Waiting For The Sun

We met our new neighbor a couple of days ago - a magnificently massive boa constrictor.  No idea how long it has been hanging around, but it is certainly well-fed, judging by its size.  It has been waiting for the sun (click here for oddly appropriate music) each day this week to show itself in its brush-pile lodging at the edge of our property.

This morning's sunrise promised us a hot day.

Ten minutes before sunrise.  The air still has the night's coolness - if you call 70F cool.

When the sun rises up through the morning haze like this, the day is guaranteed to be a hot one.

Eighteen minutes after sunrise.  We start work early here to avoid the heat.  Tiger is off-loading our plumbing supplies.  Already 75F when I took this shot.

The weather forecast predicts a high of 98F(36C) today (it is 95F at noon as I write this).

You can almost see the heat at 8:00AM.

By 9:00, the boa's wait is over.  I took these photos today and day before yesterday.  It is so huge that I still haven't seen the whole thing all at once.

Not all the way in the sun yet.  Its head is double-backed to the left of center.

Standing next to it and comparing it to my thigh, I estimate that it is about 18-20 inches in circumference at the widest part I could see.

Here you can see its head resting on its body.

 Although I would love to see its full length, we didn't want to disturb it.

Beautiful markings.

It must have shed recently because it was so shiny and fresh looking.

Look at the gorgeous iridescence of its scales.

 Waiting for the sun.

Its head is larger than my fist.

 Waiting for you . . to come along.

Sparkling eye.

An impressive animal.