Not your usual roadkill

iclestu

I'm sure we all see our share of road-kill. This one had me hauling on the brakes and turning round to capture a photo though:



I am disappointed I never got a better photo of some very bright markings. Anyone know if it is a native or has some cruel person just disposed of an unwanted pet?
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Headhuunter

Isn't that a Grass Snake? I think they're quite rare these days....

Headhuunter

Yep, I just Google Imaged... I am right! Apparently I know my snakes... The white markings round the head are very obvious and the black dashes down the green body....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grass_snake

sketchley

I'm no expert but I think that's a Grass snake. Was there a pond or lake nearby?

iclestu

good shout HH.

I'm not generally a wildlife-enthusiast type of person but it does seem a shame. The photo doesn't do it justice but it had a very vivid striking underside. Pretty thing, shame about the untimely end.

iclestu

Sketchley wrote:

I'm no expert but I think that's a Grass snake. Was there a pond or lake nearby?

Maybe? I wasnt aware of one. Think it was here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=wormersley&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=14.514955,27.817383&ie=UTF8&hq=wormersley&hnear=&ll=53.664228,-1.222079&spn=0.003547,0.006791&t=h&z=17

There appears to be some kind of treatment works a little further up the road? Maybe that is an area of stagnant water to the other side of the wooded area? Hard to see from the image. Think you guys are right though. Definitely a grass snake.

sketchley

Grass snakes feed on Toad and Frogs, hence pond or lake nearby.