Kirklands' snake

I happened to be at the Sugar Grove Nature Center trying for more hummingbird photos when a visitor approached me carrying a small snake. I did not know what species it is, but the Centers staff became very excited when they saw the snake which turned out to be a Kirklands snake, threatened in the State of Illinois and listed as endangered in the few other states where it is found. I was asked to photograph the snake and send photos to a Illinois State U. professor for a positive ID. I asked the visitor who was holding the snake to move into a shaded area to avoid having the snake overheat in the direct sun, took a few photos showing its features and the snake was then released at the site it was found. Not a real exciting photo session, but you don't get to photograph a free roaming rare species everday!

Canon T3i
1/500 @ F-7.1 ISO 200
Canon 18-55mm lens @ 55mm plus a 12 mm Xtube.
Spot metering, in bright shade.