Re: ENP on Saturday

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Posted by Susan Schneider on 11:02:22 11/27/05

In Reply to: Re: ENP on Saturday posted by Vince

Thanks, Vince, I looked it up and Black Racer is it!

Best, Susan

: Susan:
:
: Just a note about your snake. I don't think there is such a thing as a Black Rat Snake, at least not in Florida. There is a Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) which has a gray subspecies in the Everglades (Coluber constrictor paludicola) and I believe that this is probably what you saw. Others on this list may know more though.
:
: : I birded the park on Saturday as well, and happened upon three Black-throated Green warblers at three different locations--rather late for them? The only male in the group was at Mahogany Hammock, and after reading Trey's report, of course I thought back carefully about the sighting. I'm afraid I can't comment much one way or the other about the Townsend's possibility--I didn't notice a black cap, but then again, I wasn't especially looking for one, and the bird only gave me two brief glimpses. And of course it might have been a different bird. It was in company with a Black-and-White Warbler at the far end of the boardwalk.
: :
: : Other notable sightings for me yesterday included 40-50 Wood Storks in company with other waders, including one Roseate Spoonbill. They had congregated in what I take to be a borrow pond about a quarter mile before the Beard Center, off Research Road. Near this location, a dark gray snake about 3 feet long slithered across the road. It did not appear to be striped or spotted. Indigo? Black rat snake? (A yellow rat snake put on quite a show for a large group along the Anhinga Trail.)
: :
: : Near Lucky Hammock, an adult male Northern Harrier swooped over me, providing the closest looks I've ever had of its clean black and white underside.
: :
: : Finally, not far beyond Gate 3 of the greenway trail by the Long Pine Key road are several pines bowed *way* over into dramatic curves by the winds of Wilma. Tree snails were here, along the picnic area trail, and at Mahogany Hammock.
: :
: : Good birding, Susan
: :
:

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Comments:	: Thanks, Vince, I looked it up and Black Racer is it! : : Best, Susan : : : Susan: : : : : Just a note about your snake. I don't think there is such a thing as a Black Rat Snake, at least not in Florida. There is a Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) which has a gray subspecies in the Everglades (Coluber constrictor paludicola) and I believe that this is probably what you saw. Others on this list may know more though. : : : : : I birded the park on Saturday as well, and happened upon three Black-throated Green warblers at three different locations--rather late for them? The only male in the group was at Mahogany Hammock, and after reading Trey's report, of course I thought back carefully about the sighting. I'm afraid I can't comment much one way or the other about the Townsend's possibility--I didn't notice a black cap, but then again, I wasn't especially looking for one, and the bird only gave me two brief glimpses. And of course it might have been a different bird. It was in company with a Black-and-White Warbler at the far end of the boardwalk. : : : : : : Other notable sightings for me yesterday included 40-50 Wood Storks in company with other waders, including one Roseate Spoonbill. They had congregated in what I take to be a borrow pond about a quarter mile before the Beard Center, off Research Road. Near this location, a dark gray snake about 3 feet long slithered across the road. It did not appear to be striped or spotted. Indigo? Black rat snake? (A yellow rat snake put on quite a show for a large group along the Anhinga Trail.) : : : : : : Near Lucky Hammock, an adult male Northern Harrier swooped over me, providing the closest looks I've ever had of its clean black and white underside. : : : : : : Finally, not far beyond Gate 3 of the greenway trail by the Long Pine Key road are several pines bowed way over into dramatic curves by the winds of Wilma. Tree snails were here, along the picnic area trail, and at Mahogany Hammock. : : : : : : Good birding, Susan : : : : : :
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