They're Back

Just about the time the iris bloom the Garter Snakes make their appearance in my backyard pond. My daughter Annika has told me that she has been seeing them. Today however was the first day that I saw one. Making it my official first one for this year. They migrate in every spring from the coastal side of the ridge where they have been wintering in relative warmth. They to come to eat my goldfish and this one would have been capable of eating even my largest ones. This one was pretty good sized as far as the ones I see in my yard go. No doubt it will catch and eat my biggest goldfish first! Oh well they get fed and I get some nice photography.For these images I used my telephoto lens with a 36mm extension tube to allow me to close focus on the snake from the edge of the pond which is only about three feet away from the basking snake. God's blessings, chris Camera Equipment Used- Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens,36mm extension tube, Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with a Bogen 3055 Ballhead. Camera Settings- AV mode, ISO 400,F stop and a shutter speed varied.