Snake | Tony's Takes Photography

Young red-tailed hawk scores a slithering lunch

December 11, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

A young red-tailed hawk catches a garter snake. (© Tony's Takes) — A young red-tailed hawk catches a garter snake. (© Tony’s Takes)

Sometimes you just get lucky as I did when I came across this young hawk on the ground two days ago. I figured it had to be on a kill as otherwise they would never sit like that. Quickly I found a spot to stop and carefully approached, realizing it had caught itself a nice little garter snake.

The raptor was so engrossed in eating its meal, it ignored me, allowing me to get quite close and capture the action from first bite to last. Over the 20 minutes or so I spent with it, I shot nearly 600 pics – more than I have shot of a single subject in a long time.

Truly was an awesome thing to see and the hawk came away well fed. The snake, well, clearly it had had better days. 😉 My favorite is the last in the series.

A red-tailed hawk devours a garter snake. (© Tony's Takes) — A red-tailed hawk devours a garter snake. (© Tony’s Takes)

Young red-tailed hawk scores a slithering lunch — A red-tailed hawk devours a garter snake. (© Tony’s Takes)

Red-tailed hawk catches a snake, gets chased off

July 7, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

These aren’t the greatest of pics but the story and action are kind of neat so I figured I would share them.

Wrapping up my photo drive the other day, I spot this hawk sitting on a light pole. Normally I probably wouldn’t even stop except I noticed it had something in its talons – a bullsnake.

Unfortunately for the hawk, the neighboring red-winged blackbirds also noticed it was there and they were less than thrilled about having a raptor in their neighborhood. They soon began pestering it, prompting the hawk to leave. The blackbirds pursued, actually striking the hawk in mid-air multiple times.

The best action took place a long ways away but it is still fun to see.

Red-winged blackbirds chase a red-tailed hawk and its snake breakfast. (© Tony's Takes) — Red-winged blackbirds chase a red-tailed hawk and its snake breakfast. (© Tony’s Takes)

Northern watersnake takes to the water

June 10, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

This was a fun encounter! This northern watersnake spent a lot of time swimming in the waters of the pond where I was photographing.

As I don’t normally see snakes and had never seen a watersnake, this was something I had to take advantage of and I took a ridiculous number of pictures of it. My favorite shots were one with it coming toward me head on and then a closeup with its tongue out that had a perfect reflection on the water.

These guys are non-venomous and generally harmless to humans. They are somewhat small, 2 to 4.5 feet long (this one was about 3 feet long), and can be found across much of the eastern half of the United States with Colorado being at the far western edge of its range. Fish, frogs and toads make up the bulk of their diet.

A northern watersnake swims head on. (Tony's Takes) — A northern watersnake swims head on. (Tony’s Takes)

A northern watersnake out for a swim. (Tony's Takes) — A northern watersnake out for a swim. (Tony’s Takes)

Sneaky little snake for Saturday

July 27, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

A capture from back in May. I was walking around a local pond, taking pictures of some birds when I notice movement right next to my foot. Usually not a good sign! Thankfully though, this time it was only a little garter snake and it did hang around long enough for me to get a few pics.

Slithering snake in the grass

May 28, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

One of those times when you really need to be watching where you are walking.

Out along the South Platte River this past Sunday, I am walking along the river’s edge, watching for wildlife at eye level and above when something closer to the ground appears. As I put my foot down, something out of the corner of my eye gets my attention and looking down I see this handsome bullsnake six inches from my foot.

I was a bit startled but looking at its eyes, I was reassured that it wasn’t its far more dangerous cousin, the rattlesnake. It was quite patient with me as I moved around, getting pics of it from its spot in the grass.

It was a pretty big one, I am guessing it would have been about four feet long stretched out. Perhaps I need to pay a bit more attention to where I step. 😉

A bullsnake hides in the grasses along the South Platte River in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

How to send a photographer flying

April 15, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

Well, I may be pushing 50 but I moved like my 17 year old son yesterday afternoon.

I am sitting observing a local Bald Eagle nest in an area pretty heavily covered in brush. Suddenly I notice movement right behind me and as I turn, not six inches away, is a good sized snake moving right at me.

It hisses, I said some adult-only words, and leapt to my feet, jumping away. In the process I stumble, fall forward to the ground and again, utter a few choice words. I’m a sailor so I am allowed to cuss, besides, I think I injured my ribs.

Anyway, on the plus side, I did get some good pics of the bullsnake. Good sized one too. Bet it would have been 6+ feet long stretched out. I can laugh now but the danged thing scared the you-know-what out of me. 😉

My camera survived fine as I don’t think it hit the ground, or if it did, it didn’t hit hard. My ribs, well, those will take a while to heal. It was definitely uncomfortable sleeping last night.

As for the eagle nest, I am happy to report there is at least one little one in there – click here to see.

Close up of a bullsnake near the South Platte River in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

A bullsnake near the South Platte River in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rattlesnake strikes a defensive posture

November 5, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

Normally by this time of year, snakes in Colorado would not be easily spotted as they would instead choose to stay underground where it is warmer. However, with the unseasonably warm weather we have been having here, many are still quite active.

This particular rattler was one of six that was crossing a road in the foothills southwest of Denver on Monday. While the others quickly moved into their burrow under some rocks, this one instead chose to show off. As recreationists made their way by on foot and bike, it coiled up, hissed and of course rattled its tail to sound a warning to any that would get too close. I of course kept my distance. 😉

Western Rattlesnakes, also known as Prairie Rattlesnakes, average three feet in length which is about how long this one was.

A Rattlesnake coils up in the road and strikes a defensive posture. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rattler owns the road

August 26, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

If you’re on foot or riding your bike and you come across one of these, you better give a wide birth. This rattlesnake was sunning itself on the road going up Waterton Canyon and if it weren’t for another shutterbug pointing it out, I may very well have rode right over or by it. As is, it made for a nice photo op of this deadly creature.

It was only about 4 feet long and as you can tell in the background, had a pretty good size rattle on it. Thankfully it was quite calm although I certainly kept my distance and didn’t give it any reason to get mad. 😉 I do wish it had coiled up though as that would have made for a better picture.

A rattlesnake suns itself on a road in the Colorado foothills. (© Tony’s Takes)

Why did the Bullsnake cross the road?

July 8, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

I have no idea why this snake was trying to cross a busy road in Longmont, Colorado recently. However, when I spotted it, it was only about halfway across and vehicle traffic was likely going to bring about its demise.

I made a hasty U-turn and since I am “adverse” to reptiles, my friend ran out into the road, picked up the snake and moved it to safety. We of course took the opportunity to take a few pictures before releasing it safely in an adjacent field.

It is a good thing my buddy was there as there is no way I would have grabbed it like he did. I did hold on to its tail briefly so my friend could get his pictures of it but I was not pleased. ;-)?

A Bullsnake slithers across open ground in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)