Just Another Spring Morning in Southern Arizona

I had a few minutes before breakfast yesterday so I sat outside my office in one of the rocking chairs for 20 minutes taking photos of the birds. Here are some of those photos. (not bad for 20 minutes in a rocking chair):

Anna's Hummingbird

Black Headed Grosbeak - Female

Northern Cardinal - Female

Curved Bill Thrasher

Gambels Quail - Female

Gambels Quail - Male

Gila Woodpecker - Male

House Finch - Female

Lesser Goldfinch - Female

Lesser Goldfinch - Male

Mourning Dove

White Winged Dove

Slytherin Part END

Harry Potter is over, and now Slytherin is over -- well at least for now. The last part of Slytherin will be the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, which is the most common of the Rattlesnakes in Southern Arizona. I have seen the Black Rattlesnake several times, but never with camera in hand. 

Typically seen Western Diamondbacks grow to about 4 feet. Rarely seen are those of 5 feet or more (which can weigh up to 15 pounds). It's range is from California to Arkansas and south into Mexico. Its life expectancy is about 20 years -- excluding those prematurely killed by humans. They hibernate during the winter months so are typically seen from early April through October.

As adults their diet consists mainly of rabbits, prairie dogs, squirrels, rats, mice, voles etc. Younger ones prey more on lizards and small birds.

From a practical point of view, Tucson gets 5-10 rattlesnake bites per year. Mostly men, and often provoking the snake intentionally. Rattlesnake bites are extremely painful and sometimes (10 to 20%) fatal. Treatment of severe bites can take up to six months at a cost of $50,000 or more. As a general rule however, rattlesnakes aren't interested in biting humans since it depletes their venom and makes paralyzing prey more difficult until the venom is restored. We see two to four rattlesnakes on our property each year, although they probably live on the property year round.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake serpentined

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake coiled

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake rattle

Slytherin Part VII

Here are three miscellaneous snakes from Southern Arizona.

The Western Coachwhip is a long and very fast snake that can reach up to nine feet in length. They are diurnal, and hunt lizards, small birds, and rodents. They tend to be sensitive to potential threats, and often bolt at the first sign of one; they are extremely fast-moving snakes. They are curious snakes with good eyesight and are sometimes seen raising their heads above the level of the grass or rocks to see what is around them.

Western Coachwhip

Snakes are often hard to identify do to their color variation. Some people will pick up snakes to examine them for proper identification. Not me. As a general rule, I don't want to be invasive. I want to get my photo and watch animals with as little stress (for them as possible  -- well, for me too). I believe this to be a Western Hognose. But, don't know for sure:

Western Hognose

The Western Long Nosed Snake is ground-dweller and almost exclusively nocturnal in Arizona. In Arizona it is normally active from April through September and it hibernates underground during the cold months of late fall and winter. It uses its enlarged and pointed rostral scale to burrow undergroung for shelter and to unearth shallowly-buried lizard prey. When captured or threatened it may writhe and hide its head beneath its coils, vibrate its tail, evert the lining of the cloaca, and releasing musk and foul-smelling waste. Females have been observed to release blood from the cloaca, nostrils, and mouth during defensive displays. This one must have come out at night and ended up in the pool, where I found here in the early morning.

Western Long Nose

Slytherin Part VI

The Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake is about three and a half feet long with alternating red, black, and white bands. The white bands are bordered by black bands. The black bands become wider mid-dorsally and often merge together at the midline of the back thereby "bridging" across the red bands. The black bands become more narrow on the lower sides and often disappear before reaching the belly. The head is noticeably wider than the neck and the snout is white or cream colored. The pupils are round and the scales are smooth and shiny. Its light colored snout distinguishes this snake from the similar looking Milksnake. 

It is found in at elevations ranging from 3,000' to 9,000'. Its range extends from the extreme northwestern corner of Arizona, across the central mountains and Mogollon Rim country, into the Madrean Sky Island mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona. It prefers heavily wooded, rocky slopes or in steep canyon bottoms with abundant leaf-litter, fallen logs, and rocks. It also inhabits relatively open rolling hills and grasslands in transition zones. 

The Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake is primarily diurnal but is occasionally found out on warm, moist nights. It is frequently encountered foraging in the mid-morning or just before sunset. It is primarily a ground-dweller but is adept at climbing and is occasionally encountered in trees or high on boulders. It hibernates during the cold months of late fall and winter. When captured this snake does not hesitate to bite and discharge foul-smelling musk and feces. This particular one I found in Madera Canyon of the Santa Rita Mountains. 

Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake

Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake

Slytherin Part V

References to Harry Potter and Hogwarts aside, the Southwestern US has a large number and species of snakes. I was driving the dirt road on the seldom seen, seldom hiked east side of the Rincon Mountains when I came across a Sonoran Coachwhip "slithering" across the road. Unlike most other snakes I have come across this one climbed a tree, slithering around in the tree and then coming right back at me. At roughly nine feet in length this was a pretty amazing sight to see. I had to back away in order to get my camera to focus properly. 

Sonoran Coachwhip

Sonoran Coachwhip

Sonoran Coachwhip

Slytherin Part IV

There is not a lot of agreement in the literature about Gopher Snakes and the number of subspecies. There is not even agreement on the spelling of Gophersnake or Gopher Snake; Bullsnake or Bull Snake. I think part of the difficulty is 1) colors and patterns change with size/age and, 2) these snakes seem to have the ability to change colors to improve their camouflage with the surrounding terrain. Both the Bull Snake and the Sonoran Gopher snake are listed as subspecies of the Gopher Snake. Both inhabit arid, desert ecosystems such as our Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Gopher Snake is fairly aggressive but can be domesticated, and become very gentle. They have hard tough skin on their noses used to burrow into gopher holes and the burrows of other rodents. During the winter they hibernate. They invade gopher holes (hence the name) and holes of other burrowing rodents and eat what they need to stay alive in the invaded burrow. The Bull Snake seems to have a little more girth per length, but that's just my observation.  Here are a few photos of the Sonoran Gopher Snake

Here at The Azure Gate

On the Eastern Side of the Rincon Mountains

In Saguaro National Park

Also here at The Azure Gate

Slytherin Part III

Our most commonly seen snake is the Desert Kingsnake. This is a beautiful snake found only in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. It is nonvenomous and eats rodents, lizards, and smaller snakes --- including young rattlesnakes. (They are immune to venom of poisonous snakes). Larger rattlesnakes will back away from the Desert Kingsnake. The Desert Kingsnake is a very powerful constrictor which is how it first kills its prey. Through their sense of smell they can find reptile eggs. They can grow up to 7 feet in length. They are very docile animals and don't seem to be worried by humans. Once we were sitting by the pool and one "slithered" in for a drink out of the pool -- see photo below. Another time I went to clean the pool basket, reached down to grab the basket handle and almost grabbed a baby snake.