A snake in the night

A bad night photo of the slim snake.

A Gulf Coast ribbon snake seems to be feasting on my toad eggs and tadpoles.

Last year a ribbon snake played keep-away with me during the day around the pond and compost heap, but I had not seen one this year until I went out after dark to check the pond for critters.

I was trying to get a photo of a trio of toads deciding how to pair off when I noticed a ribbon snake in the water about 2 feet away also was watching.

The snakes, which are about as thick as my little finger, have lightning speed. I was surprised this one was lingering near me. It looked about 18 inches long.

Finally the ribbon snake had enough and broke up the ménage à trois by swimming toward area near the bank where the toads had been sitting. I wanted to use the word "frolicking" rather than "sitting" to describe the toads' antics, but there wasn't much action. I guess the snake and I got bored with this trio about the same time.

I think the ribbon snake was looking for eggs. It made a few passes before rocketing away. -- Lana b

Here is a much better image of a ribbon snake photographed by TexasDarkHorse / Flickr.

Toad orgy

Pardon me while I snap a photo.

There is a toad orgy in my backyard after dark during spring.

Sometimes the croaking begins after dusk, but it usually cranks up around midnight. The love-making racket continues most of the night.

The breeders are Gulf Coast toads (Bufo nebulifer) that leave behind strings of eggs. The toads I have seen have bodies about 3 inches long.

I rarely see a toad during the day so it is amazing to find up to 10 couples humping in the water around 2 a.m.

Good luck, baby toad.

The cacophony annoys my sleeping partner. I pretend not to notice because the noisemakers are congregating in the pond I wanted so badly, but they are damn loud.

The pond is turning into tadpole soup. I am happy. -- Lana b

                                          Some find this sound annoying at 2 a.m.

Near Slap Out Gully

A talk about journaling during a nature class inspired me. I needed that nudge to get me back to the keyboard to write rather than just scroll and read.

The bird/plant guru talked about carrying an unlined notebook to record thoughts while you are outdoors and sketch anything that catches your eye.

I tried to sketch a selfie.

Great idea. But my fingers want to type.

I hung around after class to ask his thoughts on blogs, but he was preoccupied. Blogs are fine, he said, if the technical aspects don't distract from enjoying an outdoor adventure.

I understand the idea of slowing down to take notes and really eyeballing a plant or creature to draw a facsimile. If you just snap a photo and move on, you are not taking the time to really appreciate the natural wonder of a tadpole or a leaf's pattern, he said.

Don't worry about primitive drawings, he said, no one has to see them.

Aha, that is the downside of a blog. When you put your crude sketches, poorly composed photos or ramblings on the internet, you will get feedback. That could be a major distraction.

But as a novice naturalist, I am hoping for the best as I start this yearlong blog about my wanderings near my inland spot along the Texas Gulf Coast outside Houston. And I hope to add the perspectives of neighboring adventurers. -- Lana b