Grass snakes in the pond

Despite the attentions of my cat and the local heron, our grass snake colony in the garden pond thrives.  I have seen 5 separate snakes simultaneously ambushing tadpoles on the edge of the water.  They live in the rocks around the pool and grab the tadpoles at their ease.  Most are very small - about 8 inches long and there is one larger one at around 18 inches.  The cat brings them into the house sometimes and I put them back in the pond - seems to work OK.

  • Hi Chris (from another Chris)

    Welcome to the RSPB forums. I hope that you enjoy it here :-)

    I'm so envious of your grass snakes. If I thought it would attract grass snakes, I would have a pond in my garden. Perhaps I should try it anyway...

    Best wishes Chris

    Click Here to see my photos

  • Wow Chris!! Sounds fabulous!! Do you have any pics of them? We like pics! :-)

    Welcome from me too by the way!

    "All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)

    My photos on Flickr

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous 30/06/2010 19:39 in reply to Rockwolf

    Wow too. How unusual.

    Our pond has the usual goldfish, tadpoles, frogs and dancing damselflies but the other day I saw a newt!

    Not too sure if I want snakes though.

    Anyway, thanks for letting us know Chris

    Pipit

  • I would love  a grass snake to appear in my or around my pond .. Mind you if it was only 8 inchs long there is a frog there that would have it for lunch She is a big un!

    Cheers

    AL

    If its no fun Yer no doin it right!

  • My friends have a large grass snake-2-3 feet long- in their very large pond and it has eaten all the frogs for the past 3 years (and all the frogs in their neighbours pond!).

    Seems you can have a snake or frogs but not both!!

    Rachel

    It's not always easy to hug a hedgehog.

    But that doesn't mean you shouldn't.

  • Ju

    Rockwolf said:

    Wow Chris!! Sounds fabulous!! Do you have any pics of them? We like pics! :-)

    Welcome from me too by the way!

     

    Marjus, this is the larger snake (mother perhaps) taken by Libby Owen a neighbour in early June this year.  Regards  Chris

    s

     

  • That's a very beautiful creature and a great photo. Thanks for showing it.

    Regards TJ

    ____________________________________________________________________

    Tony

    My Flickr Photostream 

  • Thats a real stunner Chris . Yhanks so much for sharing it .

    Cheers

    AL

    If its no fun Yer no doin it right!

  • Hi Chris, and welcome to the RSPB Forums.  Enjoy yourself here

    Lots of Chris's on here LOL

    Nice to hear that Grass snakes are doing well in your neck of the woods.

    They certainly like their Tagpoles and they are a tasty snack for them

    We where lucky to see a baby Grass Snake at Castlemill Sluice (a place which we bird-watch) and this one was tiny at 4 inches long or so.  It disappeared quick enough.

    Hope the cats lose interest in them soon

    Regards

    Kathy and Dave

     

  • Unknown said:

    Ju

    Wow Chris!! Sounds fabulous!! Do you have any pics of them? We like pics! :-)

    Welcome from me too by the way!

     

    Marjus, this is the larger snake (mother perhaps) taken by Libby Owen a neighbour in early June this year.  Regards  Chris

    s

     

    [/quote]

     Hi Chris, what a fab picture, so lucky to have grass snakes so close to you. Poor Tadpoles though.

    Welcome to the Forums... more pictures please. :-)