Naturalist Notes: Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin Snake

People often ask about poisonous snakes when we lead photography nature hikes. First, we explain that the term is venomous. The snake injects venom. Poisonous occurs when you eat or ingest something that makes you ill.

In Florida, especially in the wetlands, the most popular and most feared is the Water Moccasin, or Cottonmouth. The mouth, when wide open, appears cottony, hence the nickname.

Karl saw this Water Moccasin curled up near a boardwalk, and took the photograph. The coloring, large body size, and triangular-shaped head help in the identification. Unlike most other snakes, the Cottonmouth rarely moves away when approached.

The bite from this snake will land you in the hospital, and can be fatal. I recommend not disturbing it, and photographing, as Karl did, from a safe distance with a telephoto lens.

Byways: White Springs, FL

The campground at Stephen Foster State Park continues to be our favorite for a get-away, and our favorite park for the many events held there. It is located in the town of White Springs, FL, one of the original springs tourist destinations of the late 1800s and early 1900s in Florida. We enjoy walking around the town looking at the historic buildings, and often in our meanderings will strike up a conversation with the very friendly townspeople.

We took the RV there last week for a short creative retreat. Away from the house and our usual distractions, we find ourselves reading more, writing more, photographing more, and thinking more. Many of our project ideas and photo class ideas hatched in this beautiful location.

We walked by the Sofia Jane Adams House early in the morning, after walking into the town for breakfast. This Queen Anne style home built in 1863 overlooking the Suwanee seemed to gleam in the morning light. I took several shots of the entire house, and couldn't get the feeling of stately, beautiful, languid, and southern recorded in a photograph to my satisfaction. I stepped back, and started focusing on just sections.

This shot captured the feeling. Elegant, well-kept, well-lit, with the Spanish Moss as a reminder that it could only be in the southern part of the U.S. and the outdoor spiral staircase reminiscent of times past.

Signs of Life: "No Swimming"

I'd seen the sign at Homosassa Springs State Park in the alligator pond on prior visits, but this time this alligator seemed to keep an eye on me, was it a dare?

No Swimming?.....No Kidding!!

Spring in west central Florida

Yes, the blog has been quiet for March. I love this time of year, our weather warmed and so has the pool with the help of the solar heater. Our family from the northern states, tired of the never ending winter of this year, have visited over the past several weeks. We love having houseguests, and love entertaining, but the photography turns from artistic pursuits to shots of all of us in the pool, visiting local attractions, and just enjoying ourselves. In other words, family snapshots that make memories but not art. And those memories are so important.

The blog will be back next week. In the meantime, here is a memory from this past Christmas. The two stray kittens we adopted loved the Christmas tree...a little too much.

Who, us?

Photo Story: Ribbon Snake

This lovely little snake seemed as curious about me as I about him. He leisurely checked me out, then slowly continued on his way, most likely scouting around for his next meal.

I shot this with a telephoto lens, which is why the depth of field is so shallow. While not a venomous snake, I saw no need to disturb him by getting closer.

The Prairie at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

The scene from the observation tower at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park early one recent morning. The morning light lit it perfectly, and the horses, absent during a hike the day before, grazed in the foreground.

Three robins feeding in the sunlight. The American Robins are on their way north now, the large flocks of a month or two ago aren't seen here now, but there are still smaller flocks enjoying the last of Florida before heading north.

Photo Gallery: The Barrel

Karl works in black and white quite a bit. I often see him studying a subject, not only working the light and the angles but determining if certain angles and shadows work better in black and white than color. This old barrel, left to fall apart, is the result of one of those shoots.