Snake Day



Loggerhead Shrike

Becca and I were headed back from the midpoint of our hike when we ran across a small Gopher Snake on the trail.  While I was photographing it I heard somebody say, "What are you looking at?"  It was Jimmy.  We then started hiking back to the parking area together discussing how seeing that Gopher Snake pretty much assured us that Rattlers were out, too, when Jimmy said, "There's one."  Sure enough, lying lenthwise across the sandy trail was a small Diamondback Rattlesnake.  It was completely passive, though, and allowed me to take its picture.


Loggerhead Shrike on the move



Becca at a curve in the trail

One of her favorite shady spots

Ocotillo flower

Ocotillos flowers against the mountain backdrop

Gopher Snake

Notice the tapered, rattle-less tail



Slightly over two feet long



Tapered head

Small Diamondback Rattlesnake

Two feet of potential danger

Notice the black-and-white banded tail with rattle