Found some newts in the Santa Monica Mtns

[twometal]

Went hiking near Malibu yesterday, in the Santa Monica Mountains. After a difficult rock scramble up and around Lower Escondido Falls, I came to the amazing 100+ ft upper falls (more like a drip, though I'm sure that it would be absolute spectacular earlier in the season), and this cool little pool. After a little exploring, I noticed the pool was the home to a population of newts! (I noticed at least 10+ separate individuals). Here are some pictures I snapped with my phone. I believe they are California Coast Newts.










And here are two pictures of the falls and pool:




Thanks for looking!
-Eric

[Patrick Long]

Excellent pictures!


dude....WHERE IS THIS!!!?!?!?! I MUST GO!!!!


I know near malibu, but how, where? lol

[Jerhart]

Pat is right....where is this magical place you visit?

[LadyOhh]

Pattycakes, when you go, I wanna too...

That is gorgeous...

WHERE WHERE WHERE?

[Patrick Long]

Pattycakes, when you go, I wanna too...

That is gorgeous...

WHERE WHERE WHERE?

Deal!!!! That would be sooo much fun!

[whytepizza]

I agree, it is gorgeous!
They look like, from the pictures, normal eastern (or red spotted) newts. Mildly poisonous to other animals, but relatively harmless to humans, even when ingesting. Not 100% sure, because i can't see little red spots on the side, but that's what i would say they are.
Beautiful pictures! I say we all go on a field trip! Who's with me! lol

[Vomitore]

THAT is :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:in'!

[froggsong]

It's hard to tell from the pics, but that looks a little like my T. granulosa... Though maybe a little more orange... and probably a little too south... Though there is another kind that can be found in California that is very hard to tell apart... Of course, I could be completely wrong, I don't know all THAT much about newts, lol.


edit: hmmmm why is it capitalizing the G in T. granulosa?

[twometal]

Here's a link to an article on the hike, from localhikes.com:
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/EscondidoFalls_4472.asp

It's called Escondido Falls.
The lower falls aren't much to see, but if you're a decent climber/scrambler, or you're just willing to get sweaty and a little dirty, it's not too difficult to get to the upper falls. It's just kinda hard to follow the trail sometimes. And the trailhead is at the end of a residential street, which is also rather unfortunate. The water can have a slight sewage smell sometimes (as it is downstream from quite a few houses), but this is rare and it doesn't really smell very strong. The falls are best earlier in the year, but they are still something cool year round. Plus the newts are a bonus, and if you're lucky you will see some local snakes on the trail. It's also partly a horsetrail, so be careful of the horse droppings. Once you get to the lower falls, theirs a slight trail to the right of the falls which will take you up and around the first few sets of lower falls, until you get to the head of the canyon.

If you guys want, I wouldn't mind leading a trip. Lemme know and I can try to work it out with my schedule. It would be cool to meet a few of you guys.

[LadyOhh]

Excellent We shall discuss