Copper Head

[gregj1763]

Dropped into my favourite wildlife photography area, Tamar Island, not a swan or duck in range but the snakes are thriving.
This is a Tasmanian Copperhead. Like all our lovely snakes very poisonous.
The snake was about 1 metre away, there is a timber boardwalk slightly elevated above the swampy ground, so far none of them have tried to eat me




A tighter crop

[Slipper]

Braver than me #1 is a good shot, and #2 has nice detail of the head.

[gregj1763]

Braver than me #1 is a good shot, and #2 has nice detail of the head.

Thanks John, a fascinating creature but deserve respect, not aggressive unless threatened

[Kodiak]

•
Very cool take Greg!
…I suppose one meter is good obviously. I would have taken that shot with an
even longer lens… just to be one the safe side!

[FootLoose]

I like the 2nd shot, Greg. There's good detail on the scales and eye.

PS There was a report on the news this evening -- following the report about the guy having both hands bitten off by a shark today: 5 people bitten by snakes in recent weeks, another 23 attacked by snakes and 55 bitten by funnel web spiders. It's Spring.

[gregj1763]

Thanks for the comments Daniel and Greg.
Yes spring here in Oz and lots of new wildlife around, some not so cute and friendly.
I do take a lot of care when approaching these beasties, very slow, very quiet. If they feel threatened they will just move off into the reeds and you can usually tell if they are feeling agitated, if so Its time to back off and try another day

[Stagecoach]

Great sharp shot Greg. I suppose it's one of those where you really consider very carefully how low you get to shoot it.

[gregj1763]

Great sharp shot Greg. I suppose it's one of those where you really consider very carefully how low you get to shoot it.

Exactly Grahame, I usually kneel on the boardwalk to get lower but still able to back off quickly if necessary. With this shot I was actually sitting, the snake was very calm and I was able to get about 20 or so images off before I saw people coming who scared him off.
By the way if things go badly there is a parks and wildlife info centre about 100 metres from where I was taking these photo's with with trained staff and anti venom.
Hope to never trouble them

[gregj1763]

Just found this in todays takings, Heavily cropped and a bit grainy but you can see his tongue, how cool is that

[TonyW]

Another very handsome snake! It's interesting that snakes and lizards, including goannas and even Komodo dragons, seem to all have the same sort of tongue. I would treat that one with respect. The only really dangerous snake I have seen around here is a brown snake which had got caught in some chicken wire.

[deetheturk]

Very nice Greg, and very scary, you take care out there bud!

David

[Shadowman]

Very nice.

[IShootPeople]

Beautiful shots! I would love to get some good snake photos, especially of venomous. I have a love of the creepy crawly creatures that most people seem to dislike. Of course, your neck of the world has more than its fair share of venom!

[IzzieK]

Greg...nice clear shots! I like #1 photo best...it shows how you are more at its shooting distance. I still do not like snakes though...Take care...

[gregj1763]

Thanks everyone for your comments, Izzie and David worry about me if I start taking these shots with my 90mm macro