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Posted by Jeff Weber on 09:08:45 06/01/04
I know it's not a bird, but scaled lifers get me even more revved up than feathered ones. Last Sunday, Linda interrupted my dispirited viewing of a soggy Indy 500 to tell me there was a big snake on the lawn at our Hutchinson Island place in Jensen Beach. I hightailed it outside and found not one, but two, Eastern Coachwhips actively foraging through the coastal berm (mostly seagrapes and sea oats). The larger one was fully seven feet long and was holding its head a good foot off the ground as it darted through the underbrush looking for a meal. I was tempted to pull a Jeff Corwin and grab it by the tail for a better look, but thought better of it when I recalled the Coachwhip's tendency to strike vigorously, often at the face, when cornered. It was a real treat to see them, though. These snakes are easily identified by the shiny black head and neck, gradually turning to a uniformly patterned tan (not unlike a braided leather whip) posteriorly. They have the big eyes you'd expect in an active sight hunter and are extremely swift movers, even on sand. I expect they were looking for Black Racers, which are also diurnal foragers and rather abundant there, though only about half as large. We have Pigmy Rattlesnakes in the berm, as well, but I don't know whether a Coachwhip would try to tackle one. What a kick to see this magnificent native Florida herp.
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