As children growing up on a farm in Western Australia, we were always told to be on the look out for snakes in spring, summer and autumn. There were and are many places for snakes to hang out, in long grass or under old pieces of corrugated iron lying around the sheds. I thought you might like to see some of the snakes local to our area of Western Australia. The following words and photos courtesy of my big brother.
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"Whenever I can I enjoy getting up close to
snakes when they are crossing the road. I drive very close to them hoping to
stop them in their tracks for a photo session. The species which cooperates the
best is our Western Brown Snake or Gwardar. The interesting thing about these
snakes is their diversity of colours and markings. I must point out that these
are very venomous, but also very shy and quick to escape danger so I don’t get
out of the vehicle nor turn it off, just wind down the window and reach out
with my phone camera. Enjoy.
Large pale brown Gwardar seen crossing the
studio track.
Dark brown example crossing the south road.
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Tail end of a big boldly marked Gwardar down a
mouse hole. One tap on his tail and he shot down further and disappeared.
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Another boldly striped Gwardar hiding in some
cut hay. His black head poking out to survey what’s going on."
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I hope you enjoyed these photos and information about the Gwardar. From time to time my brother emails family and friends about different events and photos on farm life and wildlife in the area. He is kindly allowing me to blog about the things you might find interesting.
Anne xx
I am quite happy that we don't have dangerous snakes on the loose here in the UK. I loved my Grass Snake garden visitor last year and was happy to get up close as I knew he wasn't dangerous! I won't add that the first time I met him - I ran indoors and locked the door behind me!
ReplyDeleteYour brother might laugh but I have nightmares about these critters. I think my Mum taught me to hate them because she saw a snake every week for the first year of her life in Australia. For a German girl who had been warned about our venomous snakes that was incredibly scary. Good on your brother for treating them with respect though and enjoying their beauty. Cherrie
ReplyDeleteOh wow, so different from here in the UK. I have to admit that I would be rather nervous near them though :) xx
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see some of the wildlife from your home area :)
ReplyDeleteNot sure I would have ever went outside as a kid with those snakes around. Creepy fellas.
ReplyDeleteI find it very difficult to like snakes!! A country girl growing up by a creek we had so many 'snake' stories, all the stories dramatically telling of the snake and his proximity to us. They are protected and rightly so and as an adult I know they actually as you say are very shy. I am so impressed by your brother's account of the snakes and his ability to see the beauty in them. I wish I could feel the same! Enjoy this time with family, love Aubrey
ReplyDeleteGlad he's a sensible fellow and stays in the car. That's where I'd be too. Those things can move so fast if they want to.
ReplyDeleteYikes ! We have grass snakes 7 adder here though I've never seen either !
ReplyDeleteI've not been a fan of snakes ever since my mother's encounter with one in the dog's water bowl over 45 years ago! Her scream brought one of our neighbours and his shotgun belting up the road. It was probably an eastern brown.
ReplyDeleteI respect them immensely and would never harm them. My husband has removed injured ones off the road when cars have deliberately run over them. If I see them, I slow down or stop to let them pass.
Thanks for sharing your brother's photos. I had no idea of the diversity of colours in your western version.
Cheers
I'm with Vicky on this one ... very, very glad that snakes of any kind are such a rarity here in the UK!
ReplyDeleteLovely to see them from such a safe distance though!