The Queen of Seaford: snakes

Showing posts with label snakes. Show all posts

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Photo-a-Day Week 10

Another week is done. This isn't as easy as it would seem. Every day I am looking for something to photograph. Trying to photograph a different view or a different angle and keep it interesting for everyone is truly a challenge

Day 62-

Playing hide and seek with my grandsons. See the little toes behind the curtain? It was the giggling that gave them away. One is 5 and his brother is 2 and they love to play hide and seek.

You Don't See Me

Day 63-

Once we got home from visiting the kids, we needed to retrieve the dogs and cat from boarding. Once we were in our small neighborhood, the rear window was lowered so Liebling could survey her realm.

The Ride Home

Day 64-

We have been behind in our rainfall totals this year, so every raindrop is appreciated.

Raindrop Prism

Day 65-

Once again I am drawn to backlit items in the yard/ garden. From afar, this looked like a bloom and I couldn't figure out what it might be. The Post Oak leaf glowed golden in the sun..

Backlit

Day 66-

Thursday was a busy day, I hosted our neighborhood book club, and a little later we picked up a friend and drove to Walhalla for a concert. The sunset was brilliant. While sitting in the backseat I kept trying to get a good photo of the bold colors.

Sunset from the Backseat

Day 67-

Spring is beginning to pop, every day there is something new emerging. Today was a fern, unfurling its frond- from a tight spiral. It wasn't until I looked at the photo on my cellphone that I noticed the dog hair hanging on the new growth. This is a Southern Shield Fern or River fern, it goes by many common names. Thelypteris kunthii, a native fern in our area. The Fibonacci sequence is where each number is the sum of the previous two numbers. This sequence is found throughout nature, from seed patterns on sunflowers to nautilus shells. It is the Golden Ratio.

Fibonacci with Dog Hair

Day 68-

This photo may not seem too exciting, but it is our attempt to block the opening around our dryer vent round tube. For the past few years, we have had an Eastern Rat Snake living in the space around the vent. The builders cut a square hole to place a round pipe for the vent. That little triangle was the perfect spot for Mr. Snake to reside. We had some temporary blocking but this should be more permanent. Goodbye Mr. Snake! If you are not keen on snakes, do not scroll any lower, I have included a photo from a few years ago with our 'friend'.

Dryer Vent

Many thanks for stopping by again this week. Time marches on, I am writing this quickly as I was stung after we were working with the bees this morning. After we were done, I reached for my phone in my back pocket and there was a bee on my phone. She stung me on my finger and I am sure as it swells, typing will be harder.

Here's one of the photos from a few years ago when the snake had taken up residence in that spot.

Thursday, September 22, 2022

South Carolina Snakes and More

We have an abundance of wildlife in our area. Sure there are deer and turkeys and fox and even coyote. The wildlife I am writing about is more in the reptile family tree. We have many snakes in our neighborhood and only one is venomous, the Copperhead. There others in nearby counties, but in Greenwood it is the Copperhead you need to be aware of.

Let's start with some less frightening reptiles. Who doesn't love a baby turtle? How about a handful of three newly hatched turtles? I came across these little ones while planting a hydrangea along the side of the house. After a quick picture, I put them back where I found them.

Fast forward ten years, came across another newly hatched turtle in the same area of the garden.

Another reptile that we have everywhere is an Anole, Anolis carolinensis. When newly hatched they are about an inch or so in size. Just too cute.

There are Eastern Fence lizards, varying in size from teeny tiny to about almost eight inches from head to tail.

Now that we have touched on some of the legged reptiles (and there are so many others- multiple Skinks and Glass Lizards), it is time to venture to the snakes in the Upstate of South Carolina. Now you can ask some self-proclaimed experts and they will tell you about lots of venomous snakes. Not true. I have a few sources to back up my information. One of the best is the Savannah River Ecology Lab from the University of Georgia. I have two friends, one retired from and one currently employed by Department of Natural Resources in South Carolina. I have one almost on speed dial. He backs up all his identifications with a link to the said snake's ID document.

