Western Cottonmouth

[mjdmike]

Found this guy crossing a gravel road today while looking for birds.

I'm sure there's an unusual amount of them amongst the piles of rubbish that floated up with the storm surge. I've seen quite a few dead ones, and a few dead gators as well. There is so much debris around this area, it will be years before it's gone. And in some places, it will never be removed because of the remote location. What a mess!

He wasn't interested in a photoshoot, and even with all of my foot stomping and hand waving, hardly stopped to protest -- he had no intention of veering off course or posing for some idiot with a camera.

I wish I'd used fill flash. There's not a whole lot of color on these guys, is there?

Regardless...snakes are cool -- I like 'em.

Western Cottonmouth

[Daniel Bates]

You're braver than I am!

[sandboa]

Nice series of one of the great personalities of the snake world!
I particularly like the last one.

Chris

[Tim T]

A very cool find and great shots Mike. Good work. Did you ever find any birds? I tried to go to Bay Area Park this morning and it is closed with lots of trees down.

[a2rob]

A little too close for comfort. Great Shots!!

[mjdmike]

Thanks Daniel - Not brave, just desperate to shoot something...anything! But I never really got settled in to get the shot I wanted. These guys can be a little stubborn and aren't afraid to slither right over your boot if you don't move.

Thanks Chris - Yes, the Cottonmouths can have an attitude. I used to catch them when I was a kid. These days I prefer to keep a few feet in-between us.

Thank you Tim - I went to the Wallisville Project for birds, and saw very few. The place is full of debris. The surge breached the levee road and piled trees, junk, and marsh grass 6 feet high in places. I'm guessing the surge was around 12 feet there. It actually covered I-10 at the Old and Lost Rivers -- and that's a first that I'm aware of.

I saw some egrets in the marsh, and a wounded white pelican, but that's it for Wallisville -- very desolate and depressing. I did see 2 red-tailed Hawks along I-10 on the way back, so things might pick up soon, birding-wise.

Armand Bayou should open next weekend.

Thanks Rob!

[ttusa]

YIKES!!!!!! I would have been outta there!

[Wil_Bloodworth]

I hope you shot that with a 600mm f/4!

- Wil

[Patti Edens]

Mike, Whoa. That open mouth one is scary. And the EXIF says 100mm?? Can that be right?

That's my favorite shot though. I like the angle you shot and that you can see the whole snake.

[Cowboy13]

Wow Mike, very great shots but to close for me... In my eye and good snake is a dead snake.... lol

Tim

[mjdmike]

Originally Posted by Patti Edens

Mike, Whoa. That open mouth one is scary. And the EXIF says 100mm?? Can that be right?

He was a little over 6 feet away, just outside of the minimum focus for my 100-400. He wasn't really too bothered, but was very persistent in coming in my direction. He copped an attitude and showed his fangs with some tail rattling after a few minutes, so I let him by.

He was a pretty big one, around 28 inches, I'm guessing -- and fat!

[DigitalScape]

Nice shots Mike, but I agree with the others that you were closer to the snake than I would have been.

[lextalionis]

You are brave...nice shots!

-Roy

[Roy]

Most snakes don't worry me too much but the way these guys show no fear give me the willies. No way I care to have one slither over my boot! Good shots Mike, I don't even see any camera shake.

[mjdmike]

Thanks John. Thank you Roy.

Thanks Roy -- This one didn't scare me, since I could tell he wasn't PO'd -- but the boot thing....now THAT would probably make me squeal like a 6 year old girl...