It’s no surprise that the middle of summer in Texas is not the best time of year for birding. Sure, there are birds – great birds, like Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Painted Buntings. But for birdwatchers themselves -  a stroll in the woods, through a meadow, or even along a shoreline can be a dangerously hot outing. It is much easier to find and appreciate the abundant insect life in the summers, as well as the turtles, frogs, skinks,  and snakes.

Snakes have been high on my list this summer, and I have enjoyed a few sightings of the resident Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) around my house. But my neighbors have told me about a much larger snake – several snakes, in fact: big and black, with a stripe. I’ve only caught one glimpse, as I pulled up into my driveway. I went right back outside in hopes of getting a good look, but to no avail.

What I did find, on the other side of my house, was this three-foot snake skin:

This photo shows the snake skin exactly how I found it. I only discovered this snake skin after removing several large shrubs from underneath a Crepe Myrtle tree (pre-100% Native plant days). The tiny baby Green Anole (Anolis carolinenesis) moved, which is the only way I would have seen him. Read the rest of this entry »