A rare find

Exactly two weeks ago, to the day, I blipped a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in Texas, which was a thrilling experience.  And today, while out hiking with my nature group, we found an endangered Timber Rattlesnake laying out on a rock trying to warm up.  He was unbothered by us all standing looking at him, never once shaking his impressive set of rattles of even trying to scent us with his tongue.  But it was still such a thrill.  In fairness, this particular spot is known to known to be home for quite a few of these big vipers - high altitude, rocky terrain, low human traffic and plentiful prey.  In fact, this is one of only two places that I know one can, with luck, find a rattler.

We all enjoyed looking and photographing and then quietly moved on.  Later in the day we had another wonderful sighting of a female American Woodcock with two fledglings.  They were all doing the funky-woodcock walk across the road and then around the edge of the woods.  Very cool.  I will put a shot of them in Extra, although it's not a great image.  They are odd looking birds though, so worth a look.

It wasn't warm enough today for dragonflies even though one of our stops was a place that is home to several locally endemic species.  I will definitely head back there on a warmer, sunnier day.

Jax had day-care today so spent the day playing with his "girlfriend" Gidget, a young pit bull his age and size who he adores.  Apparently the two of them played hard most of the day and he's now passed out on the sofa.  We made a standing weekly date for him to spend a day there - he enjoys it so much and it gives us a day "off".  

So I am thinking plain dark today - or maybe dark with espresso chips.  Maybe one square of each...

xo
Debbie