oh well, just have to keep trying. I like getting out of the house anyway.

[Rich G.]

The enjoyment of getting out is the main thing. If ya plan on breeding them I would definately get some newborns next September, one male and two females. They will adapt much better and be much more likely to breed for ya. Adult snakes become too locked in to established rookeries and routines. Most babies don't survive the first winter anyway and it's always good to leave the breeding adults out there. Good luck!

[necoris]

I would prefer a neonate pair, actually. My friend used to own a cerb that ate frozen/thawed mice right off the tongs. No striking, just open and swallow. The cerb had pink bands. It was gorgeous.

[Gila Kid]

Hey Rich why is there so much variability in adult cerbs? I realize there is some variability in all snake populations, but it seems that some are really dark and others not so much. Also the differences between mountain ranges are highly variable. The best example of this that I can think of would be your population up north and a population I know of much further south having almost the same variations within each subgroup, but a population I know of that lies directly in between these two has a completely different ground color and spot color than the rim pop. and the southern pop. What specifies something as a new subspecies? Obviously it's not just color, but why are these cerbs so variable in color. Any body want to chime in feel free. And by the way I love your pics, keep 'em coming

[Rich G.]

I have no idea! The variation is amazing. Survival is dependant upon successful pattern. All the patterns seem to do equally well. Perhaps the variation helps in preventing predators such as raptors from forming a "search image". Just a thought. You wouldn't believe all the wild variations I have seen here in Flag over the years. At least now I have a camera to start recording it all. I know I can say that the more variation I see the more fascinated I become.

[Gila Kid]

Thanks for responding Rich. I love your pics. I need to get a digital camera before the season gets too far gone. I'm sick of paying for film and processing, and you don't even know if they come out. Digital is definetly the way to go. Anyway love those cerbs, keep em comin.

[Uncloudy]

Damn Yuma area herping really sucks compared to where most of the other AHA members are located.:mad: lol
Maybe just to darn hot here, but I do see most of my sightings of snakes in the monsoon season they really start coming out.:Think
Keep the pics coming,
Uncloudy:bright