Short Hike Today

[JK Knives]

Went out again this afternoon to one of the hiking areas nearby. Did a 5 mile loop, then headed home.

Typical Illinois prairie.

Some of the trees are already changing colors.

Water in the creeks is really low, not any rain lately.

Little path we took to a pond.

The pond

Continued in next post

 

[JK Knives]

If you look close, you can see a big frog in this photo

Raccoon tracks

Small swamp in the woods.

Some wildflowers

And what would be a hike without running across one of these guys in the middle of a bike path! What kind is it?

Knife of the day, Victorinox Forester

 

[mtnfolk mike]

great pics John...:thumbup: looks like a nice day out...

 

[JCavSD]

Beautiful area you live in.

 

[Shotgun]

Thanks for sharing. Looked like a nice hike.

 

[Big K]

That frog looks tasty!!!

 

[Ossa1970]

And what would be a hike without running across one of these guys in the middle of a bike path! What kind is it?

Appears to be a Anerythristic Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata guttata), meaning it has reduced or no red pigment. A normal corn snake is orangeish/red and black. They have a Spear-shaped pattern on top of head. They are not dangerious and usually take to handling. They were once thought to be a seperate species now they considered a sub-species of the great plains rat snake.

They are similar to the Prairie kingsnake, milk snake, fox snakes. So I could be wrong without a better Pic.

Nice pic. They make the best pets out of all snakes for beginners and kids.

 

[TheGame]

Cool pics! Looks like you saw a few cool things hopping and slithering around

 

[kgd]

Nice pics....What I find amazing is just how little used these suburban park settings can be. Sometimes they can be far more deserted then the bigger wilderness area parks.