Nature Photography (Formally Spring is in the Air)

[Doug Watson]

Well, as expected that didn't work, thanks for the help anyway Blade. I think its a problem between my Imac and Facebook. Dang it

[Gwangi]

To post images here I actually have an account on Photobucket. It's free, you just upload the pictures and it will give you a link that allows you to post on here like I do, then I post the link here and put the [img] bracket on both ends. I don't know if you can post a Facebook picture on here given the privacy settings there.

[Doug Watson]

To post images here I actually have an account on Photobucket. It's free, you just upload the pictures and it will give you a link that allows you to post on here like I do, then I post the link here and put the [img] bracket on both ends. I don't know if you can post a Facebook picture on here given the privacy settings there.

Yes, I was hoping not to have to open another account somewhere but you are probably right. A project for another weekend.

[Doug Watson]

Okay here we go again this time with Photobucket, if this doesn't work the next sound you will hear is my computer going through the window. Again this is a 5 foot Black Rat Snake caught and released at Murphy's Point Provincial Park Ontario.

[Doug Watson]

HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Concavenator]

Wow,that's a gorgeous snake.Is it venomous?Is that snake yours,Doug?

[Doug Watson]

Wow,that's a gorgeous snake.Is it venomous?Is that snake yours,Doug?

I wish it was mine but no as I was mentioning in the pet thread I kept snakes as a kid but my wife and daughter are afraid of them so it is a no go at home. What I do now is catch and release them when I am hiking or kayaking. The Black or Gray Rat Snakes up here are nonvenomous constrictors. The biggest one I have caught is 6 feet. They are considered a threatened species up here so if I did want one it would have to be captive bred. I'll put together some other shots in a smaller format and post them later.

[stargatedalek]

That must have been a wonderful experience! I'd love to be able to handle a wild snake like that, especially one that seems to calm. Our only native snakes here are garter snakes and they really aren't a good species for handling.

[Doug Watson]

That must have been a wonderful experience! I'd love to be able to handle a wild snake like that, especially one that seems to calm. Our only native snakes here are garter snakes and they really aren't a good species for handling.

I usually see only one a year, but last year I caught a 5 foot and my second 6 foot. Given the chance they will go into full defence mode recoiling into a strike position and making strikes. So far I haven't been bit. I grabbed my first 6 footer on a steep bank and I was so busy getting my footing I didn't notice it was in a strike pose with it's open mouth inches from my nose. I always use a loose grip so the snake always feels somewhat free. Now when it comes to the heavy bodied Northern Water snakes here I have been bit and they can give you a good bite. What's worse is when they musk you. You smell like that for the rest of the day. The biggest one of those that I have caught is four feet but the last time I got musked from my feet to my knees so I tend to give them a pass unless they are in the water. That dilutes the musk.

[Gwangi]

Wow what a beautiful snake! Add one of those to the list of snakes I need to keep...it's a long list. We have black rat snakes in NY as well but I've never seen one, or a wild snake of that size. Maybe I should focus more on fixing that this upcoming summer. Anyway, thanks for sharing with it and I'm glad you figured out a method to share pictures that works!

[Doug Watson]

Here are some more Black Rat Snakes that I have caught and released at Murphy's Point. I hope I made the files small enough.
This one is a 5 footer in a defensive strike pose

This one is a 6 footer again in a strike pose

This is from 2009, a 5 footer head on in a strike pose. I would want to stretch him out a bit before trying to grab him.

This is one of two I caught last year, this one was 5 feet the other was 6. This one has an all white belly some of them have a black and white checkered pattern on the belly.


I'll post some other types of snakes and turtles later on.

[Doug Watson]

Wow what a beautiful snake! Add one of those to the list of snakes I need to keep...it's a long list. We have black rat snakes in NY as well but I've never seen one, or a wild snake of that size. Maybe I should focus more on fixing that this upcoming summer. Anyway, thanks for sharing with it and I'm glad you figured out a method to share pictures that works!

They are beautiful and they are also our longest snake, the record up here is just over 8 feet I keep hoping to find one that big. I have seen people getting bit by these guys when trying to catch them but they are always going for the head. I always tail grab and then keep handling it loosely until it calms down. They usually end up crawling up my arm to check me out. Maybe I am just lucky so far.

