02/09/2025 at BBSP. This Broadbanded Water Snake was struggling,but hadn't captured prey. Its teeth were caught on a plant stalk! It changed grip & pulled free! This 2024 carcass from BBSP shows the myriad hooked teeth & red spots like this live one from 2017.Video: http://www.rickubis.com/rick/snake_stuck020925.mp4 #Snakes

On the trails at BBSP, I carry a 6' stick . Folks often ask why. On 02/02/2025 I showed folks how to use it to estimate the length of a gator that had crossed in front of us. Note the tail & head relative to trail edges. Place stick on the same spot & compare. video: http://www.rickubis.com/rick/gatorcross020225.mp4 #Alligator #Wildlife

Brazos Bend State Park 09/29/2024 By 40 Acre Lake, Giant Water Bug (Lethocerid) caught in spider web! It was over the water, so I couldn't get close. Spider maybe (Eriophora ravilla). Lethocerids are formidable predators & can eat frogs & turtles! This bug was subdued by arachnid web technology. #Arachtober #Insects #Spider

On 08/20/2023 (last year) During a 2nd dry summer at BBSP an alligator was moving through mud in a drying 40 Acre Lake. It would move a bit, then rest. Why did the alligator move in this direction? Did it see water? Did it remember water? Birds moved easily on the mud. This gator met 2 others chased out of a deeper spot by *another* gator. Gators talked later. 90 minutes condensed into 10 minute video: http://www.rickubis.com/rick/gators_mud082023.mp4 #Ichnology #Alligators #Archosaur

After hurricane Beryl, altered my workout at Memorial Park with a run/walk that allowed me to cross both of the Kinder Land Bridges. While at the top, I saw Mississippi Kites flying very close by. I returned with a camera. Kites were flying near the West bridge. Some of the clips show the Kites eating insects that they held in their talons as they flew. http://www.rickubis.com/rick/missi_kite080924.mp4 #Birds #Raptor

6/29/2024 Fiorenza Park. A turtle was taking pieces of an Eagle's meal! The Turtle left with a scrap, then returned. When the Eagle went to drink; the turtle went for the leftovers. The turtles have probably learned that the Eagles eat here often. 3 of these images are frames from the video. This was 200 yards away viewed through telephoto zoom. video: http://www.rickubis.com/rick/baldeagle062924.mp4 #Baldeagle #Turtles #Birds

#Eagles at Fiorenza Park in Houston,mid May thru June,2024. 1 day-problems with a hawk. 1 day"shared"breakfast with a turtle. Other days-watching over the park in the heat. Then came July & hurricane Beryl. Haven't been back. More pics(and video) here, for now: https://www.rickubis.com/rick/mycam.html #Birds #Raptors #Archosaurs

06/02/2024 At BBSP, I found two >6ft alligators locked together. One had both jaws clamped on the upper jaw of the other--while the other had both jaws clamped on that one's bottom jaw. Equally matched, attempts by one to thrash or roll were countered by the other. A bigger alligator appeared and *nudged them apart*! It watched one leave, turned to watch the other climb out. 40 more pictures here: https://www.rickubis.com/rick/mycam.html video: http://www.rickubis.com/rick/gatorfight060224.mp4 #Alligators #Reptiles #Archosaurs

At Fiorenza Park, 04/20/2024, this Diamondback Water Snake was in the grass. It seemed to be swollen. I thought it might birth young there, since these snakes are ovovivaparous, but it moved into the water. I found it again, and a smaller snake appeared and attempted to mate with it. The snakes' tails twisted together, hiding the contact. After 20 minutes, the male untwined his tail and left. Video: http://www.rickubis.com/rick/n_rhombifer_042024.mp4 #herps #snakes

04/06/2024 A young Bald Eagle was on the electrical tower at Fiorenza Park. It left the tower then circled back and landed on a small island. I moved to the tower to watch the young Eagle. An adult Eagle landed above me on the tower! I moved away a bit so I could watch it. It swallowed the fish's tail then dropped the last bit of fish. Then it "cleaned its beak" by rubbing it on the tower. During all of this, the young Eagle was still on the island. #Raptor #Eagle #Birds #Wildlife #Archosaur