SKYLINE DRIVE
Although it has been unseasonably warm and dry, the weather for my trip was mainly cool and rainy. I started things off by herping the Santa Cruz Mountains.

There were many flowers in bloom, such as this Western Hound's Tongue, which is named for its leaves, that are about the same size and shape as a dog's tongue.

Fence Lizards were the most commonly seen reptile on the trip.

The cool, damp conditions proved to be favorable to finding Pacific Ringneck Snakes.

A Coast Garter Snake with a bit of "extra red" color.

The variability of colors and patterns of Western Fence Lizards provides the opportunity to seen some rather attractive versions of this normally brown reptile. This one was a bit on the yellow side.

Miner's Lettuce.

You know what else likes cool, damp conditions? Answer: Jerusalem Crickets.

A pond in the mountains had a fair number of Santa Cruz Garter Snakes around its edges. Here's one of them.

Western Skinks were pretty easy to find and catch.

Cool Caterpillar.

Southern Alligator Lizard.

Of course there were amphibians to be seen as well, the most common were Slender Salamanders.

Darkling Beetle.

California Toads were seen in better numbers than past visits.