Anza-Borrego Adventure- Part 3: Nausea Ad Nauseam

Continued from Part 2...
By now we were staying in one of the tiny cabins in Tamarisk Grove Campground, and we returned there to rest and cook dinner before our next adventure, which was road cruising for snakes at night. We set out on Yaqui Pass Road, Rachel in the driver’s seat. This arrangement was designed to make the most advantage of her exceptionally keen eyes.
Our first find was a Western Leaf-nosed Snake, Phyllorhynchus decurtatus, a lifer species I had especially hoped to find on this trip. The little snake, a juvenile, sported the comically large nose scale and bug eyes common to the species. Like all the other individuals we found over that night and the next, it would hardly stay still for an instant while being photographed.
It was around this time that I began to feel somewhat queasy. The feeling only increased before we pulled over for a large stick insect, probably Parabacillus. I crouched down to photograph it, and despite feeling rather sick to my stomach, was able to get a few decent shots. Before we found the next (and last) Leaf-nosed Snake of the night, I had begun throwing up. Despite that, I insisted on pulling over to photograph the snake, but the retching only worsened in frequency and intensity. It was at this point that Rachel took charge. Despite my feeble protestations, she herded Boaz and I into the car and began speeding us back to the campsite. Somewhere along the way I finally decided that was where I really wanted to be, and I kept my mouth shut even as I heard Boaz exclaim “Scorpion!” and “Snake!” and “Tarantula!” as we flew past the bemused creatures on the side of the road.
I gave one final heave right as we pulled up next to our cabin, before stumbling out of the car and collapsing onto the front porch, where I lay, not wanting to get up, for the next hour or so. In the interval, I heard Boaz exclaiming over a tarantula he had found by the campsite, but even this could not get me off the porch. Boaz evidently found several more creatures while I was lying there, dazed: namely a winged velvet ant, a few species of darkling beetles, and a Mexican Tiger Moth (Apantesis proxima). Eventually, Rachel and Boaz were able to coax me into a sleeping bag they had laid out on the lower bunk.

To be continued…

Posted on July 6, 2021 07:38 PM by ectothermist ectothermist

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Leaf-nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus)

Observer

ectothermist

Date

April 28, 2021 09:21 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Stick Insects (Order Phasmida)

Observer

ectothermist

Date

April 28, 2021 08:57 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Leaf-nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus)

Observer

ectothermist

Date

April 28, 2021 08:17 PM PDT

Comments

Sounds like a very successful trip except for your nausea...what a horrible time to get that. I hate not being at home if I'm sick. Anyway, I think it helps to go with more than one person. I find it difficult to spot everything on my own. And although I know the best way to find snakes is generally at night, my night vision is not great so I need someone to drive and spot.

I have never been to Cuyumaca State Park so glad to hear about it. Borrego Palm Canyon is really great--an easy hike--though that makes it sort of busy--and usually lots of payoff as the water source makes it a great place to find wildlife. I doubt if I could have handled the temps though at this time of year. I'm even having trouble here in 85 degree heat!

I envy you all the great finds. Also the Tamarisk Grove is another great place to see wildlife. There are some beautiful owls there at times. And those stick insects are cool....hard to spot but so interesting. Thanks for sharing your great adventure!

Posted by naturephotosuze over 2 years ago

@naturephotosuze I'm so glad you enjoyed reading it. The illness wasn't fun, but if nothing else it made for a very memorable trip, that's for sure! I was certainly glad to have companions with me, though.
Anza-Borrego is definitely a wonderful place for wildlife (as I see you know, with all your great observations from there!) and I’m sure Cuyamaca Rancho is as well. We didn’t spend a lot of time in it so I didn’t find many things, but I’m sure I’ll be back at some point.

Posted by ectothermist over 2 years ago

Yes, makes me want to go there but I'll have to wait for cooler weather!

Posted by naturephotosuze over 2 years ago

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