Northern Water Snakes along the Greensprings Interpretive Trail

Personally, I cannot watch this video, however, I am attempting to capture life along the trail.  Apparently, this is rare footage of snakes mating.  The one larger snake we have seen for some time in this location of the culvert between Jamestown High School and the wetlands along the most travelled portion of the trail.  The two smaller fellows arrived this summer.  Since this was filmed the female has moved on elsewhere and the two guys come and go in this location.  One evening our dog discovered one of them on the edge of the trail away from the culvert.  Currently they are not there, so watch where you step.  I can often be seen running past this area, because I know they are there.  Silly I know, but it works for me.

Late Summer and NO Rain in sight

This evening, the nearly two months of severe heat and little to no rain are even more apparent on the wetlands.  There are still several deer grazing on what is left, however the abundance of turtles and birds is missing.  See pictures at the beginning of this blog to see what it was like in spring. 

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Sunday Morning

This past sunday morning, I ventured out for a 5 mile ride on my bike down to the Trailhead at Jamestown.  At 1000 in the morning it was already 97 degrees.  It was great to see so many runners, walkers and cyclists out on the trail. During this heatwave which continues, please be sure to take water with you.  As I was riding along, the areas of shade were very welcome.  There is a video kiosk at the Trailhead which has videos of various areas of the trail.  I look forward to future rides.

Map of the Area covered by this Blog

http://www.jccegov.com/pdf/parksrecpdfs/2010documents/PowhatanCreekTrailStGeo100.pdf

Late July

I spent last week away from Williamsburg.  The drought, heat and humidity still continue on the trail.  According to a family member, while I was away, the wetlands pond area filled up with dead fish which died due to the lack of water.  The area has filled up with green grasses and probably all the deer are getting.  There is a new baby fawn in the area. 

In the past weeks, myself or members of my family have seen several snakes on Greensprings Trail.  Most are black snakes, green garter snakes.  There are at least two, sometimes three Northern water snakes which live in the culvert below Jamestown HS.  I have great videos and pictures, but I also have a distaste for snakes and have not posted them.  The good news is that I am getting less and less sensitive to them. One of the water snakes was on the trail at the culvert on a high traffic area.  Despite requesting the county to relocate the snakes, they are still there. 


While I was away, my husband flipping channels found a story on copperhead snakes in James City County on the JCC TV channel.  Early the next day while walking the dog, he saw something in the brush near the Capital Trail and is insistant that it was a Copperhead.  These are poinsonous.  Do not confuse these with the Northern Water Snakes which appear reddish.  He followed the snake enough that he said the copper coloring was very distinctive.  In college he worked for Newport News Park and use to catch snakes for their interpretive center, and spends a great deal of time learning about snakes.  My philosopy about snakes is stomp your feet and just go the other direction.  No need to identify, run like hell.

Personally, I did not realize there were poinsonous snakes along the trail, but I am sure it was just wishful thinking.  DO NOT let this deter you from the trail.  Just be cautious about letting your pets and children go off the trail into the brush.

Oh Deer Me

Just last week it was about 103 out and the puppy needed to get out.  We walked out to the trail and I saw one of these two in the first picture, ran the dog back to the house and got the camera.  As I went out searching for this guy who was long gone, I soon came across 5 of the same size deer all Bucks and about 8 points each.  As I arrived at the bridge across the wetlands, I could hear rustling in the thicket.  First I saw a young doe then I heard the big guy you see on the wetlands themselves. From here I saw another young doe and buck.  After all of this excitement there was one more young buck.  When I went out again the next day, I saw a mother with two fawns and a big buck was standing on the trail, snorted and ran off. Also on the second day we observed near the bridge, a young buck, possibly on of these with a huge growth on the side of his head near an ear. 

Mid July on the Trail

Mid July 2010 and we have experienced many weeks with little or no rain. The temperatures have been reaching over 100 on several occassions with heat index up to 106.  The warm weather is starting to take its toll on the wetlands which are just about dried up.  The Snowy's have moved on.  In these photos you can see deer with fawns in the background. One Heron is hanging around. 

Fire in the Sky - Late June Sunset over Mainland Farm

Day of the 5 Snowy White Egrets and a few others

Summer Hot!

This summer has been exceptionally warm.  At this point we are about to approach drought conditions.  Summer has been keeping me busy and I still quite often.  Along the far end of the Mainland Farm the county has bulldozed a new path.  This has disrupted the deer who use to hang out here just a few days ago and the amount of traffic on this usually quite foot path makes for avoiding the bench  to watch the sunset altogether.  In all, I have many photos to update.