Lifer! Common species I know but I still may or may not have done a victory dance on the road lol (hey a lifer is a lifer no matter how common). Didn't really get good pics on account of rain and traffic but nbd next time! I definitely agree with people who say they're more like queen snakes than watersnakes, and they're now my new favorite nerodia lol.
Observed in the Lower Caves trail in Pinnacles National park
This roughly 20-22inch long specimen was by far the biggest alligator lizard I’ve ever seen
This was just one of those hugely frustrating things that happens from time to time. I was appreciating how empty the park was this morning when a group of men and two large dogs approached. At the same time, I noticed a snake. The group approached from one side, and I approached from the other. The snake wanted nothing to do with any of it, and took off into the brush. I barely got a couple of poor photos before it disappeared. Was so disappointed, because it wasn’t one I had seen in the park before. It looked like a striped racer, but while it moved quickly, I don't think it moved quickly enough, Maybe a garter snake...