Snakes!

[Dylan8i]

So i went out in the field with a co student today. shes was looking for short head garter snakes and mountain earth snakes for the study.

we ended up finding 7 different species (72 total), ringneck snakes galore, red bellied snakes, a northern water snake, brown snakes, common garter snakes, smooth green snake and shorthead garter snakes. the last two where new species for me.

this was the best day for snakes for me ever, all in about a 4-500 meter stretch of hill along a 2 lane road, never more than 10 meters off the side.


no pictures of the ring necks since i see them alot, or of the northern water snake (look at my other post if you want to see one) or the red bellied.

Common Garter snake




i wasn't even looking in view finder when i took this one, just held it down low and snapped.



Smooth Green (new for me!)






Brown snake




Shorthead garter snake, endemic to north western pa (little bit in NY) and a species of concern.

[susaan]

Especially like the two Smooth Green shots,
-love how the first one has its color is echoed in the grass around it,
-the second,the contrast between sharp focus and the fore/background.
Tho' they all give me the creeps !

[Loupey]

Neat variety! I especially like your second smooth green shot.

[Sushigaijin]

Nice finds!

Isn't it great to have everything come together at once? The short-headed is really cool, and a great shot too.

[serenity]

Very nice! I love how you focus on their face and the rest falls into perspective. It gives them more of a fear factor!

I really like the third one - and I'm impressed that you got that without looking through the viewfinder! You ended up getting a perfectly framed shot.

[Dylan8i]

Thanks Susaan, the green snake was my favorite of the bunch to, and the real reason i tagged along. She said we'd probbably see more, a few bigger ones, but we didn't. still surprises me they live under rocks and not in trees to.

thanks loupy, i have a lot very similar to that green snake shot, i wasn't to sure which pose was best, i had a few with tongue bent down, or half out etc.

Thanks erik, it was a fun day. i have one of the shorthead with his whole body in focus but the angle is more looking down, wasn't sure which was best... i think i chose correct though.


thanks serenity, that was about the 3rd of 3 shots i snapped w/o looking, the other two cut of their heads... i then decided i needed to lay on the ground to get the shots i wanted.