Really, a big snake in the grass! I was in the car watching a pileated
woodpecker in the distance. He flew towards me and down behind some
bushes near the water. I got out of the car and went quietly around the
back and came toward the front. I could hear him but not see him and
was waiting for him to move again. I happened to look down and there
was a very large snake right up against my foot. It was the tail end of
a 5-6 foot long snake. The head and front of the body were into the
bushes and I could not see them. The snake was very black with very
brilliant red stripes. It looked like an eastern king snake, but the
stripes were red. I moved my foot and it took off....I looked all over
the internet for snakes in Virginia and found nothing to help me ID it.
As far as birds, despite the overcast day, I did see several red eyed
vireos, a pair of orioles, an indigo bunting, several pileateds, and
heard several hawks in the distance.
And I watched where I was walking for the rest of the visit!
If you have any ID on the snake, I would like to know what it was.
Thanks
Barbara
