[bcbirdclub] Panhandle Rd Carter Co Tn/Surprise Species

From: Michael Sanders <msanders@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: Buchanan County Birdclub <bcbirdclub@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Bristol Birdclub <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:29:48 -0400

Gary Cooper & I took a trip to Panhandle Rd in Carter Co Tn this morning 06-26-2011. We had a pretty good morning finding many species of birds and a species of another kind. Gary and I decided to hike up to the fire tower, in hopes of finding a Grosbeak or two, as we approached the last curve before the last 100 yards to the tower I noticed a trail to the right with blue blaze, I was curious about the trail and I almost went down the path. Gary said he thought it lead out to a point, about that time Gary started down the trail with me right behind him. All of a sudden I slammed into him and he started back peddling, about the time he stopped he called out SNAKE. I was looking but didn't see anything (Picture 1) finally in the grass I saw a head, I followed the head down the snakes body to its tail where I saw rattles, a-lot of rattles. I asked Gary to grab a stick so I could move it out in the open to get a better look, but before he made it back the snake started rattling and moved off through the nettle to a log where it curled up. The snake was a 5 ft long Timber Rattle Snake, its body was heavy and thick, its mid section was as big as my forearm, the tail section was black which can't be seen in the attached photos. We took a few pics of the snake and some video with my phone, part of the snake is under the log and can't be seen. I counted 12 rattles on the snake. Needless to say we had a hard time birding after this experience. Plus the rain was heading our way so we packed it up. The pics and list are attached, enjoy. Oh and anyone venturing in this area be careful, the log the snake went to was right off the main path and looked big enough to hold a-lot more, plus the ground cover is thick, and hard to see through as the pics show.

Mike Sanders

Bristol, VA

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Acadian Flycatcher

Blue-headed Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Veery

Wood Thrush

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Parula

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Worm-eating Warbler

Ovenbird

Hooded Warbler

Canada Warbler

Eastern Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

Scarlet Tanager

Northern Cardinal

Blue Grosbeak Elevation 4150 ft Female at the fire tower

Indigo Bunting

Brown-headed Cowbird

Follow-Ups:
- [bcbirdclub] Re: Panhandle Rd Carter Co Tn/Surprise Species
  - From: Roger Mayhorn

[bcbirdclub] Panhandle Rd Carter Co Tn/Surprise Species

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