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Coast Garter Snake?

Started by jblakelock, Jul 15 2012 06:10 AM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 jblakelock

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Posted 15 July 2012 - 06:10 AM

This picture was taken near Berkeley, CA a few months back. Thanks.


Posted Image
Coast Garter Snake by JJB1998, on Flickr
Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake - Wallace Stevens

#2 Triplefeather

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Posted 16 July 2012 - 08:07 PM

Yep! What a beautiful snake.

Good timber does not grow with ease:

The stronger wind, the stronger trees.

The further sky, the greater length,

The more the storm, the more their strength.

#3 jblakelock

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Posted 16 July 2012 - 09:34 PM

Thanks Triple. I know it almost seemed to glow.
Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake - Wallace Stevens

#4 fisherman1313

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Posted 16 July 2012 - 11:27 PM

I have not been able to figure out if its a California Red-sided or Valley Garter Snake. It fits the description of one but the range of the other. According to my guide, in the CA Red-sided the top of the head should be red but this one looks olive, which fits Valley. The angle of the light could be making the head appear a different color than it actually is. Do you remember what color the top of the head was?

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Top my previous single year best (2011-253) I'm at 193 as of 5/12.

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#5 jblakelock

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Posted 17 July 2012 - 05:49 AM

Thanks for the help Fisherman. I looked up some pictures of the Red-sided and this snake definitely didn't have that red head. I don't know much about snakes IDs, but are you thinking this is not a Coast Garter Snake?
Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake - Wallace Stevens

#6 fisherman1313

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Posted 17 July 2012 - 05:31 PM

I've found a some pics of CA Red-sideds that don't havr the biright red head, in these the top of the head looks brownish or blackish, so I think it's safe to call yours a CA Red-sided.

Actually , my guide does not have an illustration of the Coast Garter Snake and I was trying so hard to make this a Red-sided that I did not even look at Coast, even though that is the title of the post. But you're right, this is a Coast Garter Snake.

New Year's Resolutions:
Get my lifelist to 300 (currently 293)
Finally get Mountain Quail and Vesper Sparrow
Top my previous single year best (2011-253) I'm at 193 as of 5/12.

Latest Lifer(s):Harris's Sparrow, Oka Ponds, Campbell, CA, 1/1/13

Favorite Recent Bird(s):Yellow-breasted Chat, Knights Ferry Rec Area, Knights Ferry, CA, 5/20/13; Blue-winged Teal (Pair), Peregrine Falcon, Sanderling (3),Franklin's Gull (9), Modesto Wastewater Treatment Facility, Modesto, CA, 5/12/13, MacGillivray's Warber, Adair Rd., Modesto, CA, 5/5/13, Long-eared Owl, Mercy Hot Springs, Fresno County, CA, 4/29/13, Lawrwnce's Goldfinch, Panoche Shool, San Benito County, CA, 4/29/13,Lawrwnce's Goldfinch, McHenry Rec Area, Escalon, CA, 4/21/13, Snowy Plover, Modesto Water Treatment Plant, Modesto, CA, 4/14/13, Blue-winged Teal, Redhead, San Luis NWR, Merced County, CA, 3/11/13, Eurasian Wigeon, American Bittern, Santa Fe Grade Rd., Merced County,, CA, 3/9/13

#7 jblakelock

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Posted 18 July 2012 - 03:49 AM

Fisherman, thanks for the confirmation. I did the same thing a few weeks back. I prompted the OP for a location, but it had already been stated in the post title.
Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake - Wallace Stevens

#8 JimBob

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Posted 20 July 2012 - 04:30 PM

These are my all time favorite snakes!
ABA list: 295 Latest: Swamp Sparrow
2013: 220

Yard List: 85 Latest: Violet-green Swallow, Tricolored Blackbird
http://www.flickr.co...s/89595711@N08/
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