Black Rat Snake sticking its head out of a bush. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.

Godzilla In Miniature And A Surprise Snake In The Grass

ByChristine

My Nature Journal Summary

DateJune 09, 2022
TimeAround 3:00 pm ET
Temperature88° F / 31° C
WeatherBroken clouds
Wind14 mph 320° NW to SE
HabitatBlue Ridge Mountains, elevation approximately 2000 feet
Animals EncounteredEastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)

Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly (Calopteryx maculata)

Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)

Common Whitetail Dragonfly (Plathemis lydia)
06/09/2022 Now I Wonder Nature Journal Summary

My Nature Journal Photos

Fence Lizard Sceloporus undulatus

The prize for the absolute coolest thing I saw all day today has to be the Fence Lizard playing Godzilla in miniature.

My husband and I were standing on a bridge over a large, outdoor model railroad display. The sun was beating down and, despite being in the mountains of western North Carolina, heat rippled the air. Thanks to the heat, the two of us were the only ones in sight, so the area was very quiet.

Suddenly my husband spotted movement below, along the far train track. To our delight, a Fence Lizard stepped and strolled down the track. Although Fence Lizards are only about seven inches (18 cm) long, the model train track was built to a small scale. The relative sizes of the lizard, the track, and the miniature landscaping made the lizard look like a tiny Godzilla waiting to ravage the next train down the tracks.

I treasure this photo and always will. Seeing it brings back a funny and exciting memory of a unique nature experience that I shared with someone I love.

And that’s what nature journaling with digital photography is all about!

A Fence Lizard on model train track. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
A sneak peek at the biggest blockbuster movie of the year Godzilla Strikes Again starring Fence Lizard Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder

Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta

Snake #1

I was photographing a Five-lined Skink when my husband spoke up.

“Turn very slowly to your left.”

I turned and froze. There, no further than 3 feet away, a Rat Snake’s head poked straight out of the bushes.

Apparently, the snake was interested in the skink too. It held himself absolutely motionless but was clearly assessing the skink with rapt attention.

Black Rat Snake sticking its head out of a bush. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
A surprise guest right at my feet Rat Snake <em>Elaphe obsoleta<em> Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder
Black Rat Snake sticking its head out of a bush. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
This Rat Snakes eyes were locked on to a nearby Five lined Skink Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder

The snake at my feet wasn’t the only Rat Snake we saw on today’s hike. Nor was he the biggest. That accolade goes to the snake by the pond.

Snake #2

Towards the end of our hike, we came upon a shallow pond that teemed with dragonflies and frogs. But our path to the water’s edge was blocked by a substantial rope of gleaming black reptile. It was another Rat Snake- definitely not the biggest one I’ve ever seen but big enough to halt us in our tracks.

Long Black Rat Snake on rocks. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
This Rat Snake was so long and so close I couldnt get his entire body in the frame Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder

My husband and I gave him a wide berth and watched him slither towards the water’s edge. He slid into the vegetation without even a rustle and emerged about 20 feet away. He then slithered towards a jumble of rocks closer to the tree line and disappeared into a crevice.

Close-up of Black Rat Snake. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
A close up of the slithery friend who temporarily blocked the path to the pond I wasnt going to argue for right of way Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder
Close-up of a Black Rat Snake. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
Rat Snake <em>Elaphe obsoleta<em> Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder

Five-lined Skink Plestiodon fasciatus

Today was a day of reptiles. Besides the Fence Lizard and the Rat Snake, the area along the nature trail sported an abundance of Five-lined Skinks.

These lizards are small, fast, and usually skittish. But they do enjoy the finer things in life, like sunning themselves on warm rocks.

I saw several individuals at various times throughout the hike; some mature males, one or two juveniles, and even one that might have regrown a lost tail.

Mature male Five-lined Skink. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
A mature male Five lined Skink <em>Plestiodon fasciatus<em> Male skinks lose most of their stripes and gain bright orange coloration on their heads Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder
Mature male Five-lined Skink. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
This Five lined Skink sunned himself on a rock while mere feet away a black Rat Snake considered eating him for lunch Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder
Side view of juvenile Five-lined Skink. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
A juvenile Five lined Skink displays the bold striping that gives this species its common name and a brilliant blue tail This bright color fades as the animals age Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder
Male Five-lined Skink with new tail. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
This male Five lined Skink might have lost and regrown its tail in the past judging by the slight indentation just behind its hind legs Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder

White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus

Deep in the woods, we encountered this pretty White-tailed Deer browsing along the trail. She looked to be in great condition, with a smooth, glossy reddish coat.

We started at each other for a moment, then we continued our hike, as we didn’t want to spook her away from feeding. I’m often surprised by how close White-tailed Deer will allow one to get. But I’m sure she heard us coming from a mile away and decided we weren’t very threatening.

White-tailed Deer close-up. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
White tailed Deer <em>Odocoileus virginianus<em> Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly Calopteryx maculata

On the invertebrate side of things, I was pleased to spot this adult Ebony Jewelwing damselfly at the edge of a meadow near a slow-flowing forest stream.

While widely distributed from the northern United States all the way south into Florida, they seem to prefer habitats deeper into the woods than many other species. In my experience, I find them around open banks along small forest streams.

Ebony Jewelwing damselfly. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
Ebony Jewelwing damselfly <em>Calopteryx maculata<em> Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder
Ebony Jewelwing damselfly. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright Now I Wonder.
Ebony Jewelwing damselfly <em>Calopteryx maculata<em> Photograph taken by the author Copyright Now I Wonder
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Christine
Christine is the creator and author of NowIWonder.com, a website dedicated to the animals and plants that share our world, and the science that helps us understand them. Inspired by lifelong exploration and learning, Christine loves to share her knowledge with others who want to connect with wild faces and wild spaces.
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