Used 500 mm lens to take these pictures of a Yellow Throated
Warbler (not to be confused with Common Yellowthroat). New to my life
list and apparently not found in our area.
Birding was not so good at Westmoreland. Yellow Throated was the only warbler we got a look at.
We heard Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat and Northern Parula but never
got a look at them. Bald Eagles and Ospreys were plentiful but not
much else. We never even saw a Robin.
Car Hood Cover with Eastern Rat Snake
5/23/2013 – returned to site to check for herps only to find that much of the area had been cleaned up. With it went the numerous small snakes and lizards that occupied the cover boards and debris.
One method of handling a nonvenomous snake. In this example we demonstrate with a captured northern black racer and an eastern rat snake.
Best way to hold a nonvenomous snake, so as not to cause it injury, is to hold the snake in this fashion but slightly more towards the base of the jaws. This way doesnt constrict the trachea and allows the snake to breathe.
Also always try to suport the snake with the free hand or lay the snake on something so as not to have the snake suspended by its own weight while maintaining control of the head.
Sometimes a snake will bite and latch on. Try not to panic and rip the snkae free from its grasp. This will cause the snake to lose its teeth and render it unable to capture its prey. When a snakebites and latches on simply hold the head from the side along the back of its head and along its jaws and gently squeeze so as to allow the snake to articulate its jaw bones in a more natural way that will allow it to release from its grip.
Mike stumbled upon these pair of small native VA snakes among a rocky outcrop. both are examples of some of the smaller harmless snakes that can be found in our county. The worm snake (reddish brown) is very common and is one that we found on almost every outing. The other – the smooth earth snake has eluded us for a couple of years but for some reason we have both had an opportunity to find two this year- although in different locations as well as under different circumstances. My discovery occurred when I was flipping pieces of plywood near an old shed. Mike found his under natural settings. In both cases they were accompanied by other smaller snakes such as ring necks and northern browns.
A great week for herps. nighttime temps around 50-60 degrees with daytime highs in 70’s. The week started out with some nice finds (see previous entry) a combined total of 22 snakes 6 different species one of which a newby for me – the smooth earth snake.
All of the species were found in Fairfax county but in different locations and habitats. The larger species of Mole kings and northern black racers were found in open fields with the exceptionof one juvenile racer found under an old car door in a wooded area. All of he snakes were found under artificial cover consisting of pieces of metal and plywood.
One exception an eastern worm snake was recovered under some pine bark on the forest floor.
The smaller snakes were found in different locations. The smoth earth and the northern browns were found under plywood.
The ring necks under flat rocks sometimes as many as four at a time.
I also found about 8 skinks none could be positively identified but my guess majority of themwere five lined and possibly a broadhead or two. The phibs were less numerous. Several two lined, a dusky and gravid female spotted salamanders as well as one cricket frog and one american toad. All found in their natural habitats with the exception ofthe toad which was occupying the same piece of plywood the skinks were found. Chorus frogs were heard but none captured.
