Wednesday - California Coast
The temperatures on the following day were in the 60s. I decided to drive up the California coast on Highway 1, starting in Santa Cruz.

In California many types of garter Snakes seek shelter in the water when avoiding enemies. The Coast Garter, which has the subspecies name terrestris, tends to stay on land. This is the first Coast Garter I've ever seen.

California Newts often migrate during rainy Spring weather.

This newt was making its way across the road.

I found this large female Santa Cruz Garter Snake near a waterway.

While catching the female garter, I noticed this male close by. He wasn't too pleased about being caught.

I took a break from reptiles to check out some local mammals. At this time of the year Northern Elephant Seals come ashore to shed their outer layer of fur. The process takes 4-6 weeks per seal.

This Coast Garter Snake had an exceptional amount of red-orange coloration.

I found this "apple green" Pacific Chorus Frog by a small lake.

My final find of the day was this young male Santa Cruz Garter, found near the same lake as the frog.