Green Whip Snake - Couleuvre Verte Et Jaune - Zornnatter - Biacco (Hierophis Viridiflavus), 09-2021, Monteggio, Ticino, Switzerland

My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...

Green Whip Snake - Zornnatter - Biacco - Couleuvre Verte Et Jaune - Hierophis Viridiflavus -09-2021, Monteggio, Ticino, Switzerland

More TICINO/TESSIN Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili... (the website exists in ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS, ITALIANO, ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)

My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI

THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO:
If you think this snake looks kind of angry, I'd say you're right: it certainly wasn't happy to see me. This type of snake - a western whip snake (Hierophis viridiflavus) is normally very shy; in my experience it flees with enormous speed as soon as it senses or sees a human approaching - unless it thinks it's already too late for fleeing (like when you surprise it in your cellar and it can't get away, which happened to a neighbor once).

In those latter instances, it's very aggressive: it hisses loudly and gets into an upright position like a cobra, and if that doesn't help it will bite you and sometimes not let go (but to be clear, although a bite may be very painful and people with a phobia of snakes might die of fear, this snake is completely harmless 😉)

The German name for the snake alludes to its short-tempered character: it's called "Zorn-Natter", which means as much as "anger-snake" (although "Natter" is the German word only for non-venomous snakes in Euorpe, not snakes in general). It's one of the biggest snakes to be found in Switzerland, and can grow to a length of almost 2 meters.

Now this snake DID see me approach (probably long before I myself saw the snake) - still, it didn't flee. It was early September, and I was looking for western green lizards (Lacerta bilineata) in the fly honeysuckle shrub right outside my garden, when I suddenly realized a big branch stretching over the leaves wasn't a branch at all.

Because the snake didn't flee I believed it hadn't seen me, and I assumed its head was on the far end (both ends of the snake's body were hidden in the foliage), so I tried to find an angle where I could see the head in the hope of a usable photo.

No such luck: because it was the wrong end. Now the other end of the snake's body was pretty close to me and only maybe 1.5 meters away, but from my elevated point of view it was hidden under the leaves. When I slowly went down to my knees to take a peek, I suddenly looked right into a pair of eyes that fixated me with the not very friendly stare you see in this photo. But why didn't the snake flee? This was strange (though I was grateful since it's not easy to get such a shot of an animal that is normally so shy).

And then I saw the reason: only 40 centimeters away from the snake there was a huge male western green lizard, basking in the sun. Now it all became clear: I had obviously interrupted the "biacco" (which is the snake's local Italian name) just as it was getting ready to have a juicy lizard lunch. Much as my presence caused the snake discomfort and certainly fear, it just wasn't ready to let go of such a whopper of a meal. The lizard was blissfully unaware of either me or its impending doom, and thus I found myself faced with a terrible dilemma.

You see, western green lizards are my favorite animals, and although I adore snakes too, the tiny local western green population - already under permanent siege by the many cats in the village and always on the verge of perishing - has grown close to my heart. After observing these lizards for so long, I know most individuals by their color patterns, and the loss of any of them really gets to me. But unlike with the cats (which is a human problem that the cats - whom I love dearly as pets - aren't to blame for), this snake was a natural enemy, and it also had to eat, so I knew the right thing to do was to let nature run its course.

But knowing what the right thing to do is, and actually DOING the right thing, are two different pair of shoes. To my shame I decided to interfere (I honestly, REALLY am not proud of that, and I'm not kidding, but it is what it is). Once that decision was made, I quickly acted.

I didn't want to chase the snake away because that seemed mean (and the fella hadn't done anything wrong), so rather than that I hoped I could catch the lizard's attention. What I actually did (and I promise that is the honest-to-God truth): I made a wave-like movement with my arm and hand. This was - obvisously - the sign for "Snaaake!!!" that I was sure would transcend the human-lizard communication barrier - and I'm sure it WOULD have, had the lizard not been happily dozing with its eyes closed.

