Jonesin'

Well, it's always this time of year that I begin to get desperate for the Spring, and the return of the frogs, snakes, dragonflies, butterflies, spiders and other creatures that I love to watch and photograph. It seems to be taking an especially long time this year, which makes it even worse!

My restlessness is good for one thing at least - it gets me editing photos in my never-ending backlog! I happen to have reached Northern Water Snake on the (alphabetical) list, and it added a little insult to my injured state when I realized that the photos below were taken on April 5 last year. That date is so close, but water-snake-watching seems so far away!

Nevertheless, I spent a great afternoon with the water snakes at Royal Botanical Gardes last Spring. They are undoubtedly one of my favourite Ontario species, though not everybody feels the same way! I think these shy, peaceful snakes are solid contenders for the most misunderstood species in our province, and I can't get enough of them!

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) and Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens)

Think warm thoughts!

Kyle