Alabama, (Part 1)

Orange Beach, Alabama (IMG 3507af)

Orange Beach, Alabama (IMG 3499af)

At the Mentone Cafe, Mentone, Alabama (IMG_8936) Another Link in the Chain - From a round table to a round wheel

This gray rat snake slithered into my family room tonight. I have no idea how it got in. Otis, my dog, went nuts and chased it under a desk in another room where it was cornered. It rattled its tail, hissed and struck out in a great imitation of a rattle snake. It was at least 5 feet long. Once I got Otis shut in another room, it took me awhile to figure out how to get it out of the house. I finally got it to crawl into a black cloth shopping bag, carried it out, and turned it loose outside, but not before I took a ton of pictures. Once I got it out on the patio, it calmed down, wasn't in a hurry to leave and let me take a lot more pictures, before I prodded it to leave. Etowah County, Alabama. (IMG_5859)

This gray rat snake slithered into my family room tonight. I have no idea how it got in. Otis, my dog, went nuts and chased it under a desk in another room where it was cornered. It rattled its tail, hissed and struck out in a great imitation of a rattle snake. It was at least 5 feet long. Once I got Otis shut in another room, it took me awhile to figure out how to get it out of the house. I finally got it to crawl into a black cloth shopping bag, carried it out, and turned it loose outside, but not before I took a ton of pictures. Once I got it out on the patio, it calmed down, wasn't in a hurry to leave and let me take a lot more pictures, before I prodded it to leave. Etowah County, Alabama. (IMG_5861) Another Link in the Chain - From a black racer to a gray rat snake

Taken in James D. Martin Wildlife Park, Gadsden, Alabama. This is a wetland area that is part of the Coosa River watershed.

On my windshield, Etowah County, Alabama (IMG_8611)

In my kitchen. (DSC03314)

James D.Martin Wildlife Park Gasden, a wetland that is part of the Coosa River watershed, Gadsden, Alabama (IMG_0771)

In my yard, Etowah County, Alabama (IMG_1036)

Train trestle leading to bridge over the Coosa River, (east side), Gadsden, Alabama. I was quite curious about the purpose for the barrel on the trestle, so finally searched through Google and found out it is most likely a water barrel. Such barrels were placed on wooden trestles at about 50 to 100 foot intervals to provide water to put out smoldering fires that might be caused by ash, sparks, and hot boxes. Not surprising, they were often vandalized by shooters and by thieves who stole the dippping buckets, so they may be lined with concrete and the buckets sometimes were cone shaped, lacking a flat bottom on which to set them, making them less desirable to thieves. I don't think they are being maintained anymore. (IMG_5282)

Took this on Easter of an eastern phoebe nest on my downspout. Thought it was sort of appropriate. I wanted to check to see if the cowbirds that were hanging around had managed to slip an egg into the nest. Fortunately, they didn't. I am happy that the phoebes are back this year. For several years they nested on a different downspout, but then last year did not return. This year, they have chosen a downspout right next to the garage door which has a very noisy opener. Also, it is near my dryer vent so warm humid air wafts up nearby. It hasn't seemed to bother them though. It's a plus for me because I can easily photograph them in this location. Will try to get the babies periodically as they are growing up. The scientific name for the Eastern Phoebe is Sayornis phoebe. Etowah County, Alabama (IMG_1472) April 29, 2012 Mommy (or Daddy) was not happy They had a second brood in 2012 and came back in 2013 Another Link in the Chain - Eggs to eggs in a nest

US 35 just above Little River Falls, Little River Canyon National Preserve, DeKalb County, Alabama (IMG_8587)

On a thalia daffodil in my garden, Etowah County, Alabama (DSC04394)

On goldenrod in my yard, Etowah County, Alabama (DSC02436)

In my garden (IMG_1025)

In my garden, Etowah County, Alabama. (DSC09671)

On my house, Etowah County, Alabama