EISPIRATEN

Yo HikeUp! I hope you are doing well.

I really need to post my trips... been hiking but been a touch busy.

Those birds would be black-billed magpies. They are highly entertaining. We have yellow-billed magpies here in California.

Just out of curiosity... Is the possession of bighorn remains illegal on federal lands?

Small point: Bullsnakes are a midwestern subspecies of the Gopher snake...

I think Cuc has become even more popular because now its part of that six pack peak challenge that Socal Hikers has publicized for the last seven years or so. I heard some hikers mentioning it on the top. The last time I was out that way I bypassed Cucamonga and continued on to Etiwanda. No crowd t...

The species/subspecies and hybrid/intergrade questions are secondary to the fact that the pictured rattlesnake is gorgeous! Thanks for posting it!

I have seen this gun metal blue color variation in Fish Canyon above Azusa which is obviously pure Southern Pacific. Where did you see this beauty? What made you think this snake is an intergrade? I saw it in the Lytle Creek area. I know next to nothing about identifying snakes, so I picture-matche...

A little late on the action here...

I have seen this gun metal blue color variation in Fish Canyon above Azusa which is obviously pure Southern Pacific.

Where did you see this beauty? What made you think this snake is an intergrade?

Sean wrote: ↑They also like to get down and boogie.

Ursine pole dancing!

I spoke with Big Pines Information Station two weeks ago and they said the gate was closed. The road down to Lupine was in bad condition. He wasn't sure when the gate was going to be open. The gate to the Pine Mountain trailhead was also closed further down Blue Ridge. The volunteer or ranger said t...

7 out of 10. I also missed 3, 4, and 7!

My self-esteem took a hit. No participation awards?

Thanks, arocknoid! Love the detailed description...!

Yes, I had pictures from my camera three years ago. See this discussion: First Camera Pics and Ringtail

girlhiker70 wrote: ↑Speaking of rattlesnakes, I just seen one this past week while hiking in Ojai. It was in the middle of digesting some small rodent. It didn't even move after it noticed us passing by.

double "cringe"

bapolis wrote: ↑Do they plan on doing any more in the future?

Darn it! I didn't check the boards in the last few days. We just had the talk again last Saturday. Full house... We'll do it next year.

Aack! 8 out of 10. Remedial school for me...

Nice, Elwood! Good to see your report. We are thinking about doing South Fork to Vincent Gap in a couple of weeks or so. Thanks for the info!

atomicoyote wrote: ↑Looks like a gopher snake, one of the more common snakes in SoCal. Not poisonous. You got a nice picture since they move pretty fast so its tough to get a good picture of one.

Yes. Gopher snake...

Thanks for not killing it!

HikeUp wrote: ↑You 'saw' a Turkey Vulture and a Western Bluebird.

LOL! I agree with HikeUp with what you 'saw'.

Thanks, Sean! Absolutely... please take over the forum! You're doing a great job, just as Travis and Taco had done before you.

Were those feathers associated with the tail region of the skeleton?
Approximately how big/large (lengthwise) was the skeleton (head to tail)?
Yup, it could be a Golden Eagle.

Sweet!

Guessing here... it would help to see a good pic of the skull... Red-tailed Hawk.

HikeUp wrote: ↑Dark-eyed Junco

Ditto the junco. The black bird is a raven. Nice pics!

Tom Kenney wrote: ↑Didn't know they nested this far south. That's very cool!

Richard is in Florida...

Thanks, Richard! Cool pics!

What he said!

HikeUp wrote: ↑saw

Thanks, HJ for taking of things for a while. Good luck Taco!

A little tardy on the reply... that is a California Toad. Nice picture!

Nice!