I have an ulterior motive for titling the post today with NASTY all in capital letters. You'll see why, later. Bud and I haven't been out birding much the last couple of weeks, holiday stuff, cough, and now a cold front moving in where the temps are dropping from the 70s to the low 40s - high 30s.
Anyway, I thought I'd share with Eileen's new Saturday Critter Meme ...the debut is this very weekend. My meme links are always on my sidebar, so Eileen's Critters' link is found there to follow, along with the ever-so faithful, Misty Dawn's Camera Critters. So, if you are sharing any kind of critter on your blog today, go over to Eileen's and Misty Dawn's blogs and add your link!! These ducks I share are all migrants [well, the shovelers tend to stick around 90% of the year here; at least in some near-by lakes]...
Now comes the NASTY in dynasty! While we were trekking out of the salt flat area of Charlie's Pasture North Refuge, we stopped on the path to talk with another birder. She was carrying a huge camera and tripod with heavy lens and wanted to know what kind of camera I used since she was seriously thinking of replacing her heavy camera for a much lighter, less bulky, one. We compared images on our digital's card and we agreed that my photos on the smaller camera were just as good as hers on her more expensive equipment. BUT!!! While we were chatting away with a typical Texas-friendly conversation, between us we had an intruder at our feet...
...I don't care what KIND of snake it is/was, it was nasty, slimy, and I gave it wide berth and left mighty quickly. I swear if it would have been poisonous, I think it'd have been slipping in my you know what! Seriously I have a deep hate for snakes. Bud laughs it off when I say "I won't be back in this area for a while".
sidebar linking to Saturday Critters & Camera Critters
I beg to differ - snakes are beautiful and not slimy! You could look at micro photos of their scales and I know you would appreciate their beautiful colorations! They keep the rodent population somewhat under control and do us no harm - except for the vipers. Do you know where or why you developed such a fear? My kids all went snake hunting with their little plastic pails and brought home several varieties to study. This is when they were under 12 years old! They gave one to their little sister in the playpen to handle and she bit it right in the middle of its body! It is a living creature of nature. I think because the snake tempted Eve in the bible is why the snake may be feared by some.
ReplyDeleteYou can love 'em all you want!!! Not me...scales or no scales!
DeleteO.K. how on earth did you manage to stick around enough to snap him?? I would have been in the next state in a minute! I am scared to death of them!!! One of my relatives used to have an old cabin in the woods. And she said it is always good o see snakes, then you knew there would not be any rats. The snakes would hang down from the rafters in front of you, EWWWWW!
ReplyDeleteOh my, that, with snakes hanging from the rafters would scare the bejesus out of me!!!
DeleteWell, I do know that snakes are not slimy, but I hear what you are saying. Actually, I can deal with them better than Joe can. We have snakes here in FL, but most are of the garden variety that eat bugs, so they are not necessarily bad to have around. But I don't court them. I wouldn't have one for a pet, and it doesn't bother me to kill one if it somewhere it shouldn't be.
ReplyDeleteto me...they're slimy icky critters!! And, as for pets, I can't understand why anyone would want a pet like that in the first place. ;o)
DeleteSitting here at the computer wrapped in my warmest fuzzy throw, I am in complete agreement with you. No snake, no matter how harmless, needs to come anywhere NEAR me! I will have my hubby end its life!!!
ReplyDeleteBud would have to do the same...either that or put the house up on the market.
DeleteUgh! I hate snakes. My daughter is deathly afraid of them. I'm not afraid if I see them first, but I sure don't want them anywhere close to me. I killed several when we lived in the country. I had to protect my children while their dad was at work! Yep, nasty!
ReplyDeleteindeed....I'm right there with your daughter then.
DeleteI do not like snakes one little bit. I would have hightailed it out of there too
ReplyDelete...then it would've been a race to the car for the two of us!!
DeleteFunny, Anni! I do not hate snakes, but I do not want them crawling around my feet. UGH! I see you are going to link up, thanks. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDelete...I can just imagine the fear in my soul if it would have crawled OVER on my feet!!! Bloody murder and mayhem.
Deletelove the pics :) But HATE snakes :( that would have scared me to no end if that were at my feet, glad you are ok :)
ReplyDelete....I was told long ago to look at the snake's eyes...if the pupils are round they're non-venomous. I ask, 'who the heck sticks around long enough to check pupils?'
DeleteNot fond of snakes here either but I did sneak up on a rattlesnake once to take it's picture. It wasn't coiled but stretched out on a red ant den in the sun.
ReplyDeleteOMG.....goose flesh here, just reading this Paula. Brave soul.
DeleteI agree - no snakes for me either!
ReplyDelete...that seems to be the majority census here today!
DeleteI am going to go with you Anni - no snakes for me either! sandie
ReplyDeleteGimme a high five Sandie!! You and me both.
DeleteAt first, I thought you're going to say something about that Duck-Dynasty TV show :-) but I am with you on this subject. I don't want them around.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful duck photos!
I've not seen the show, don't wanna see the show, and am tired of seeing D D stuff everywhere I turn. LOL
DeleteI"m not much into snakes myself especially when surprised. When I used to live down near your neck of the woods in Victoria there were snakes everywhere. In the office of the natural gas processing plant that I worked they had on the wall a 3' x 3' map of Texas made entirely of rattlesnake rattles that they caught in the plant.
