First Rattler

Upper flatland road

Just as Willow and I started up the left branch arroyo this morning I spotted a young Western Diamondback Rattlesnake stretched across a narrow section of the trail we hike along every day.  Willow was on lead, and the snake was about 15' in front of her; she never saw the serpent.

This being the first rattler we've encountered this season I took quite a few photos of it from both sides.  The rattler never was bothered by our presence.  We had heard a rattler about a month or so ago, but never saw it.  That's always disconcerting.

We spotted other interesting sights during our outing including what I believe to be a Speckled Earless Lizard, but I'm not sure of the ID.

Find the observatory

Clouds to the southwest

 

This & next 6:  Western Diamondback rattlesnake

Near LDR-A arroyo

Long way to Tortugas and the Organs

Parched Soaptree Yucca

Curve-billed Thrasher

Willow seeing something

Blooming late

This & next:  Speckled Earless Lizard?

Looking northward down the left branch arroyo