Can anyone identify this?

[reb78]

He was on the compost. I think its too big for a slow worm so is probably an adder?

 

[Hood]

Doesn't look like any Adders I have seen as they have all had a zig zag pattern down their back. Could it be a grass snake?

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Also a fourth option now apparently.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ex...ss-snake-four-kinds-wild-Natrix-helvetica/amp

 

[eSCHEn]

Definitely an Adder by looks of it.

Edit - based on head shape and proportions, length and general colouration. Pattern is not the normal diamond one like @Hood says but I think the rest fits well.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Also a fourth option now apparently.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ex...ss-snake-four-kinds-wild-Natrix-helvetica/amp

Fail.
Usually check before posting
These people are paid for there jobs.

https://www.arguk.org/get-involved/...grass-snakes-mean-for-our-native-grass-snakes

 

[cheb]

I'd say that's horse manure.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Dinner.

Or a Grass snake.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I'd still be running away never mind wondering what species it was

 

[chunkolini]

Smooth Snake

 

[chunkolini]

If it was carrying a hard hat and trowel it might be a Boa Constructor.

 

[reb78]

I'd still be running away never mind wondering what species it was

Haha. He didnt half make me jump. I was shovelling **** and i stood on his tail and he shot across my feet! I got closer to take the bad photos as he was fleeing my feet!

So he looks like a grass snake by the looks of the pics.

 

[outofthefire]

What you can see of the markings just behind its head in the first pic i'd say grass snake. They have a distinctive cream then black marking on their "necks"

 

[armalites]

I'd have crapped myself if I uncovered that It does look like the sort of place a grass snake would hang out.

I friend of mine got tagged by an Adder while hanging a field gate. His leg swelled up and when he went to hospital he saw and Indian doctor who knew quite a bit about snakes and said that at certain times of the year their venom is far more potent than other times.

 

[reb78]

I'd have crapped myself if I uncovered that It does look like the sort of place a grass snake would hang out.

I friend of mine got tagged by an Adder while hanging a field gate. His leg swelled up and when he went to hospital he saw and Indian doctor who knew quite a bit about snakes and said that at certain times of the year their venom is far more potent than other times.

I did kind of jump (quite high!). I wear wellies most of the time outside so i wasnt at much risk of getting bitten even if was an adder as i didnt have my hands down there.

Yep, the adder bites themselves arent a great issue - the swelling and potential cellulitis, especially if it gets infected is the big issue (farm vet and we see them in horses and farm animals - I ought to know how to recognise the actual snake really!!)

 

[RichardM]

Grass snake

 

[premmington]

My little border terrier cross dog will be 17 at Xmas.

When she was 18 months old - she got bitten by an adder - her face swelled up so bad it closed her eyes - she had to stay at the vets for five days (cost a fortune).

Now when she sees a snakes - she runs in the opposite direction - barking really loud.

This summer when walking her on the common - she had a job to keep up with us - her back legs are getting bad.

Then there was a load of barking and she was gone like a greyhound - fastest quarter of mile you have ever seen for an old dog. She would not stop barking till her feet was off the floor and she was in the back of the car.

As old as she is - she is not that senile - she has forgotten the pain of an adder bite to the nose.

 

[colnerov]

I'd still be running away never mind wondering what species it was

Run far, run fast!!

 

[500e]

Looks healthy we have a big grass snake in our mesh compost bin, I gave the shed skin to the school, we also seem to have a fair few toads (food for them I think)
PS. you can always ask to see its teeth

 

[pedrobedro]

Not seen any grass snakes round here for years but the last one I saw looked just like that, it was sunning on a sheet of fibreglass at the bottom of the local scrapyard. They do like compost bins for the heat and will use them to lay eggs in.

 

[reb78]

THis is the second one in about ten days. The compost where the horse much goes is warm and steaming so i suspect a good place for him (keep saying him but goodness knows and i wasnt going to sex it) to lay.