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Puff Adder
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Puff Adder

by Howard Cheek

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted May 19, 2013275 views11 comments
I shot this early yesterday morning moving in & around our water course. Plenty of toads now, their favorite food. Here the Adder has paused near a few bees as it made its way along. Not too happy with my presence, evidenced by the spread head..
And I know you can hear it hissing:biggrin:

Eastern Hognose Snake AKA Puff Adder, Hissing Adder, Spreading Adder, Blow Viper, Hissing Sand Snake.
F/13, 1/200th, ISO 640, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x with a 580EX flash using a soft-top.

Comments

11 comments
Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on May 19, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Howard:

Yes I can hear it hissing and I am already running the other way rather that shooting this.

Fabulously sharp on the eyes. Great to see the bee as well. :toast:
Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments
Comment posted by Claude Dagenais on May 19, 2013 at 4:05 PM
Looks threatening Howard, are they poisonous? well done in capturing this fellow's bad mood. :toast:
Registered on April 10, 2013, 56 Posts, 571 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on May 19, 2013 at 8:26 PM
The head-on view with the expression, the flattened head, and tongue out puts this snake image way up there, Howard. Perfectly exposed as well, Howard. :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by keith mitchell on May 20, 2013 at 4:25 PM
Howard it looks a bit scary very well done getting this super image.

Keith. :smile:
Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on May 21, 2013 at 1:33 PM
This one definitely has the menacing look down pat. That's an amazingly flat head. Excellent capture. These are the one's that will play dead if you keep threatening them and the neatest part of their playing dead is that if you roll it right side up, it will roll right back into the "dead" position. They are not poisonous and make decent pets (according to what I've read)...while I've rolled "dead" ones over, I'd never make one a captive.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on May 29, 2013 at 4:35 PM
The head on shot works especially well here Howard. Although I do find any of these type of snakes rank very high at the top of my avoidance scale. :biggrin:

Congrats on the EP / WP in this category last week. :toast:
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on May 29, 2013 at 6:41 PM
Howard,
Another present from the Birthday Snake . . . :cool:
Congratulations on the WP . . . :toast:
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on May 30, 2013 at 12:32 AM
Howard: Can't say that snakes are my cup of tea but this one looks pretty good. Good choice on using your long lens! >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on May 30, 2013 at 4:07 AM
How perfectly reptilian! I didn't know of a snake that could flatten its head-- pretty impressive. Not as impressive as this shot of it, Howard. My word!! Congrats on the capture and the Pick! :cool:
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on May 31, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Congrats on the WP, it's a great look at this neat snake.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Ray Whitt on June 6, 2013 at 6:22 PM
Excellent! and to ma a bit frightening shot. Congrats on the weekly pic Howard.

Ray
Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments