Day of the Snakes

It is not uncommon to see a snake or two around the Bayou.  With that much marsh, it is to be expected but to see an eagle catch a snake that was a good five feet in length is not that common.  The first thing thing I saw this morning as I was headed to the blackberry patch was the Bald Eagle with its wriggling prey!  It was perched in the top of a pine tree and before I could grab the camera, it made its hasty retreat to the depths of the Bayou.  There it could rip the snake into bite-sized chunks for the little eaglets.  This was one of those times that I really regretted not toting the camera everywhere I go!  Instead of photographing the unfolding scene, all I could do was pick blackberries and dream of the missed opportunity.

A bit later, the pup, Sunny, took me for a walk down the hill.  I am leash training her as well as free-walking her so away we went.  While she did her business, I took notice of the  blue jays around us.  There were several that were bouncing back and forth between the trees and the ground.  Yesterday, we were literally attacked by a pair that had their baby out of the nest but somehow this seemed to be different.  I hustled the puppy back indoors and grabbed the camera.  I was going to be ready this time no matter what I happened upon!  And happened upon it I did!  There, next to the base of the oak tree, was a snake!  Aha!  So that is what had alarmed the birds!  Closer inspection proved that only the birds (and rodents) needed to fear this snake.  This is what Pop had always called a Chicken Snake! Better known as a Rat Snake, this one would not bite me.  I called Son down to "displace" the snake.  I did not really want him to kill the poor thing as, like I said, they do eat a of rodents!  Believe me when you live near the marsh, you do have a lot of rats, mice and voles!

Michael played with that snake for a while before moving it off a good ways from the birds.  Both of us marveled at how well camouflaged the snake was.  It would be extremely hard to notice it in a pile of dead leaves!  He put it down near the marsh so that perhaps it would find something a bit more enticing than baby birds.  The snake immediately slithered off into the marsh in search of lunch and the birds went back to feeding their little ones. Michael and I headed to the pier.

Then late this evening, I was back on that pier again.  I had caught a nice redfish earlier which made for a tasty supper!  I was in hopes of catching another before dark.  As I eased down the pier, I noticed a slight movement in a tidepool next to the pier.  Ahh, my friendly little Garter Snake was busy catching his supper!  At least the snakes today had all been non-venomous!  I can deal with this!!!  (And no..I did not catch another redfish.