Saturday, January 17, 2015

Sat.`s Critters , I`d rather b birdin

Linking up with Eileen & I`d rather be birdin' at these links...
http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/
http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com/
The past 2 years I have been dealing with a huge black rat snake. This is the critter wound double length in a bush that the birds love to eat from, a chokecherry I believe. I cannot find the pictures of him as he sunned himself on my deck 2 years ago, however they should be found under my labels on this blog. He is huge. The only way I knew he was there was the birds alerted me with noisy scared voices. He was so roped on the branch that at first I couldn`t see him. Well, like a mama protecting babies, I went after him .The hose was hooked up right where he was at , & I turned it on him at full force. He slithered away , I couldn`t tell where he went, perhaps under the greenhouse. You can tell how scared these birds were by the look on their faces. The catbird was a baby . I wonder if he is the reason that the brown thrashers didn`t stay the whole summer. Last year was the first that they didn`t call this home all season.

baby catbird

10 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

he's a beauty!

JoJo said...

God I hate snakes. I've seen a couple tiny ones in my yard and I've shrieked both times. Although one of my friends posted pics of her snakes wearing hats she made them out of polymer clay and it really was cute....they even looked like they were smiling. She made an Indiana Jones fedora for one of them which was hilarious.

Lovable Derek said...

Excellent photos.

We see a lot of snakes. Mostly they're welcome for pest control, but there are some we could do without. They're all part of nature's rich tapestry though.... I guess.

Have a great week.

Unknown said...

I love the snake, it's a beauty!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

He certainly knows how to hide in that bush. Great shot ps of him and the frightened birds. Have a good week.

eileeninmd said...

I am glad the rat snake left, poor birds.. Great shots of the Catbirds and the others..Thank you for linking up and sharing your post.. Have a happy day!

Anni said...

OMGosh!!! I have a snake phobia for sure, for sure!! This would be something I'd not even dare to stick around to photograph!! You are so brave.

Now the birds, on the other hand, I loved viewing. lol

Great variety. I love to listen to the cat birds 'meowing' with their calls.


Thanks for sharing your post today with us avid birders at I'd Rather B Birdin'!!!

Anonymous said...

That's a different visitor! The birds do appear to be leery of it.

Aleta said...

We have quite a few black snakes around also, and corn snakes (which are beautiful). I really don't mind snakes, but I don't like them eating the birds. A few years back we watched pileated woodpeckers knock out a hole in a tree for their nest and they had their babies. One day I could hear the babies drumming on the inside of the tree; it was really loud. The tree was along a ridge across from a gap, close enough that we could watch it from our gazebo. Anyway, a day later I went up to the gazebo and observed a black snake coming out of the hole with huge bulges in his body. I guess he heard the drumming too! I was really upset for awhile until I had to remind myself that is nature. I would have done something to stop that if I could have, though. We've had them on our trellis under the trumpet vines, skulking around probably looking for nests. Actually, I think snakes are fascinating. . . as long as they keep their distance from our house!

Bethany Carson said...

That looks like quite a snake! Reminds me of the original "serpent" who talked Eve into eating from the tree. I'd prefer to avoid snakes, but nice captures! I don't mind seeing them from a safe distance (on someone else's blog ;) ).