ReplyDelete...a map of Texas made of rattles?!!! OMG...only in Texas, I guess. I sure as heck wouldn't like working it that office. LOL
Deletei dislike snakes big time. hoping this coming year of 2014 will be one i see none ... 2013 i had to deal with way too many in our yard. no fun!! i love ducks ... fond childhood memories of them every where. bread treats & all. ( :
ReplyDeleteenjoyable new link up ... linking up myself. happy weekend. love the glitter here.
oh that would be a year for the times...with no snakes?!!! Yessiree.
DeleteGreat photos of the ducks and snake.
ReplyDelete...thanks Linda.
DeleteViewing snakes through glass is as close as I like them to me. I would have been rather nervous myself seeing a big one at my feet.
ReplyDelete...you're doing yourself proud...I don't even like 'em through glass.
DeleteYou silly woman! They aren't slimy at all! Smooth as silk, soft. And an important part of the cycle of life!
ReplyDeleteCheers from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!
nope...can't convince ME!! lol
DeleteI agree with you Jennifer. We all dance to different tunes, though.
Deletenookworm: Our saying is "Each folk have a different stroke". :o)
DeleteThe ducks are pretty and so is the snake. Snakes aren't slimy, they're velvety soft to touch, but I can understand that not everybody likes them. Enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteNope, that 'silky' feel is slimy to me. Nobody can convince me otherwise. LOL
Deletethat looks like a skink - think i see a tiny leg. :) love the blue-winged teals.
ReplyDeleteno, it was a snake! That's probably my copyright logo you're seeing.
DeleteLovely ducks! I think snakes are pretty cool. You just have to be able to recognize the venomous ones and give them a wide berth.
ReplyDelete...here...you can have my share of snake sightings then. More power to you.
DeleteWonderful photos! And I share your view on snakes. Yuck.
ReplyDeleteYES!! Snakes...yuck.
DeleteGreat shots of nature ~ nasty or not ~ thanks, carol, xxx
ReplyDeleteNasty nature notes, or not!! Glad you stopped by Carol.
DeleteAnni, you are so funny! As long as I have my camera, snakes don't bother me...not sure what the connection is. Maybe it's seeing them more here than I did in Texas, so I'm now a bit used to them. Hope you have a terrific weekend and thanks for the reminder about Eileen's new meme!
ReplyDelete...well, I hope you never intend to use the camera on pounding a snake! LOL, I know you wouldn't harm the camera, right?!!
DeleteAnni I hope you and Bud are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree II don't like anything that crawls on it's stomach, other than a baby, I don't even like slugs.
Hugs C
yep, creepy crawly things!!! ewwww.
DeleteI'm not at all fond of snakes, either. You had me a little curious, though, with "ducks" and "nasty" because I love ducks!
ReplyDeleteJust posted to Misty's meme and found you here, Anni, and now am going to check out Eileen's new one. Thanks.
All the best,
K
You're welcome...Eileen always has something good 'up her sleeve' for us.
DeleteOk, that's a big ewwww, and yikes, and that's me...backing off and running the other direction!
ReplyDeleteewwww, is right on Terri.
DeleteThose are some gorgeous ducks! I don't mind snakes so much, but spiders in the house are another matter.
ReplyDeleteNow, spiders don't bother me at all. LOL Thanks Brian. I loved your HDR image you shared today.
DeleteHi Anni, long time no see. Life has been hectic lately and I have been a bad blogger.
ReplyDeleteI can say with 99 and 9/10 percent certainty that little fellow isn't poisonous. I do like snakes and have handled a few but I do understand why many folks fear them. Those are some neat looking ducks.
Hope it doesn't get too cold down your way, it's about 9 degrees here at the moment.
9 degrees....oh I'd be in hibernation!!!
DeleteHow did a lovely day birding for ducks turn into a horror with a snake? You sure you're not in Australia?!!!
ReplyDeleteWren x
I know, huh?!! Snakes always put a damper on my day. :o)
DeleteI don't hate snakes but I'm afraid of them. I'll run if I see a snake nearby.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots Anni -the birds and snake.
Fear and hate is synonymous when it comes to snakes for me. LOL
DeleteJust getting into snake season here - nice shots. I much prefer them through a telephoto lens than a wide angle lens!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
I'd prefer them to be in a whole 'nother country!! LOL
DeleteHe looks sneaky as well. Thanks for the Meme tip!
ReplyDeleteYa, they're sneaky looking...evil too. LOL
DeleteYup you can do great stuff with small cameras these days (course it helps to have talent like yours). Have to laugh at you taking time to get a picture of the snake even if you hate it so!!!!
ReplyDeletewell the camera was kinda pointing down at the time 'cause the lady who was wanting to know how my images 'looked' was viewing...so, snapped away I did.
DeleteThose are great captures! I'm glad we don't really have to worry about poisonous snakes where I live.
ReplyDelete....lucky you!!
DeleteYikes! Snakes creep me out! We live in a condo so I'm quite sure there is a zero chance of seeing one! But I had my fair share of snake encounters growing up in our family home,
ReplyDelete