Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Unexpected Visitor

We had an interesting visitor a few days ago. I happened to take a break late in the afternoon on this day and thought I'd see how hot it was outside. Stepping out onto the deck, I saw our fat cat sitting on the stones in the backyard, swatting at something. I chased him away, thinking he'd trapped yet another lizard. But on closer scrutiny, it turned out to be this:



Do you see it? It's right in the middle of the image, at the edge of the shade. Here's a closer look:



It was a gorgeous little Red-Striped Ribbon Snake. It's non-venomous, and likes to live in ponds and swamps. There's a creek a short distance from our backyard, so maybe this little one wandered away from there.



After I shooed our fat cat away, I ran inside to get my camera. But this little guy didn't budge at all. I don't know for how long our cat was terrorizing him there, for he sat completely still; a beautiful little model for my pictures.



Husband came home from work just about then and picked it up and relocated it to our vegetable patch. It did emit a foul-smelling odor in self-defense, but I'm sure it was safer within the fenced patch, away from the cats.



Hope it's cooler where you are than here. We've had 100+ degrees for the past 4 weeks straight. If you have lots of rain, do send us some.

29 comments:

ArtSparker said...

I have had the experience of spending some time looking at a snake which changed its mind in the middle of fleeing from three of us which were observing it, it turned around and consented to be observed.

Blu said...

Great shot Bindu.

LadyFi said...

What glorious shots! And what a beautiful snake.

Sending some rain your way....

Jude said...

Lucky you,to be able to get so close!!

Indrani said...

Great captures and I wish I could send you some rain from Bangalore. :)

pink dogwood said...

He is adorable. I am glad you knew what kind it was and were not scared of it. great pictures.

Hope you get some rain. It is not raining here, but it is very pleasant in the 80s in Maryland.

Celeste Maia said...

Great photos and close up of the little snake. My last children's story is about a boy who goes to Central Africa and a snake gets into his suitcase and is brought to the boy's home across the sea. The story is about the relationship between boy and snake. I knew nothing about snakes so I had to do research and spent days at the National Library reading and learning in order to be able to write the book. I love snakes so I enjoyed your entry very much. You are quite a photographer! Beautiful garden too.

Vamsee Modugula said...

OHG - Did you just call a snake - beautiful and gorgeous?
I am not one of those girls that screams and runs at the sight of a lizard or cockroach, but snakes gross me out.

I think your pictures are good...but I didn't take a good look at them for the above mentioned reason.

When I saw the title....I was hoping to see pictures of some beautiful birds!

Chris Daly said...

What a beautiful snake. I'm glad you were able to save him. Wishing you cooler days and cooler nights soon!

meb said...

bindu, I'm not a fan of snakes, but can appreciate their beauty. Since I would not have known what type of snake it was, it would have left me a blubbering idiot trying to get my "dog"(no cat) away from it and still not getting too close. Now that I think of it, had I known it wasn't poisonous, I still wouldn't have gone near it. They just freak me out.

But I love your pictures.

Oh..my avatar is not the usual as one of my cyber-friends cat passed away and we all were sending flowers. I forgot to put it back to my kitty which is on my puter at home and I'm at work.

I only tell you this because you commented one time when I had changed it that you like the kitty better. Me too.

Mridula said...

Oh biy, it still looks scary :D to me.

Rajesh said...

Fantastic captures.

ArtPropelled said...

Pretty! Great close up shots, Bindu.

3rdEyeMuse said...

what a fantastic creature! and such great images of it, too. very nice ... and very nice of Husband to brave the self-defense-stench to relocate it. :)

bindu said...

ArtSparker - maybe something about you made it curious to observe you!

Blu, Indrani - thanks.

LadyFi - looks your rains arrive tomorrow! Thanks. :)

Jude - I was amazed that it sat so still and let me get really close.

Bhavana - we looked it up online before touching it.

Celeste - thanks. Your story sounds fascinating.

Vamsee - :) Sorry to disappoint you. But if you looked closer, you might agree that this little guy is cute.

Chris - thanks.

Meb - thanks. Sorry about your friend's cat. And yes, I do like your kitty pic better, but these flowers are there for a reason, so they are good too.

Mridula - it was the most docile thing ever. Really.

Rajesh, ArtPropelled - thanks.

3rdEyeMuse - thanks. He is a bit of a nut when it comes to creatures of any kind. I had to make him go look it up online to make sure it wasn't venomous before he picked it up. :)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

What a beautiful little snake! I'm glad you moved it to a safe spot.

We've had lots of rain here - it's a long intergalactic way to send it to you, but I'll try!

Sujata said...

Snakes....give me chills.

Very crisp pictures and nice post.

ArvindS said...

You and your husband are truly a persons of the AID world. You saved the snake and he relocated it. Good luck in you training and runs.

Unknown said...

Hi Bindu!! Had to come over and see your snake. It is beautiful!!! I am so glad you got to it before your cat traumatized it further.

SG said...

Bindu, I have to compliment you yet again on your marvelous ability to capture wonders.. absolutely beautiful!
As for heat.. I'm buring as well... so here is hoping ofr milder temperatures!

Unknown said...

Hi Bindu - I'm so glad you saved the snake. So many people are afraid of them but most of them are harmless and do such good things for the environment! Beautiful pictures - stay cool down there...
hugs

Barbara Martin said...

It's nice to see you relocated the snake to your garden where it may be a bit cooler. Cats tend to pester their prey.

Rain: I can't promise. There were some dark cloud build up this morning but no rain where I live. I expect it hailed elsewhere because our temperature dropped six degrees. Probably would seem cold where you are: 18C.

Unknown said...

Lovely series on this snake and yes its pouring cats and dogs in India for a change.

My favorite is the closeup shot of the snake's face...Thomas

Lakshmi -Celebrations said...

Great shot bindu.just came over to your blog,from Shalinis comments.just happened to check this and loved this blog.U had written about rains,Do check out my blogs for Rain,might be I can send you some rain for sure with words..LOL.Do tell me if u have felt its has rained .

Anonymous said...

the snake is smiling...

femminismo said...

Very nice photos. Brave husband, too. what would we do without them at these times, especially if we don't care for twisty, quick things? Hope it cools off for you ... soon. Jeanne in Oregon, where it's been warm too, but not 100 four days straight.

Bhavesh Chhatbar said...

Whoa! That's a beautiful snake, and you managed to get a fantastic close-up!

Bedse Caves

rocksea said...

it is so heartwarming to have such special visitors. the snake is a beauty! and how elegantly it has posed for you! such visitors make your day!

Ganesh Venkittu said...

ok....ok...ok....wait....

fundamental question..

what in the world convinced/told Raghav that he could just get hold of the snake with bare hands and take it to safe haven?..what told him it could not be venomous?....I mean did you all googled it or something when that guy was lying out there and you convinced yourself you are going to be hunky dory or something...either that or you all are doing MS (Snakes) or something like that.....

hghhhhhhhhhhhhh.....ghhhhhhhhh..I am just shivering....

பாம்பைக் கண்டால்
படையும் நடுங்கும்

I mean - if Sowmya someday says there is a snake, and assuming I am in the house, the very next minute, I will be in next door neighbor's hallway, looking at my yard...not in my yard by any stretch...