ID’d as Copperhead based on yellow tail-tip
A typical Payne's Prairie eastern king snake. They were common 50 years ago, when the prairie had huge numbers of water loving snakes. Over a thousand snakes (mostly banded water snakes and Florida green water snakes) were often run over and killed on a given night in the summertime on the two major highways that cross the basin, and eventually the snake populations crashed. Now, there are far fewer water snakes and perhaps no king snakes at all.
Lifer!
detained for photo here. Not in situ. AFAIK, the farthest west observation. 2nd male from Charlotte county.
Found dead in the creek. I believe a bird had just killed it.
definitely not a mute swan
Black ear spots visible on individuals at lower branchs.