So let's look at the snakes I see regularly in my yard/garden.

I will ease you in slowly- Here's a pretty one-

Above and below- Rough Green Snake. It is a lovely emerald green and quite small. Their diet is insects, spiders and other small invertebrates.

On to the various black snakes we have.

There is the Black Racer, who is really fast. These guys will really move through the garden to get away from you. They are mostly black with a little bit of white under their chin. Their diet is mostly insects, other snakes, lizards, birds and amphibians.

Black Racer

Next is the Blackrat Snake. Their diets include lizards, frogs and rodents (yea!). They are also fond of duck eggs. They are quite common in our area and while mostly black, they have a good bit of white on them. They will try to look tough to scare you away.

Black Ratsnake

If frightened they will 'freeze' and assume a kinked position. In the grass that helps them disappear, though not so much on the pavement.

Black Ratsnake

The juvenile Rat Snake is more varied in coloration.

Juvenile Black Ratsnake

I find I have a resident Rat Snake near the dryer vent. I tried to pull it out one time, but he held fast. It is in the space between the ductwork and the wall. Always fun to be in the wild!

The third black colored snake that is common in our area is the Eastern Kingsnake. They are black with white markings that look like cyclone fencing to me. It is one you want to have around if there are Copperheads- Kingsnakes eat Copperheads. Their diet includes snakes, lizards, rodents, turtle eggs, and birds. They are resistant to the venom of the Copperhead.

Eastern Kingsnake

There are many tiny snakes. First, Worm Snake. My phone-a-friend gave me a hard time when I first found this one. I was not sure what it was but described it as a snake that looked like a worm. He came back with a smart comment that I will not share. They feed exclusively on earthworms.

Worm Snake

A couple that I confused with each other- Redbellied Snake, who feeds on slugs,

Redbellied Snake

and DeKay's Brown snake. They are closely related. Brown snake also eats slugs as well as earthworms and other small invertebrates.

DeKay's Brown Snake

Another small snake is a Ringneck Snake- pictured below is a hatchling next to a piece of pine straw. They can grow to 10 - 15 inches in length. Diet includes amphibians, small invertebrates, and lizards.

Ringneck Snake

Not to be confused with the Redbellied snake, there is also a Red-bellied Watersnake. While they are a water snake, they can be found in the yard. They eat primarily amphibians but also eat fish.

Red-bellied Watersnake

Note the red/orange underside of the snake. They are really attractive.

Red-bellied Watersnake

Another colorful snake is the Corn Snake. They eat larger prey- birds, small mammals, lizards and reptiles.

Corn Snake

Next come two that are closely related, both water snakes. First Northern Watersnake. This snake is often confused with a Cottonmouth (venomous) snake. Cottonmouth or water moccasin have different markings, bands instead of blotches. The Northern Watersnake's diet is primarily fish and amphibians.

Northern Watersnake

The other watersnake is the Brown Watersnake. It is not common in our area but seem to be showing up more often in recent years. This photo was shared by a neighbor, wanting to know friend or foe. The Brown Watersnake's diet is primarily young catfish.

Brown Watersnake photo credit Barb Warner

Finally we come to our venomous snake. The Copperhead. Their most distinctive marking is on their side- it looks like a Hershey' kiss. This is a snake to avoid. Another neighbor sent me this photo, asking what it was. She was walking, looking elsewhere and tripped over it!!! Young Copperhead snakes have a yellow tip to their tail, very distinctive. Their diets are pretty wide. They eat small mammals, birds, lizards, and other reptiles.

Copperhead photo credit Laurie English

Thanks for following along with me on our photo journey of snakes in the Upstate of South Carolina. There are other snakes I did not profile as I have not seen them. I have comments allowed, if you comment, please sign your name so I know who has visited.

Many thanks to my phone-a-friend buddy Win Ott.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Keep Your Eyes Peeled in the Garden

This has been a busy week, sorry for no tree post. One of the trees I had photos of turned out to be another tree....another one I wasn't sure of which tree it might be.

