I went to check on the densite where several adult erebennus breed and overwinter near my house. I have checked on them for 6 years and had only seen a neonate and 2 yearlings. I sat down in what I thought was an optimum spot for a photo opp. and waited. I saw all the normal prey items including Gulf coast toadlets and leopard frogs as well as many fish in the creek. I waited and photoed dragonflies, butterflies, and waited. It was overcast and about 10:45 after not seeing anything I moved about 40 yards upstream to the tumbledown of concrete left from rebuilding the bridge. I have seen how they use this labyrinth to move, and bask, with only portions of their bodies exposed, and have found many adult sheds. After I settled in to the new vantage point, something out of my peripheral caused me to look back in the direction from whece I came. Low and behold, a last years indigo was getting a drink from directly below where I was previously sitting! Man, I must have been parked right on it's hidey hole! About 3' was visible and as soon as I moved to take the shot it spotted me. Off it went and off I went in a race for a snapshot before it slid out of sight. I was on one side of the creek and the snake was on the other. I have been here before so I wasn't at a disadvantage. I jumped the creek and got the shot. No indigo was harmed in the making of this film! Seems like only one or two make it from a clutch every year and they stay underground or very close to their hatch site. At least it wasn't parisitized and loked very healthy. 32" of very nice indigo. She left the same way she came, through the hideyhole. This snake was photoed, measured, and released. Pics are in reverse order of sighting to disappearance.
Todd Hughes
