Central South Carolina.Not exactly sure of the location other than that, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that was in a tree somewhere. I think the bird is having a very bad day.
This time I’m positive it isn’t a brown water snake 
. It is one or another of the named subspecies or recognized and unrecognized intergrades of the Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta). I think it is probably closest to Gray Rat Snake in vernacular usage. See link.
And no, the bird has definitely seen better days. But at least it will never see a worse one.
Cool, thanks.