Tuesday, June 28, 2011 Saw the "old Man" in Valley of Fire today.

We saw the "old man" during a Valley of Fire tour today. He was just laying down in the shade around the corner and to the west of the poodle rock area. We were able to walk up to about 40 feet of him and got some good photos. I had not seen him for quite a few months and was worried that he finally died of old age but was so excited to see him alive and well today.

(see past blogs about "the old man")

Is this "the old man" ?

Compare the two photos from the first time I saw him to today.

I think it is the same ram!

Photo taken June 28th, 2011

Photo taken December 3rd, 2010

Look at the markings above his nostrils. Yes, it is the same guy.

This photo was taken on December 8th, 2011.

Saw him again on January 8th, 2011

Great Basin Gopher Snake

I spotted this Gopher Snake basking in the road on the way out to Toroweap. The date was June 6th, 2011. That is the second time that I had come across a Gopher Snake in the month of June on the road. The temperature was in the 70's. He was easy to catch as he was cold and not very active.

On the dirt road on the way out of Toroweap I came across a Gopher Snake that had been run over by a vehicle so I took it home and tanned it.

We came upon a baby Chuckwalla at White Domes in valley of Fire today.

It looked like it had just hatched within the last day or two.

It ran fast for how small it is and was a bit of a hassle to catch.

Photo taken June 10, 2011

Photo taken June 10, 2011

Photo taken July 18, 2011

Glossy Snake - arizona elegans

I came upon this guy on my way to Grand Canyon West. It was on Pierce Ferry Road in the area just west of the Red Tail Hawk nest on the top of the power pole. I passed over it in the trekker and thought that I had run over it. I turned around and went back and was happy to see that I hadn't run over it after all. I caught it with my snake stick and then held it up for my guests for photos.