Almost had a bad day

[Hunter58]

Today I was at Linda Pederson Park here in Hernando County, Florida and I came across a Great Egret and a Wood Stork wading near each other. I pulled over got off my motorcycle, grabbed my camera out of the bag and proceeded to walk to the edge of the water, they were on the bank on the other side. Took a few shots, then moved gradually to my left to work my way closer, took a few more shots, then stepping left a few more feet I just happened to glance down to check my footing and I see this no more than 3’ away, it wasn’t moving and I’m grateful that I saw it as it was pretty well hidden, where I was heading I would have surely stepped on it and that might not have ended well. Talk about taking a step back! As you can imagine my heart was racing pretty fast. I did have motorcycle boots on but they only come up maybe 4” above the ankle. I’m thinking about getting some hunting or snake boots that come up higher.

I had a really good morning and took many nice pictures today so all is well that ends well. However I truly got a reminded to “BE CAREFUL OUT THERE”. I hope by sharing this it will remind all of you as well.

Here is the Water Moccasin I almost ran into

Here are the two birds I was going after

 

[Gary A.]

A big guy like you scared of a little garden snake, ... (BTW- what is the species of that snake???)

 

[dannylightning]

I am glad that thing did not get you. My buddy is down on Floridia right now and he was charged by a gator yesterday that he somehow got close too. I guess after he backed away from it it went back into the water and swam away.

nice shots.

 

[JacaRanda]

Snake Chaps - Snake Protection | Snake Bite Protection

 

[Hunter58]

A big guy like you scared of a little garden snake, ... (BTW- what is the species of that snake???)

Agkistrodon piscivorus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Gary A.]

ooooooohhh ... a viper. Those are a bit more dangerous than your average garden variety snake.

 

[Gary A.]

Snake Chaps - Snake Protection | Snake Bite Protection

^Those^

 

[sm4him]

Yikes! That might just have made me scream like a girl.

But then, I'm a girl, so I get to do that.

Snakes don't scare me--I'm not one of those girlie girls who freak out over anything that slithers--but I have a good, healthy fear of the ones that can do damage.

I like the Stork and Egret shots you got out of the deal though.

 

[D-B-J]

Thankfully you didn't!

 

[BillM]

I hate snakes I hate snakes I hate snakes, did i mention I hate snakes ?

But I like the birds, nice shots

 

[Designer]

I take it you can't carry some "snake medicine" with you and use it when the time comes.

 

[Gary A.]

I take it you can't carry some "snake medicine" with you and use it when the time comes.

Like a hand grenade?

 

[Designer]

Actually, my choice would be some nice #4 shot from a .410 bore.

 

[KenC]

Actually, my choice would be some nice #4 shot from a .410 bore.

Wouldn't that make it difficult to make shoes out of it later?

 

[snowbear]

Thankfully, we don't get cottonmouths this far up. We do have copperheads and timber rattlers, once you get into Western MD.

Nice birds. I like birds.