cccougar 10 Posted June 20, 2019 I took these on a creek near the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. I have identified the bird with the forked tail as a Barn Swallow. But the other one I do not know. Please help. And yes that is a snake hanging from the dock. I didn’t know that until I uploaded the photos. Bizarre right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Bird Nuts 3,558 Posted June 20, 2019 Both birds (besides the one partially obscured by the snake) are Barn Swallows. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
urban snipe 28 Posted June 20, 2019 that looks like a lost snake toy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cccougar 10 Posted June 20, 2019 Thank you! I do now notice the forked tail strands on the first one. The angle made me think it could be a different type. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cccougar 10 Posted June 20, 2019 It may be a toy. It didn’t seem to move but in the one photo there’s something on it or wrapped around it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 2,681 Posted June 20, 2019 41 minutes ago, urban snipe said: that looks like a lost snake toy Yeah, it's awfully coincidental that the snake's mouth and tongue are in the same position in both shots. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Bird Nuts 3,558 Posted June 20, 2019 3 minutes ago, cccougar said: but in the one photo there’s something on it or wrapped around it. It's another swallow flying behind it. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 2,681 Posted June 20, 2019 4 minutes ago, The Bird Nuts said: It's another swallow flying behind it. Maybe one swallow would fly that close to a real snake, but two? I think @urban snipe has it right. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cccougar 10 Posted June 20, 2019 Interesting feedback. It likely is a toy. Maybe someone put it on or under the dock to try to scare off other critters. I did see and photograph a hedgehog on a nearby dock. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
birdbrain22 349 Posted June 21, 2019 Hedgehog? 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blackburnian 1,145 Posted June 21, 2019 Definitely a toy snake. Used to have several that looked similar. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cccougar 10 Posted June 22, 2019 To be honest I'm not sure what this critter is. Maybe someone can help. My parents say it's a hedgehog so they are probably correct. I did see a few more in the area later. They seem to be abundant in the Chesapeake Bay part of Virginia's Northern Neck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aveschapines 611 Posted June 22, 2019 I'd call that a woodchuck, but I'm far from an expert here. Hey, I was going to agree with the snake, but I agree it seems like it's probably a toy! I think of hedgehogs as small porcupine-like critters. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Bird Nuts 3,558 Posted June 22, 2019 Yes, that is a woodchuck a.k.a. groundhog a.k.a. whistle pig. Wild hedgehogs are not found in North America. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
birdbrain22 349 Posted June 22, 2019 Yeah... not a hedge but a ground... hog. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cccougar 10 Posted June 23, 2019 Thanks for the ground hog/wood chuck identifications. I did some more checking after I posted and realized this is not a hedge hog. That's what my parents called them so I'll have to let them know what they really are. Big sucker this ground hog! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
