Birding at the historic site boat launch, tip-toeing down to the river's edge through creepers, vines, and thistles....
Something moving a few feet out in the water....ripples shifting near a tiny stump....what is making that water move?
A thick, striped, body rolls over the stump and back into the water.
Oh, my word. These photos don't do its size justice, but this is a really big Northern Water Snake.
It swims right over to me, takes one look, then hastens away.
Maybe it likes polliwogs....
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I've seen water snakes eating frogs, so I assume they like baby frogs as well. That looked to be quite a colorful one, quite pretty, in fact. Often, they're so dark they look black. It's amazing how freaked out some folks are about snakes. My friend is a nature educator at Saratoga Spa State Park, and she once posted a photo of a large water snake and got over a hundred horrified responses from folks saying they will never come back to the park again.
Jacqueline, I suspect that was just what he or she was about. There was a large mass of them right at my feet and it made straight for it, veering away at the last moment when it finally spotted me. It was a biggun! I don't mind snakes at all and was quite saddened when I found the bluest Garter Snake I have ever seen squashed in the driveway. Sure would have liked to see it alive! I do give water snakes a pretty wide berth though...they are a tad aggressive for my taste. This was a pretty one though, and about half as thick as my wrist!
I am sooooooo not fond of snakes and spiders and snakes and mice and snakes.............
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