So I whispered: "Duuuude, there's a huuuuge snake right next to you!" Naturally, I said this in Italian (these lizards have never been outside our village, so I knew they didn't speak English 😉 ). No reaction. So in a final desperate attempt I shook the branch the lizard sat on, and now it dazedly openend its eyes.

It took the target of my clumsy rescue attempts maybe a second to realize a two-legged, giant monster was shaking its residence, but then it quickly dove into the foliage for cover - but not alone: the snake was right behind it! Western whip snakes are extremely agile hunters, so through my idiotic action I might have doomed my green friend (who had no idea there even was a snake lurking when I caused him to move) after all.

Truth is, I don't know what happened. Hunter and prey disappeared at the same time, and then it was all quiet; I didn't hear the slightest noise that would have hinted at a struggle. When I came back to the shrub an hour or so later I spotted a male Lacerta bilineata that I'm pretty sure was the one I had tried to save.

It didn't move when I approached and was either paralized with fear (or shock after a narrow escape), or it just thought I hadn't seen it and relied completely on its camouflage. Either way, this fella allowed me to make the best close-up and even macro shots I was ever able to make of the species (you can find those on my website via my profile in case you're interested).

Who knows, I keep telling myself the little fella decided to pose like that out of gratitude... 😉

I hope you like the photo (and sorry if I bored you with my lengthy post ) Greetings to you all and have a lovely day/evening!

Tags:   Hierophis viridiflavus Green Whip Snake Zornnatter Couleuvre verte et jaune Biacco Culebra Verdiamarilla sony dsc-rx10m4 Lacerta Bilineata gogoschka Western Green Whip Snake green Animals Snakes Reptiles schlange sony rx10m4 reptil grün vert verde animal lacerta bilineata monteggio rx10m4 sony snake portrait portrait animal portrait portraits serpente serpent natter snake snake eyes eyes eye contact nature wildlife

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Roe Deer, Female | Capreolus Capreolus | 06-2022 | Ticino | Switzerland

My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...

More TICINO/TESSIN Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili... (the website exists in ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS, ITALIANO, ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)

My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI

In case you're interested, you can find the COLOR VERSION of the photo above here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/other-fauna?pgid=krc12ip9-c98c9...

ABOUT THE PHOTO:
Those among you who regularly go to the trouble of reading the (far too lengthy 😉) explanations that come with my photos will be aware that my Flickr gallery and my website ( www.lacerta-bilineata.com/other-fauna ) only show what I can capture in my garden or within a radius of a couple of meters around it.

I find operating within such a limited space (we're talking about approximately 40 square meters) poses an interesting challenge, and it makes this photographic journey of mine more personal, because through my daily "safaris" in my garden I actually feel more connected to all the many lifeforms that share this little oasis around my vacation home with me.

But it also gives my gallery here a distinct profile, a "theme" if you will; you as the viewer get to visit my garden with me and discover it through photography just as I do. This is important to me, because I feel it is the only "original" aspect I can offer to the viewers on Flickr that might help to make my photos interesting.

There is an obvious downside though, and it's one I had to make peace with when I decided on that approach: I knew that I would probably never capture anything other than insects, birds and reptiles, because bigger wildlife normally dare not venture close enough to my garden after daybreak for me to be able to photograph it. At least that's what I thought until one day this past June 😊.

On that day I got up before sunrise to water the garden as had become my habit during the exceptionally hot spring/summer this year; I was still half asleep and mechanically going through my garden chores, when I suddenly became aware of a pair of big, dark eyes that looked at me, obviously startled.

It was a beautiful female roe deer that apparently had been stealthily grazing in the former vineyard (now occasionally used as a horse pasture) just a few meters outside my garden, until the noise I made caught her by surprise. She looked at me alarmed for a few seconds - then she quickly took off and disappeared in the nearby woods.

Imagine my surprise and joy: It was highly unusual for this shy animal to come this close to the village after daybreak, and in almost 40 years I had only once or twice seen any wildlife coming to this vineyard during the day.

