I know a guy who obsessively hunts for golf balls. Sometimes he forgets he is playing golf and wanders off into the blackberry patches, hunting balls, far from the manicured fairways and greens where everyone else plays golf.
One thing I'll say for him, he knows where the critters are hiding on the golf course. The other day, during that rarest of opportunities, a 64 degree day in February, he took me to a secret place, where I found a Daily Bucket.
The Backyard Science group regularly publishes The Daily Bucket, which features observations of the world around us. Insects, weather, meteorites, climate, birds, flowers and anything natural or unusual are worthy additions to the Bucket and its comments. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located. Each note is a record that we can refer to as we try to understand the patterns that are unwinding around us.
He knew a spot, near a tiny stream. We looked around, and there one was:
I'd like to call it an Oregon Redspotted Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis concinnus) because the green stripe on its back and the yellow splotches on its sides match some pictures on the Internet.
But other pictures of the Redspotted show a much redder snake, especially with a bright red head, thusly:
Oregon Fish & Wildlife opines that, "Much variability in coloration exists in the common garter snake but the best identifying characteristic is a stripe down the middle of the snake's back." My pictured snake has that stripe. F&W called the Redspotted a subspecies of the common garter.
Garter snakes are usually found near ponds and wetlands because their diet includes amphibians. But hey, they eat slugs too! Com'n home with me, my little friend, I've plenty of slugs for you in the garden, I am thinking.
Actually it's against the law to remove a snake from the wild in Oregon. They sell for $60 on the internet, but were out of stock.
At any rate, it is an uncommonly pretty garter snake, enjoying its lucky spell of Apricity in February.
Now It's Your Turn What's interesting to you? Please post your own observations and your general location in the comments.
Thank you for reading. I'll work this morning so I'll respond to comments before lunchtime.
"Spotlight on Green News & Views" will be posted every Saturday at 1pm and Wednesday at 3:30 pm Pacific Time on the Daily Kos front page. Be sure to recommend and comment in the diary.