GRAPEVINE CANYON
I visited a Nevada canyon that usually has a couple of water sources, though they were both dry. Water was harder that usual to come by in the desert this year.

It turned out to be a good day for lizards though - Long-nosed Leopard Lizard.

I saw this Desert Horned Lizard in the road.

The reptile's "prehistoric" looks and mild disposition make it a favorite of many herpers.

I moved him underneath a shrub off the road so he wouldn't be the victim of an automobile accident. He seemed to blend in well there and soon went back to snoozing.

Bigelow's Nolina.

Milkweed Bug.

This wash is a pretty reliable area for Zebratail Lizards.

Zebratail.

Another Zebratail Lizard.

This rocky area is especially attractive to Chuckwallas.

Chuck.

Crissal Thrasher.

I found this Pallid-winged Grasshopper hopelessly trapped inside a fast food resturant. I rescued it. As a form of repayment it posed nicely for a couple of photographs before going back to the business of being a grasshopper.

A trusty (and dusty) rented Mitsubishi Gallant that travelled over 2,400 miles - some of them a bit treacherous.

There's a tiny (6,000 acres, which is small by western standards) wilderness area that I like to visit, since it is a Joshua Tree preserve.

Later on I investigated the night life.

Rodent.

I saw this Longnose Snake crossing the road, so I moved it over to the other side and shot some photographs.

I was so focused on the snake I didn't realize that there was another only a few feet away. My guess is that the first snake was a male in pursuit of the female. Here are both of them. The snake that was crossing the road is on the right.

The second Longnose Snake by itself.