San Francisco Bay Area

At the end of our great US road trip, we went back to San Francisco. But before flying home to Germany, we stayed a couple of days close to SF. During my work as a naturalist guide in Costa Rica, I met Tony and his wife. At the end of our great night walk back then, we decided to stay in touch and meet again in California. 

So now was finally the time to team up for some herping in the Bay Area. Tony showed us different spots to look for animals and we were really successful. Besides cool salamanders and a cute Pacific Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus amabilis), we found one of the rarest and most beautiful snakes in the world: the San Francisco Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia)! A dream came true, seeing this stunning snake in the wild. After this amazing day in the field, we went to a bar to enjoy a cold beer together. Thank you, Tony! Hopefully we will meet again... in the USA, Costa Rica, Germany or somewhere else.

Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica - Yellow-eyed Ensatina

Batrachoseps attenuatus - California Slender Salamander

Diadophis punctatus amabilis - Pacific Ring-necked Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia - San Francisco Gartersnake

Happy herping team

On the remaining days Samira and me went to the familiar places and also some new ones, to hike in nature and look for animals. We made some further sightings and pictures. On our last day shortly before heading for the airport, I spotted a "hard to see" juvenile Western Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon).

Taricha granulosa - Rough-skinned Newt

Taricha granulosa - Rough-skinned Newt

Thamnophis elegans terrestris - Coast Gartersnake

Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia - San Francisco Gartersnake

Pseudacris sierra - Sierran Treefrog

Do you see the snake?

Coluber constrictor mormon - Western Yellow-bellied Racer

Our time in the Bay Area was the perfect conclusion of this tour. We are already looking forward to visit the States again one day!