I have been planting a lot of new plants in the garden. One of the wholesale nurseries in our area had their yearly end of season sale...

As you can see, I had a couple wagon loads of new goodies to plant. Some azaleas, heucheras, coneflowers, penstemons, and a Rodgersia- a new plant to me. The azaleas were planted in spots where I had hydrangeas. These poor struggling shrubs needed to be moved to get more light.

This is more of a post about CREATURES IN THE GARDEN....
because I was digging and exploring in the garden, I found many little creatures. Some of these photos were posted on Facebook, but I know many of you are not on FB, so for those who have seen two of these pictures, I am sorry for the repeat.

Digging a hole for the hydrangea's new spot, along the side of the house, where there is a lot of activity....I found this little cutie--

I was worried the shovel might have injured him or another, so gently digging around I found his brothers...

Best guess from online info these are Eastern Box Turtles

After a quick photo-shoot they were returned to the spot in the garden where I found them. I checked a couple times to see if they were still there or moving about. After a few hours they were no where to be found, they blended into the garden quite well. While looking for them there was a lot of leaf-rustling in that area....this is who I found. A little Fence Lizard, he was probably about two inches from nose to tail.

Planting new plants, one needs water. After one is done with the water, the hose needs to be put away.....carefully.

According to FB friend Christopher, this snake is all kinked because it is getting ready to shed its skin. Believe it to be a Black Rat Snake.

Black Racers are fast movers, this one wasn't moving quickly, so my guess is Black Rat Snake.

But wait, there's more. This is a Virgin Tiger Moth. Very interesting markings.

A posting on the wildlife in my garden isn't complete without an Egret on the dock photo. These birds migrate in the late fall and return to the lake in the spring. Our dock is a good fishing spot...for the birds, not so much for us.

We have all sorts of frogs and toads in our area, some are so small. This little guy waited for a few pictures to be taken before he hopped into the garden.

Here is a close up of this nubby toad.

And finally, one of the reasons some of my plants have been eaten. We have grasshoppers and this cleverly disguised muncher, a Katydid.

words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Today, While Out in the Yard......

I wasn't planning on posting again today but since I had my camera with me, I got some interesting photos while pulling weeds. My first encounter with nature was up by the hose spigot. As I was turning on the spigot I saw a three foot (give or take) Eastern Kingsnake. These are nonpoisonous snakes, but you know, a snake can surprise you poisonous or not.

He was interesting to watch, but I am not keen on going behind the bushes to turn the hose on or off. While we were watching it, it slithered along the house toward the coiled hoses.

Yeah, not going to be recoiling this hose for a while!

Maybe I will stamp my feet and make lots of noise before I enter this garden to turn the water off and wind the hose back in place.

Onward and upward, or downward as the case may be. I am pulling weeds along the water today. Keeping my eyes open for snakes and other critters. I was not disappointed, all sorts of things to see today.
I am happy to report this Lobelia is very happy, blooming non-stop since planted!! My hope is that it will be reseeding in this great spot.

The water had a lot going on today. I was happy to see a Great White Egret, perched on a submerged log, fishing.

Not sure if it got anything to eat with this move.

There were a lot of fish in the water today. I was surprised to see so many fish close to the dock. Maybe they were near the Egret a minute ago?

They were circling something, I couldn't tell what or why, just this giant whirlpool of fish. Once they heard me on the dock they came up to see me (yeah right!) and then they scattered.

Pulling weeds, I dump them into the woods. As I walk through the edge of the yard, I find a couple more wildflowers. This blue one is Dayflower, Commelina virginica, I think. Quick ID, if wrong, please correct me!!

And finally, the Groundnut is starting to bloom. Apios americana, I found this one last year. The blooms are hanging over the water, so my photo is not as sharp and clear as pictures from last time.

I had forgotten how much lower the water was last year. There is no walking along the shoreline yet.

Well, after falling on my rear end a couple times while pulling out those tough weeds, I decided it was time to go in. My arms were really itchy from the grasses....hope I don't have more chigger bites!

Once in the garage, I found another little friend.... hope he found his way out of the garage.