Hunting Grass Snake

[camo]

A recent thread by Wild Flower reminded me of an encounter back in the summer.



I was sneaking around a 20 foot wide, crystal clear stream that had quite a strong current. I watched a Grass Snake hunting under water, it was about 2foot deep and the Snake systematically checked out the bed by turning over leaves and stones. He (or she) stayed under water for about 5 minutes and seemed oblivious to its gyrating body being swept about by the current. At all times it controlled its head and although I didn't see it catch anything I guess it was after Loaches and Bullheads, etc. The whole episode lasted about 15 minutes until it eventually surfaced and started hunting some Mallard chicks. Again it's stalking was obvious and very impressive, it got to within 6 feet of the chicks before a dog disturbed the Mallards and it lost its dinner (and my photograph, I will not intervene, only watch!).

Tell me about Dogs, I lost a cracking opportunity for a Fox this week when another out of control dog (in a nature reserve) appeared out of no where to ruin my 30 minutes photographic stalk.

Back to the point although the photos are not the sharpest (refraction tricked my focus, i should have gone to manual), but hopefully they illustrate how a dull day in Cambridge came alive and created another memory.

Roy

[tameblackbirds]

amazing never seen a grass snake let alone one hunting in water Wow!

[The Woodman]

Those are some rare shots you've taken camo. I've only seen one hunting underwater twice in a lifetime. The image with the snakes head out of water is great, sharp eye and bright colour - looks like a recently sloughed individual.

[camo]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Those are some rare shots you've taken camo. I've only seen one hunting underwater twice in a lifetime. The image with the snakes head out of water is great, sharp eye and bright colour - looks like a recently sloughed individual.

Hi Woodman

I was pleased with them as I have often found Grass Snake more difficult to approach than Adders and most of my previous ones have been at a distant. You referred to recently sloughed, does this mean recently shed its skin? some of the Adders i take have very cloudy eyes which i have presumed is because they are due to shed, but i have not heard the sloughed express.

Roy

[tcvarlh]

I used to swim in a ancient peat pool and I often had Grass snakes for company, frog hunting and whatnot. I was happily floating on my back staring up at that blue stuff, when I felt something wriggle onto my belly. I raised my head thinking it was a Grasssie, as I'd been told by others they were so used to folks just floating in the water and being adopted by the snakes as an island. I stared into the glassy eyes of a Viper. I never knew they swam. I sank, half drowned and had everyone on the bank laughing. Peat bog water tastes foul!

[aeshna5]

Nice sequence! I've seen Grass Snakes swimming many times, but not stalking like this- well captured.

[Ukwildlifeo]

wow fantastic photos. Ive obly seen grass snakes swimming a few times but never actively hunting

As for out of control dogs, every time I go out around home or in London I loose at least one opportunity, even early in the morning. And usually get covered in muddy paw prints as a 'bonus.' I think round here they believe a lead is a mythical tool used in ancient times....

[The Woodman]

Yes, I've always used the term sloughed meaning shed skin. Cloudy eyes and dull skin means about to shed. The eyes grow successively more opaque until the skin is worked off, starting at the nose and usually assisted by stones and vegetation. If you're lucky enough to find a shed skin it's usually tangled between brambles or the like and is a devil to get out without breaking. The shed skin is also larger than the actual beast giving the impression of a much larger reptile.

[camo]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

As for out of control dogs, every time I go out around home or in London I loose at least one opportunity, even early in the morning. And usually get covered in muddy paw prints as a 'bonus.' I think round here they believe a lead is a mythical tool used in ancient times....

I am not anti dog and in the past I have spent twenty years training dogs, but nature reserves should be out of bounds for dogs unless their owners respect the need for leads. Of course I would be quite happy to be disturbed by say a Cape Hunting Dog

Roy

[camo]

Originally Posted by tcvarlh

I stared into the glassy eyes of a Viper. I never knew they swam. I sank, half drowned and had everyone on the bank laughing. Peat bog water tastes foul!

I am with you and did not know they swam, but I presume as long as they have built up sufficient heat they must tackle water. I think we all tend to think of Adders on Heathland and Grassies in the marshes. I wonder if any members have ever seen the two species at the same time?

Roy