northern water snake

Tadnarium

May 7, 2015 Nature

Tadpoles are back – so – we have a tadnarium? … Took this shot this afternoon. Later in the afternoon, with the binoculars, I watched a big (3-4′) Northern Water Snake (I think) swim across the pond, then swim/slither onto the reed mats there, and settle in, for a bit, of frog hunting, I believe.  Likely the big brown thing I saw the other day, sunning itself.  This was a big boy.

Today

May 7, 2015 Nature

Just finished watching a green heron eat a couple frogs.  What an appetite.  Explains why our amphibian pop is down this year.  It’s got these really big bright orange feet, big as clowns feet, that enable it to spread it’s weight out over the reeds. Also, saw something round and thick laying on the reeds.  Brownish/Tannish in color.  Smooth.  Looked like a coil of a snake.  Or a mink, laying on top of the reeds.  Never figured out what itRead More