BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
I met Phil while herping NorCal in April. He said if I ever wanted help finding a few "lifers" to let him know. I took him up on his offer to do some SoCal herping. On the way to Barstow to meet up with Phil, I saw this street with an interesting name.

We were lead by Jim and joined by Phil's wife Kara.

Phil spotted what was for me lifer #1 of the trip on the road - Southern Pacific Rattlesnake.

Here's Phil preparing to photograph the snake.

Jim spotted another helleri shortly afterwards in the grass.

We later investigated this waterway.

A few Baja California Treefrogs were found.

I had my first encounter with a beetle with an undeniably cool name: Diabolical Ironclad Beetle.

We went on a search for a specific amphibian, the Federally Endangered Arroyo Toad.

It wasn't long before someone spotted a toad, but it turned out to be a California Toad.

I captured this adult female American Bullfrog and gave it to Jim for "processing."

Were we discouraged about not yet finding our target species? No, because we heard the Arroyos calling nearby.

In time we found one - lifer #2.

A California Toad/Arroyo Toad combo. This California Toad kept trying to get in the picture, even when moved away, he'd head right back, so we let him share the "spotlight."

Another Arroyo.

Double Arroyo!

It was an awesome night, topped off by this high-contrast California Kingsnake found while roadcruising and photographed on the following day.