Jump to content


Photo

Coast Garter Snake?

Started by jblakelock, Jul 15 2012 06:10 AM

  • Please log in to reply
7 replies to this topic

#1 jblakelock

jblakelock

    jblakelock

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 925 posts
  • LocationPleasant Hill, CA

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

Triplefeather

    Advanced Member

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 366 posts
  • LocationThat state right below Michigan...

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

jblakelock

    jblakelock

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 925 posts
  • LocationPleasant Hill, CA

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

fisherman1313

    Support Warbler Neck Awareness

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2454 posts
  • LocationRiverbank, CA

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?

New Year's Resolutions:
Get my lifelist to 300 (at the time of the original writing-293, currently-294)
Finally get Mountain Quail and Vesper Sparrow
Top my previous single year best (2011-253) I'm at 210 as of 6/11.

Latest Lifer(s):Cassin's Kingbird, Basalt Campgrounds, San Luis Reservoir SRA, Merced County, CA, 6/3/13; Harris's Sparrow, Oka Ponds, Campbell, CA, 1/1/13

Favorite Recent Bird(s):Pileated Woodpecker, North Grove Trail, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Calaveras County, CA 6/8/13; Cassin's Kingbird (Lifer), Varied Thrush, Basalt Campgrounds, San Luis Reservoir SRA, Merced County, CA; Lesser Nighthawk, Santa Fe Grade Rd., Merced County, CA, 6/3/13; 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

#5 jblakelock

jblakelock

    jblakelock

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 925 posts
  • LocationPleasant Hill, CA

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

fisherman1313

    Support Warbler Neck Awareness

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2454 posts
  • LocationRiverbank, CA

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 (at the time of the original writing-293, currently-294)
Finally get Mountain Quail and Vesper Sparrow
Top my previous single year best (2011-253) I'm at 210 as of 6/11.

Latest Lifer(s):Cassin's Kingbird, Basalt Campgrounds, San Luis Reservoir SRA, Merced County, CA, 6/3/13; Harris's Sparrow, Oka Ponds, Campbell, CA, 1/1/13

Favorite Recent Bird(s):Pileated Woodpecker, North Grove Trail, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Calaveras County, CA 6/8/13; Cassin's Kingbird (Lifer), Varied Thrush, Basalt Campgrounds, San Luis Reservoir SRA, Merced County, CA; Lesser Nighthawk, Santa Fe Grade Rd., Merced County, CA, 6/3/13; 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

#7 jblakelock

jblakelock

    jblakelock

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 925 posts
  • LocationPleasant Hill, CA

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

JimBob

    Little SuperBirder

  • New Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 7089 posts
  • LocationSan Diego County

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/

I may live in San Diego County, buy my home and heart will always be in Missouri.

Back to Snakes, Lizards, Turtles, Crocks and Gators


0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

  1. Whatbird Community Board
  2. → Wildlife of North America
  3. → Snakes, Lizards, Turtles, Crocks and Gators
  4. Privacy Policy