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View Full Version : Cottonmouth is watching you through his opaque blue eyes (photo by Sam Boatman)


sohappytobehere
08-17-2025, 01:28 PM
Walk away from the concrete and asphalt in The Villages and you will be greeted by an abundance of beautiful wildlife. But you sometimes have to look closely and carefully. This morning: the cottonmouth water moccasin's eyes are an opaque blue, which occurs when he is preparing to shed his skin.

HappyTraveler
08-17-2025, 07:19 PM
Sam - If you're into it, there is a spectacularly lightening-blasted tree at the Polo Fields. Never seen anything like it. Split down the middle and with large bark 'shrapnel' flung out into the polo field.

I grabbed a couple photos but, you could do much better. It would get the lightning people on here pretty jazzed, I'd think. It's along the first North/South Road when you drive in.

sohappytobehere
08-18-2025, 06:37 AM
Thank you. I relayed your message to Sam. Can you post any pictures here?

HappyTraveler
08-18-2025, 08:19 AM
Thank you. I relayed your message to Sam. Can you post any pictures here?
Ok, I now see the paperclip icon to do so. Coming thru. Second photo shows bark blown into the field.
109592

109593

bilcon
08-18-2025, 08:28 AM
Ok, I now see the paperclip icon to do so. Coming thru. Second photo shows bark blown into the field.
109592

109593

I bet that will be cleaned up "pronto"

bilcon
08-18-2025, 08:32 AM
Walk away from the concrete and asphalt in The Villages and you will be greeted by an abundance of beautiful wildlife. But you sometimes have to look closely and carefully. This morning: the cottonmouth water moccasin's eyes are an opaque blue, which occurs when he is preparing to shed his skin.

I don't think I would want to get that close to that snake.

HappyTraveler
08-18-2025, 09:48 AM
I bet that will be cleaned up "pronto"
It's been there for several days and isn't obstructing anything relevant.
Polo Grounds not operational right now so....
One day this week they'll likely haul it away.

sohappytobehere
08-18-2025, 10:13 AM
Thank you very much. I just sent your 2 photos to Sam.

sohappytobehere
08-18-2025, 10:43 AM
Sam says: If you have time, please say I said "Wow! Awesome! Thank you!!!!!"

HappyTraveler
08-18-2025, 10:44 AM
Thank you very much. I just sent your 2 photos to Sam.
It's quite a sculpture so, I thought he'd like it. Good backdrop too.

Sam says: If you have time, please say I said "Wow! Awesome! Thank you!!!!!"
Happy to oblige.

sohappytobehere
08-18-2025, 11:59 AM
Sam - If you're into it, there is a spectacularly lightening-blasted tree at the Polo Fields. Never seen anything like it. Split down the middle and with large bark 'shrapnel' flung out into the polo field.

I grabbed a couple photos but, you could do much better. It would get the lightning people on here pretty jazzed, I'd think. It's along the first North/South Road when you drive in.

Any other directions that Sam can follow to find this tree? He is there now.

HappyTraveler
08-18-2025, 12:27 PM
Any other directions that Sam can follow to find this tree? He is there now.
From South (Main) entrance on Buena Vista, make the first left onto blacktop road that parallels the field.

From North entrance make a right onto that road. Can't miss the tree unless they took care of it this AM.

sohappytobehere
08-18-2025, 02:43 PM
Thank you for the directions.

Andyb
08-19-2025, 06:46 AM
Cloudy eyes (blueish), indicate he is about to shed his skin.

Runway48
08-19-2025, 10:47 AM
Always best to look down when walking off the pavement in the south.