Gene's Notes: September 2nd was a beautiful day. I convinced my wife to accompany me on a nature outing to McCormick County. We enjoyed the weather and the scenery but saw little wildlife. I moved a Box Turtle off a road. At an abandoned mill dam, I saw a pair of Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell Turtles sunning (right). On Labor Day, September 7th, My wife and I joined my daughter and family on a trip to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia. Win could not go, so we took his son Wolf with us. It was a long, hot day and we all throughly enjoyed it. I let my granddaughter Greer use one of my cameras for the day. She took some really good pictures, such as the Tree Python (below, left). She is turning into an avid photographer. In fact, I had to caution her about getting too close to the animals, ha ha. (below, right) Softshell Turtles Tree Python Don't Get Too Close! Win presented a herp program at the Greenwood County Museum on September 12th. He borrowed a year-old baby Alligator from his office to use in his presentation. In the morning before the presentation, he had a chance to show it to Wolf and Greer. The little gator turned out to be quite a card shark! (right) I caught a couple of baby Fence Lizards and a young Five-lined Skink for Win to use in his presentation. Otherwise, for the middle of the month, I occupied myself with photographing insects. On the 21th I snapped an image of a Black Vulture waiting for me to pass by so it could resume eating (below). On the evening of the 24th, while riding back from a meeting in Greenwood, I saw a small snake scurrying to get off the roadway. I was not able to stop to ID it. I believe this was the first live snake I that I have seen on local roads at night this year. Card Shark! Black Vulture On the night of the 25th, which was warm and humid, I road cruised locally. I found an adult Copperhead crossing the road. A short distance away, I found a dead Copperhead on the road. On the 27th, I flipped a board at the vegetable garden and found a pair of Ringneck Snakes underneath. Ringnecks are known to mate in the fall, as well as spring. (below) September 30, 2009 Contact: South Carolina Reptiles and Amphibians Return to SC Reptiles and Amphibians Observations Page Return to SC Reptiles and Amphibians Home Page