nerodia rhombifier
Friday, May 10, 2024 – 10:05 am
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas
I spotted the snake swimming along the muddy shore in one of the canals. As I watched, it crawled up onto the muddy bank like it was heading for the foliage, but then turned and crawled back into the water. It was probably close to three-feet long. I was perhaps 20 yards away from it, in my car on the road on the other side of the canal.
pantherophis obsoletus
Saturday, May 4, 2024 – 12:20 pm
Pope County, Arkansas – Galla Creek State Wildlife Management Area
After a morning of birding at Holla Bend, I headed toward home via Atkins Bottoms. I decided to make a quick stop at Galla Creek to see if any warblers were around.
The ratsnake was laying in the road not far off the paved highway. I pulled up next to it and took these photos, and it never moved. It was gone 20 minutes later when I left.
I don’t know why it has that weird kinked look — it’s almost like it swallowed another snake.
In the early afternoon on a Monday in April, the path of a total solar eclipse passed right over our house. Arkansas cities all along the path planned festivities, and local hotels and campgrounds jacked their rates. Businesses and state parks sold eclipse-viewing glasses. It was a big deal.
The day before, I went to the dentist. With my mouth pried open and his instruments poking my gums, he asked me what my plans were. When I could speak, I said, “I’ll probably go outside and look up.”
And that’s what I did. I popped in and out a couple times as the sun was partially obscured, but then as totality approached, I stayed. It was interesting watching the birds. A flock of Black Vultures flew over as though returning to their roost. A Cooper’s Hawk and a very pale Red-tailed Hawk also soared by, and scissor-tailed Flycatcher flew just over the roof of the house.
Totality here lasted about four minutes. Here are my photos, with solar activity visible as red spots around the edge. According to the internet, the spots “were the result of hydrogen and helium plasma being thrown up in broad arcs but never leaving the sun’s atmosphere.”
The moment when totality passed.
An unaltered photo of the area during totality.
opheodrys aestivus
Monday, April 1, 2024 – 11:08 a.m.
Faulkner County, Arkansas – Kenny Vernon Nature Trail at Bell Slough Wildlife Management Area
Birding along the maintenance road near the marsh, with woods on one side and swamp on the other. I spotted the snake on the road and took some photos.
When I bent over for closer photos, it headed into the vegetation, crawling over some low plants and stopping with its head in the middle of a patch of grass. It seemed to be deliberately disguising itself in the blades.
Before long, it crawled over some other plants and disappeared. I made no attempt to stop it.
It was about a foot long and very thin.
Years ago, before I carried a cell phone or camera, I was hiking at Cadron Settlement Park when I spotted one that I remember as being a little larger than this one. It was curled on the path up the hill through the woods. I group of high-schoolers were headed my way, so I stood on the side of the path, one foot on either side of the snake so they wouldn’t mess with it. They walked by and glanced at me, but not one of them noticed the snake. After they passed, I went on my way and so, I assume, did the snake.
Nerodia erythrogaster
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 – 10:33 a.m.
Conway, Arkansas – Hendrix Creek Preserve
I was birding along the trail between I-40 and the creek. I saw an approaching couple with two boys. They stopped and stared at something along the trail, then continued toward me. I asked what they’d seen, and the woman walked back with me and showed me this snake.
It was coiled in the leaves right along the trail, perhaps three feet from the banks of the creek. I took a couple photos, but when I got too close, it headed through the brush into the water. I saw it floating mid-stream for a short time, then disappear under the surface.
It was perhaps 30 inches long, smooth gray on top and plain yellowish underneath.
