On today’s walk, several critters brought joy to my day. And hopefully yours as well!
Should you scream if you see a snake? Nah and especially not for this harmless Texas Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis)! Correction: This is Western Ribbonsnake (T. proximus) per Michael Smith. See his explanation in the comments below for the differences.
I carefully got close to get a close up shot and movie. As you can see, the snake watched Gracie as she walked passed me and the snake. 🙂
It is fun to watch its tongue flick out collecting chemicals from the air!
Next, another reptile! Well, its skin.
It looked like it has keeled scales so possibly a Bull Snake.
Screaming is what this young Red-tailed Hawk has been doing for the last week or so. Another bird came by this morning as well. It was young Pileated Woodpecker. It also let a call which is what alerted me to its presence.
As I waited for Gracie to catch up with me, a Thread-waisted wasp (Ammophila procera) came by.
Then I saw this! Its prey for its larder for its babies!
Tentatively, ID’ed as Georgian Prominent (Paraeschra georgica). The cat must have been doing its business when the wasp struck. The wasp delivers a venomous sting immobilizing their prey.
Watch carefully as the wasp uses it mandibles and front legs to carry its prey. Very cool!
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know.
13 Comments
Hi Mary – the snake in the photo appears to be a western ribbonsnake, though I wish it was a gartersnake. TPWD designates the Texas garter (Thamnophis sirtalis annectens) as critically imperiled. It can be hard to tell them apart. The gartersnake has some dark vertical lip scale edges while the ribbonsnake has little or none. The gartersnake has wider and somewhat “messy” looking lateral stripes on parts of scale rows 2, 3, and 4 while the ribbonsnake’s are on 3 & 4. If the skin is distended by a meal, a deep breath, or flattening to look bigger, the gartersnake has a sort of checkerboard pattern in the dark areas between the stripes, while a ribbonsnake has flecks of blue that don’t quite manage to be a pattern. One more obscure mark is that Texas gartersnakes have small black spots on the edges of the ventral scales, each partly concealed by the more anterior scale so that they make a small even row of what look like half-moons (generally you have to have the snake in hand to see these). The western ribbonsnake, though common, is a beautiful sight to see!
Hi Michael,
I looked at the vertical lip scales and saw the black. I had read that there was no black on T. proximus. So good to know that there is some on T. proximus. I studied your recent post (https://livesinnature.com/2022/07/14/i-hope-one-day-they-will-be-protected/) that has a photo of the Texas Garter. So your explanation of the differences was most helpful. Appreciated your details. I will make the correction above. Thank you so much! Yep, it was a beautiful sight regardless. 🙂 And as always, watching for our snake friends!
I have had ribbonsnakes and checkered gartersnakes in the past month down in my plant corral where it is moist and lush, and frogs hang out. Just love them!
I love the close up that shows the details of the tongue. We don’t get to see that when they quickly move it out and back in.
I noticed yours is really wide in the latter half so I wonder if it is a pregnant female.
I thought I had commented on the juvenile Fred screaming but don’t see it.
We have had a Fred soaring and screaming over the past several weeks. So is it likely a juvenile if it is doing that?
In my experience it usually is the young ones in the fall. For all the rest of you, Fred is what we at the Curry house affectionately called Red-tailed Hawks.
Hi Mary – the snake in the photo appears to be a western ribbonsnake, though I wish it was a gartersnake. TPWD designates the Texas garter (Thamnophis sirtalis annectens) as critically imperiled. It can be hard to tell them apart. The gartersnake has some dark vertical lip scale edges while the ribbonsnake has little or none. The gartersnake has wider and somewhat “messy” looking lateral stripes on parts of scale rows 2, 3, and 4 while the ribbonsnake’s are on 3 & 4. If the skin is distended by a meal, a deep breath, or flattening to look bigger, the gartersnake has a sort of checkerboard pattern in the dark areas between the stripes, while a ribbonsnake has flecks of blue that don’t quite manage to be a pattern. One more obscure mark is that Texas gartersnakes have small black spots on the edges of the ventral scales, each partly concealed by the more anterior scale so that they make a small even row of what look like half-moons (generally you have to have the snake in hand to see these). The western ribbonsnake, though common, is a beautiful sight to see!
Hi Michael,
I looked at the vertical lip scales and saw the black. I had read that there was no black on T. proximus. So good to know that there is some on T. proximus. I studied your recent post (https://livesinnature.com/2022/07/14/i-hope-one-day-they-will-be-protected/) that has a photo of the Texas Garter. So your explanation of the differences was most helpful. Appreciated your details. I will make the correction above. Thank you so much! Yep, it was a beautiful sight regardless. 🙂 And as always, watching for our snake friends!
Super videos – esp the esp with its prey
The wasp is cool but i especially love the beautiful snake. Thanks
A lovely snake! Very alert and observant!
I love all the videos, especially the wasp with its cat!
Such great photos and videos, esp the wasp and the cat. Love the beautiful snake too.
I have had ribbonsnakes and checkered gartersnakes in the past month down in my plant corral where it is moist and lush, and frogs hang out. Just love them!
I love the close up that shows the details of the tongue. We don’t get to see that when they quickly move it out and back in.
I noticed yours is really wide in the latter half so I wonder if it is a pregnant female.
Nothing lush at my house. Dry as a bone! Would be neat to see a baby!
I forgot to say yes I scream. I scream with delight. I do get quite excited when I get a chance to see a snake.
Yes, on a squeal with delight!
I thought I had commented on the juvenile Fred screaming but don’t see it.
We have had a Fred soaring and screaming over the past several weeks. So is it likely a juvenile if it is doing that?
In my experience it usually is the young ones in the fall. For all the rest of you, Fred is what we at the Curry house affectionately called Red-tailed Hawks.