[Gwangi]

Wow what a beautiful snake! Add one of those to the list of snakes I need to keep...it's a long list. We have black rat snakes in NY as well but I've never seen one, or a wild snake of that size. Maybe I should focus more on fixing that this upcoming summer. Anyway, thanks for sharing with it and I'm glad you figured out a method to share pictures that works!

They are beautiful and they are also our longest snake, the record up here is just over 8 feet I keep hoping to find one that big. I have seen people getting bit by these guys when trying to catch them but they are always going for the head. I always tail grab and then keep handling it loosely until it calms down. They usually end up crawling up my arm to check me out. Maybe I am just lucky so far.

Needless to say they're also one of the largest in the United States too although the Eastern indigo is a contender but you won't find them in New York or Canada! There is certainly a method to handling snakes. I'm not really used to holding wild snakes (though I have) but I'm getting a good idea on how to do it with my pet snakes (some of which are bitey). Moving slow and keeping away from the head seem to be good strategies.

[Gwangi]

Might better share something. Haven't photographed anything this winter so here are some white-tail deer I photographed LAST winter and forgot to share apparently.

Very nice shots. We get lots of White-tails up here. They go from bright orange in the summer to almost black in the winter. I always get a thrill when one crosses paths with us. Especially the time I stepped out of the bush onto a trail and came face to face with a huge 8 point buck around 250 lbs that was in full rut. Instead of bolting he held his swollen neck high and started to stomp the ground. I sheepishly backed my way where I came from and gave him a wide berth. Luckily that was the end of it.

Looks like your snake pictures left my deer in the dust! I agree that it's always a thrill to see them, no matter how common they are or how often they show up. It's just nice to see a large mammal in the wild, and we don't have too many of those left.

[Doug Watson]

Needless to say they're also one of the largest in the United States too although the Eastern indigo is a contender but you won't find them in New York or Canada! There is certainly a method to handling snakes. I'm not really used to holding wild snakes (though I have) but I'm getting a good idea on how to do it with my pet snakes (some of which are bitey). Moving slow and keeping away from the head seem to be good strategies.

Yes I used to catch all my snakes behind the head and that just stressed them out. Mind you if it was venomous that would be another story. I have seen Indigoes in zoos and I would love to find one of those in my southern travels.

I should have also said a big thank you to Blade of the Moon who guided me through this image business.

[Doug Watson]

Looks like your snake pictures left my deer in the dust! I agree that it's always a thrill to see them, no matter how common they are or how often they show up. It's just nice to see a large mammal in the wild, and we don't have too many of those left.

I don't know those were some dang nice deer shots, I never get tired of seeing them in the wild.

[Gwangi]

Looks like your snake pictures left my deer in the dust! I agree that it's always a thrill to see them, no matter how common they are or how often they show up. It's just nice to see a large mammal in the wild, and we don't have too many of those left.

I don't know those were some dang nice deer shots, I never get tired of seeing them in the wild.

Thank you, but ultimately this is a dinosaur (i.e. reptile) forum so I can totally understand the enthusiasm for your snake pictures over my deer. 

And I agree, with non-venomous species there is no need to hold them by the back of the head which only causes stress and possible injury. I get the feeling they don't feel their lives are in quite as much danger when you gently lift them and let them explore you.

Looks like I may just find a black rat snake yet!
http://bhb-reptiles.myshopify.com/collections/rat-snakes/products/black-ratsnake

[Gwangi]

Some tundra swans out on the lake. Taken today!

[Arul]

Doug watson you love reptile too ? 

[Doug Watson]

Some tundra swans out on the lake. Taken today!

Wow! I have never seen those in the wild. What lake is that? I just checked out their migration flyway and after leaving you they skirt the lower end of Lake Ontario and spread out north from there, totally missing me.
It's funny we now have Snowy Egrets summering in the Montreal to Cornwall area. I saw some for the first time outside of the Southern USA in the spring at a beaver pond near my home. They were on their way to their summer nesting grounds in the north. It was almost like seeing an alligator up here.