I had actually thought about going fishing when the weather cleared up,but as the dark clouds gave way to the sun I decided to go find a Cottonmouth. As I pulled into my spot near Crooked Creek and got my stuff to walk down the hill into the woods I spotted some boards that had been placed there in the last few weeks since my last visit. Flipping them I found a small Cricket Frog,which would be the first of about 400,000 I saw yesterday. It was like walking through a field full of grasshoppers!!! Going to the old foundation where Rich B and I found those snake a few weeks ago I spotted a Coachwhip in the same spot where we had found the other and a few feet away from the was an ABSOLUTEY HUGE Speckled kingsnake,this thing had a massive girth,and an attitude to go with it. After placing it on top of the concrete foundation to take some pics,it slipped of into the grass and into a hole,sadly before I got the camera ready.

  A little ways down the trail I came to the ol' tin pile and found a couple of Ringnecks which is nothing new since they are always there. Continuing on I saw a Coluber on the trail ahead,and a few skinks run across. As I slid up near the water  I quietly got my binoculars out and saw some interesting birds,oneof which I Id'd as a Pied-billed Grebe. Also in the same hole I saw a couple of Smooth Softshelled Turtles. But no snakes,which is very,very odd. Working my way down to the rocky bank(which is through shoulder high nettles and Poison Ivy,I can deal with the PI since I'm not allergic,but I can say a few dirty words about those Nettles). Anyway I got down to the rocks and started flipping up some juvie Nerodia,which at least one stood still long enough to get his picture taken. Working my way to the other bank which is grassy and sandy and I have seen many trurtle species  on it,but today I saw nothing more than a sleeping Raccoon after taking a coouple of pics I beat feet outta there,better to leave slepping dogs lie..or at least coons.

     On down the creek I counted quite a few sliders,and more softshells. Then as I was working  a hole of water with huge rocks on one side,and thick weeds on the other I saw it!!!! The elusive little Cottonmouth,little meaning it was about 2 feet in lenghth. As he showed me his pearly whites I removed my pack and got my bucket ready,I tonged him,placed him in my bucket,but as I went for the lid he slid out,and seeing as I had set my tongs down I went to get them,but the lil @%#& had went into the weeds. I was physically sick. I could not believe my luck.Later I saw another one but I didnt' feel like going swimming for it. But at least I know where they should be the next time.

After a couple more hours of Nerodia and Turtles I came home for a bit and walked to the woods where the neighbors have their ATV trails. There I found 3 Black Rats,one which was very cool with being picked up,I fact it started into a tree from my hands,so I sat and watched it for a little bit. Walking around I saw some old.rotting logs and as I tore through them I saw the last 3 inches of something red,black and pale white work into a hole. Once again I was let down. But the day wasn't wasted. My list for the day included:

Coachwhip X 3

Speckled Kingsnake X 1

Coluber X 1

Nerodia Siphedon X 4

Unknown Nerodia X 1

Cricket Frog X TMTC

Leopard Frog x 3

Bulfrog X TMTC

Smooth Softshell X 3

Slider X 14

@&^$$% Cotton mouth X 2 (@#%!)

Black Rat X 3

plus the birds and the Coon

It was a nice day..................@@#$#%$ cottons!!

Glen