Yesterday morning, I took my lifer Western Ribbon Snake photos at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. These ribbon snakes are small, I almost missed spotting it!

Western Ribbon Snake close up, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, OklahomaWestern Ribbon Snake close up – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/800, ISO 1600, Canon 100-500mm at 500mm, natural light

Western Ribbon Snakes primarily eat amphibians, including frogs, tadpoles, and salamanders. There were two tree frogs near this snake that might have become its breakfast later in the morning.

The ribbon snake was in tall Johnson Grass, so I never did see all of its body at once. I’m okay with that, but one day I’d love to have a full body photo of this ribbon snake species.

Western Ribbon Snake at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, OklahomaWestern Ribbon Snake at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/640, ISO 1600, Canon 100-500mm at 500mm, natural light

I focused on taking close up portraits of this beautiful, little snake through the thick grasses. I’d never seen this species of snake before and I was delighted to have this one in my viewfinder.

Size wise, this ribbon snake was smaller than a garter snake and smaller than a Rough Green Snake so it might have been young.

Head on Western Ribbon Snake, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, OklahomaHead on Western Ribbon Snake – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/640, ISO 1600, Canon 100-500mm at 500mm, natural light

I wanted to share this final photo of the Western Ribbon Snake because this head on view made me laugh in the field and then again once I got this file up on my laptop screen. I love head on views of my subjects at times, and this one worked out very well.

I had a great time exploring the area of the refuge where I found the snake on foot. Steve Creek’s Canon R7 with a Canon RF 100-500mm lens attached is a great walkabout combination. Stretching my legs and challenging my hand-holding skills once again was marvelous!

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my reptile and amphibian photos in their galleries.