Snake! Snake! Oh, it's a snake

[nanila]

Swimming grass snake

Click to embiggen

Yesterday was the first time in my 6.5+ years in England that I've seen a snake in the wild. There are only three types of snake in the UK: the adder, the grass snake and the smooth snake. I was very excited when the bloke & I spotted a grass snake while walking around a National Trust property in Norfolk (Oxburgh Hall). This was the best shot I could get of it, as it was swimming rather rapidly upstream...towards a group of ducklings.

Comments

[oursin]

A couple of years ago I was staying at Grayshott during a very warm week and we saw *AN ADDER* on the heath during the afternoon walk one day. Alas, I didn't have a camera with me, and anyway, it scarpered sharpish into the undergrowth.

[nanila]

Oh, lucky you! I hope I get to see an adder someday.

I remember reading that adders are pretty shy and will only bite if you do something silly, like corner them.

[djm4]

This is true. Adders, while fairly common, are secretive and shy. I've never seen one, and I've gone looking for them on many occasions.

Grass Snakes are fairly common in Cambridge, BTW. I've seen several on the Cam below Jesus Lock, and one in Hobson's Conduit next to the Botanical Gardens.

Nice photo. ;-)

[oursin]

I imagine they normally make themselves very scarce as the Grayshott afternoon walkers go stomping by!

There used sometimes to be slow-worms in the garden of my parent's house - but they are actually classified as legless lizards rather than snakes.

[sfred]

Cool!

[nanila]

Yes! I would like to see all three kinds of snake eventually, but I think my chances of seeing a smooth snake are fairly low unless I move to the south coast...

[sfred]

I've only ever seen a grass snake (in Scotland) and I've lived in the UK for 32½ years. But good luck!

[foxfirefey]

Oh nifty! Just so you know, common_nature eats this stuff up!

[nanila]

Egads, another community to join! This 3W4DW stuff is excellent. :D