JB's Tales from the Trail. : September 2015

Met my younger brother Rich in Atlanta last weekend, from there we headed south to Florida. Sunday afternoon found us road cruising the sandy roads of the Apalachicola NF. Lots of beautiful long leaf pines mixed with live oaks and spanish moss. One of the very first places we drove yielded a beautiful little Pygmy Rattler. Took lots of pics, moved him from the road and continued on. Only thing else seen that night were 2 Garter Snakes. Early on day two found us in St. Mark's NWR, walking a roadway of pines, swamps, and oak hammocks. Saw tons of Green Tree Frogs and several Green Anole. We were really snake hunting though and had not spotted one yet. We turned and headed back toward the car and I walked off peering into a grassy patch to find a huge Cottonmouth coiled and basking, largest one I have ever seen. Road cruising again that evening/night yielded 2 more Pygmy's and an Eastern Glass Lizard. Day 3 again in St. Mark's, walking the same road as morning before and we found 4 more Pygmy Rattlesnakes. They are so cool and their camouflage, like most snakes, is incredible. Alas, our time was short and we had to get going. Rich and I took a walk thru his snake spots the next morning and uncovered a beautiful Smooth Earth Snake...a first for me! From there I was again homeward bound. Reflecting on the trip as I drove away I replayed lots of the moments Rich and I had shared. Tons of laughs and good times and I ALWAYS learn something new about wildlife and photography whem I'm with Rich. Can't wait to get together again.