Grass Snake Heaven

[wildmanofthewoods]

Yesterday/ Monday 2nd, I visited my favourite local site and had a very good day but was totally astonished at the number of Grass Snakes i saw.

I had at least 20 sightings and 13 of them at least, being different snakes.

I slowly walked through some marshy vegetation by the side of a large lake and started seeing them immediately, 2 of them basking together on a railway sleeper, anyway i saw seven then went to walk the meadows....after a few hours passed i went back, slowly approached the railway sleeper where i had seen 2 earlier, this time there were 6 unfortunately they sensed my approach and slithered into the vegetation.. I was not detered and set up my camera and seat and waited, after about half an hour a couple did visit the sleeper and i managed a couple of pics, plus some pics of others i found,

I think you'll agree a day for the Grassies

[NickCantle]

Sounds like a great day Wildman One thing though. Why aren't they in the gallery?! Beautiful pictures!

Nick

[Meta menardi]

My comment would be, you lucky person, but I suspect you worked for these. They are great.

[demicav]

Brilliant photos. I've yet to see my first Grass Snake. I've seen lots of Adders but I yearn to see a Grassie.

[Kayleigh]

Nice pics wildmanofthewoods..

[marvin]

great shots...well done.

what were the weather conditions and what time of day was it?

tim

[Vipera]

Great shots, i like the first one as it has a damselfly in the shot as well, i have only ever seen one Grass Snake in the open, all the others i find are under bits of refugia and they tend to slither away quickly when they are disturbed so i have to pick them up to take photos, anyone whos hanldes a grassy knows the lovely smell they make! trouble with my camera is i have to have the lens alomst right on top of whatever im taking a pic off, with the macro, and not all lizards and snakes will obligue by staying still, however occasionly i do get a decent pic of the reptile is brave or just likes having its picture taken!
Also its rather odd that i have only seena fully grown Grass Snake once and that was to quick to allow me to take a pic, apart from that all the grassies i have found have been about 2 ft or smaller, ide like to see a 5 footer! ive heared they can be 6ft but i think thats quite rare if its true

[wildmanofthewoods]

Thanks all for your comments.
I have spent alot of time trying to locate Grass Snakes and most of the time a view of one slithering into the vegatation is the view i get but i have learnt to expect that they're there even if i can't see them. So this means a very stealthy approach no sudden movement as this is usually what alerts them. This doesn't always get you close but sometimes when you make eye contact with a Grass Snake they sort of stare you out, waiting for your next move, as if they daren't move incase you notice them.

Weather was warm but cloudy so this is why i think they were on the railway sleeper, using its stored warmth. Noon onwards

[galanthus]

beautiful pics wildy. I've only ever seen one coiled and basking in sunshine and that was around 20 years ago

[deer boy]

A lovely set of pics there Wildmanofthewoods

[Wozza]

Good stuff! Years ago I had a staring contest with a grassy on the opposite side of a pond. I moved out of view, stalked round behind and managed to catch him

[Hollybrigden]

In a couple of the shots it looks like the snake may be in blue- about to shed- it's eyes have a bluey tinge to them.

[wildmanofthewoods]

Originally Posted by Hollybrigden

In a couple of the shots it looks like the snake may be in blue- about to shed- it's eyes have a bluey tinge to them.

Good call, Hollybridgen. I did notice quite a few with blue/ milky eyes.

Been back a couple of times since and seen around 7, must be losing my touch Was really chuffed my last visit as i saw one the other side of the lake for the first time.

I have noticed, also that about 1 in 4 are much darker than the others, one i saw was almost black, i know you get Black Adders sometimes but never heard of a black Grass Snake.

I won't be going back for a while, my camera has broke everybody awwwww, thankyou, Al.

[ogwen]

awww .
Just out of curiosity, can Grass Snakes be found anywhere, or specific places?
And how can you tell if one has been in an area without seeing them?

Oh and nice pics btw

[wildmanofthewoods]

I think i'm right in saying that the less acidic the area the better so coniferous forests are not good. The area i go is basically the river Rother valley so undisturbed marshy areas with lots of vegetation are good.
They seem to like some fishing lakes also and i've also seen them in damp woods. Grass Snake isn't really a good name for them, they should have been named marsh snake or something like that

Hope this helps

[ogwen]

Thanks for that, have a good idea where to look for them now, and here i was going to have a look in long grass .
Seeing pics of them is amazing, but theres nothing better than seeing them with your own eye, fingers crossed, theres a nice marshy area near me

[wildmanofthewoods]

Originally Posted by ogwen

Thanks for that, have a good idea where to look for them now, and here i was going to have a look in long grass .
Seeing pics of them is amazing, but theres nothing better than seeing them with your own eye, fingers crossed, theres a nice marshy area near me

Good luck and remember look down and in front of you move very, very slowly with " soft feet" especially keeping an eye out for barer patches or slight slopes were they may be basking. Sometimes they're in a sort of knotted ball if its not too warm, so can be hard to spot

[Pythia]

What beautiful pictures - and a beautiful Grass Snake. Particularly like picture 3 where the snake is sitting up tasting the air. I also like the last pic too. I thought the snake's eyes were a bit cloudy so he's probably coming into shed. Three of my own pet snakes have shed in the past couple of days with another about to shed any day now.

Absolutely love snakes

[Words]

Superb photos! The third shot is stunning.

[wildmanofthewoods]

Thankyou for your lovely comments Words & Pythia, the third shot is my favourite Grass Snake pic, its nice to get one what's a little bit different

[ogwen]

Originally Posted by wildmanofthewoods

Good luck and remember look down and in front of you move very, very slowly with " soft feet" especially keeping an eye out for barer patches or slight slopes were they may be basking. Sometimes they're in a sort of knotted ball if its not too warm, so can be hard to spot

Thanks, havent been able to look for any yet, but soon as i can ill tip toe around and have a look.
Soon as i see any ill let you all know whether you all want to know or not

[wildmanofthewoods]

Originally Posted by spolky

Fab shots wildman. I've never seen a Grass Snake much to my shame. I'm sure there must be loads around here but I'm darned if I can see them! What is the best time of day/year to spot them?

sp

Spring is good, because the vegetation is not so thick so it makes them easier to spot. Also cooler days through the summer when they spend more time basking and are less alert. Hotter days are good for spotting them in water although believe it or not i have never seen one in water (yet)!

[WolvesxRxBeauty]

The pictures are simply amazing! I love snakes, but have never seen a wild one (grass or otherwise) as there are none on the Island were I live. You are really lucky and, as I said, those shots are amazing!

Alice

[Wozza]

River Rother, is that in Yorkshire?

[wildmanofthewoods]

Originally Posted by Wozza

River Rother, is that in Yorkshire?

Yes, but i would imagine most rivers with a flood plane would be very good for them especially with a weedy marshy habitat.