Adder (Vipera berus)

a handsome beast, Lee, and you kept your nerve to get the shot.

Nice capture, lots of dogs get bitten around here but rarely people

Adders are not aggressive unless you go poking them and even then they would rather escape. They don't have big mouths so they can't bite a human leg but they can bite fingers, hands and feet. We have followed one from just 2 feet away for about 5 yards as it slithered through heather and it just kept an eye on us and never even stopped. We took care to move slowly and carefully. It was a real beauty. The one in the picture gave us a hard look as you can see but then it ignored us and we backed off so as not to disturb it further.
Lee

LOL Oh Lee.... your tale had me in stitches!!!!

Adders really are very attractive snakes, aren't they. I'm so glad you didn't upset this one too much lad. And had the foresight to take a picture of him too!!

Well done laddie.

Scary snake , but great shot , brave photographer

mo

Mo
Not so brave Mo, these snakes are ok providing you treat them with respect and don't try picking them up. Normally they just want to get away from people. If you are quiet and slow they will tolerate your presence and get on with their lives. Lee

Nice shot, hope to see some on Mull next moth.
As you say, snakes dont usually attack people unless threatened. I have stood by accident on a Tiger snake and had a Dugite slither over my (Booted)foot.Neither made any attempt to bite I have also stood unintentionally an inch away from a Death Adder while wearing my Japanese Safety Boots--Thongs. They are reputed not to strike unless you touch them. I made no attempt to confirm the theory.

Alex.