Horned Lizard at Rancho San Antonio

After very rainy winter and spring, the vegetation is at its peak at Rancho San Antonio, and with that a large count of animal species. I have noticed a Great Blue Heron and Great Egret on the grassy field near the tennis courts (very unusual), a Bobcat, and countless White Tail Rabbits.
Yesterday, walking along the Chamise Trail, I discovered a creature that far exceeded my imagination. Initially I thought that it was a frog hiding in the grass on the edge of the trail. Upon a closer look it turned out to be an unusual lizard. Its full name is Blainville's Horned Lizard, and it is native to California. Santa Cruz Mountains are on the western edge of its range.

The horns extending from the lizard's head are true horns with a bonny core. The spines on the back and sides are made from modified scales.

Here is another unusual view, a Mallard Duck rearing young ones in the pond. For the last several years the pond was a dry hollow, filling with muddy water in the spring. This year it is full of crystal clear water.

Bullfrogs and Snakes at Arastradero Preserve

Today, I got a good picture of the bullfrogs that inhabit the Sobey Pond. Their deep loud call sounds like made by a creature the size of a deer, at least I thought so initially. After so many rains the pond is full to the brim, and the bullfrogs can be easily seen from the road. These are the American Bullfrogs, introduced to California for they tasty legs. Bon Appetit.

Above the Sobey Pond I was alerted by a rattlesnake hiding in the vegetation along the road.