I knew from experience that roe deer are creatures of habit, so the next morning I got up at 5am, and this time I had my camera ready. I entered the garden trying to make as little noise as possible and slowly approached the edge of the old vineyard, using the bushes in my garden as cover.

And there she was: peacefully grazing just a few meters away from me. I started photographing her through the leaves of a young ash tree, but unfortunately she heard the sound of my zoom lens. She looked right at me (as you can see above), but she didn't have my scent and couldn't really make me out through the leaves.

Although she wasn't alarmed enough to flee in a hurry, lady roe deer still didn't take any chances and slowly trotted away towards the forest, every once in a while stopping briefly to nibble on some grass, then she was gone.

In the weeks that followed I would spot my doe-eyed new neighbor every now and then in the early morning hours before sunrise, and I even managed to photograph her again a couple of times, but so far this is the photo I like best. I'm aware that monochrome is rarely the way to go with wildlife, and most people prefer color, so I'm curious what you guys' verdict is.

As always, many greetings to all of you and have a happy weekend ahead, and please let me know what you think in the comments below (which I love to read, even though - as I'm sure you're all aware by now - it always takes me ages to reply, for which I'm genuinely sorry!!! 🙏 😊 👍❤)

Tags:   Reh Capreolus capreolus Roe Deer capriolo Chevreuil Corzo gogoschka lacerta bilineata lacerta bilineata Ticino Switzerland monochrome Animals SONY DSC-RX10M4 sony rx10m4 animal monteggio Black & White Tessin b/w noir & blanc schwarzweiss bianco e nero b/n blanco y negro ojos augen yeux eyes occhi doe deer rx10m4 noiretblanc roe deer portrait animal portrait portrait portraits eye contact nature wildlife

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Labyrinth Spider (Agelena labyrinthica) & Sweat Bee (Andrena Sp.) | 05-2022 | Ticino | Switzerland

My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...

More TICINO/TESSIN Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili... (the website exists in ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS, ITALIANO, ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)

My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI

A version in color of this photo (and of one where the spider attacks and is in focus) you can find here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/other-fauna?pgid=krc12ip9-c9a0a...

THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO:
I was trying to get a good shot of a labyrinth spider in my garden, when suddenly this little sweat bee got caught in the web. As the bee frantically tried to escape the sticky trap, the spider attacked. I thought the little bee was all done for, but to my surprise, it used its sting to great effect.

The spider attacked again and again, but it had huge respect of the little fella's sting, and it just couldn't get the right angle to overwhelm the bee and tie it up. Eventually, the spider retreated, and the little guy made it out alive and unharmed.

Now for those of you who feel sorry for the spider that lost a juicy meal, don't worry: that web of hers was incredibly efficient, and she feasted like a queen every day during the time I was there (which is probably partly the reason why she gave up relatively easily on the little bee).

In case you're interested, you can find the color version of this photo and of one where the spider attacks and is in focus through the link above, but the reason I prefer the one in b/w (intentionally "over-sharpened" to create a "grainy", "grungy" look ;-) and with the focus on the little bee is that it reminds me of the posters for horror/sci-fi B-movies of the 50s like 'Tarantula' or 'Them' - and I adore those 😉

As always, many greetings from Switzerland; try to stay out of the heat and let me know what you think in the comments 😊

Tags:   sony dsc-rx10m4 gogoschka Lacerta Bilineata agelena labyrinthica Andrena sp Animals Insects Spiders sony rx10m4 predator and prey animal insect ragno arraigné spinne spider ticino tessin schweiz monochrome black and white schwarzweiss b/n n/b monteggio Black & White rx10m4 sony macro makro nature wildlife

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Looking Close on a Friday Theme: Embossed Glass

This is a repurposed bottle that has been warped so it has dents in to hold easier. We use it to dispense our balsamic vinegar.

Really appreciate all your favourites, comments and views. HLCoF

Tags:   Looking close... on Friday! Embossed Glass glass embossed reflection square BSquare 500x500 close close up indoor indoors tabletop letters Macro EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Kate Highley 2024 bottle

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