The Good - The Bad - The Beautiful...
September has brought delightful weather. Highs in the 70s, lows in the 50s (upper 40s this morning)....low humidity - refreshing breezes. Due to the rather dry August, many of the deciduous leaves adjusted....some have turned red or yellow prematurely (to us) and some of the leaves (primarily oak) have turned brown. Due to the recent rains, October should still be rather colorful. Great hiking weather. Get out and enjoy the great outdoors!
Five Wild Turkey gobblers and two Whitetail Deer. Seldom are we presented with such a photo opportunity. This great shot was taken by Gary and Maryann Hertzberg, near their home within our properties. Thank you for sharing this special scene.
Have just originated the "Fredonia Mountain Nature Resort Arboretum". Spent most of a day recently placing tags, as shown, along two of our hiking/nature trails....in Mother's Park and along Stone Bridge Park Trail. The project is on-going, and when all is completed, plan on having many of the most common coniferous and deciduous trees within our properties identified.
Nothing like a September walk through the woods.....
One more look at one of the new wildflower gardens in Greenfields.......
Saved this photo for last.....as to some it may not represent the good or the beautiful. Spotted this reptile near one of our trails recently. It was posing in the sun and maintained this posture on the forest floor the entire time it was being watched. This is the Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta). The young look nothing like the dark colored adult...but, on the dorsal side and tail, have a bold pattern of gray or brown blotches on a pale gray background color...much like the adult Gray Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides). This pattern disappears as the snake gets older. Commonly called the 'mountain black snake' or simply 'black snake' this common species is one of four 'black snakes' found in our area. The other 'black snakes' are the Eastern Racer (Coluber constrictor), the Black King Snake (Lampropeltis getula nigra), and the black version of the Hog-Nosed Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos)...all of which I have seen within our properties. We also have the 'cousins' of the Black Rat Snake.... the Yellow Rat Snake, the Red Rat Snake (Corn Snake), and the Gray Rat Snake. All are genus Elaphe. The specimen shown was about 3' in length, but they are known to reach 5'-6'. They feed on small mammals primarily and are accomplished tree climbers. They are not venomous. Often, when threatened, they 'freeze', especially if they are caught in the open...on a road or trail. They may coil and strike when cornered, mostly as a bluff.
Five Wild Turkey gobblers and two Whitetail Deer. Seldom are we presented with such a photo opportunity. This great shot was taken by Gary and Maryann Hertzberg, near their home within our properties. Thank you for sharing this special scene.
Have just originated the "Fredonia Mountain Nature Resort Arboretum". Spent most of a day recently placing tags, as shown, along two of our hiking/nature trails....in Mother's Park and along Stone Bridge Park Trail. The project is on-going, and when all is completed, plan on having many of the most common coniferous and deciduous trees within our properties identified.
Nothing like a September walk through the woods.....
One more look at one of the new wildflower gardens in Greenfields.......
Saved this photo for last.....as to some it may not represent the good or the beautiful. Spotted this reptile near one of our trails recently. It was posing in the sun and maintained this posture on the forest floor the entire time it was being watched. This is the Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta). The young look nothing like the dark colored adult...but, on the dorsal side and tail, have a bold pattern of gray or brown blotches on a pale gray background color...much like the adult Gray Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides). This pattern disappears as the snake gets older. Commonly called the 'mountain black snake' or simply 'black snake' this common species is one of four 'black snakes' found in our area. The other 'black snakes' are the Eastern Racer (Coluber constrictor), the Black King Snake (Lampropeltis getula nigra), and the black version of the Hog-Nosed Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos)...all of which I have seen within our properties. We also have the 'cousins' of the Black Rat Snake.... the Yellow Rat Snake, the Red Rat Snake (Corn Snake), and the Gray Rat Snake. All are genus Elaphe. The specimen shown was about 3' in length, but they are known to reach 5'-6'. They feed on small mammals primarily and are accomplished tree climbers. They are not venomous. Often, when threatened, they 'freeze', especially if they are caught in the open...on a road or trail. They may coil and strike when cornered, mostly as a bluff.
posted by Mark Bray at 6:52 AM
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