Is this a grass snake?

[Baggagerack]

I saw this in my garden yesterday. I’m hoping it’s a grass snake but all the photos I’ve found online show yellow markings round the head area but this one had a white band round its neck. The rest of it looks like a grass snake I think, and I can’t find any other snakes that have a band marking except a fairly small American one. So I’m hoping all you gardening folk will be more familiar with grass snakes than I am. I just want to be assured it’s a native grass snake and not someone’s pet on the loose. The photo’s not brilliant but it caught me by surprise and was moving at a fair old rate.

I would never have thought that was a grass snake, that white collar is scary

Yes, a grass snake - adders are smaller in comparison. Lucky you!

I always thought grass snakes were tiny, like a big worm or something, that thing looks huge!

Wow gorgeous! Was it smelly? I've heard they use unpleasant scent as a defence mechanism, they will also try to throw up on you.

@Deadringer

I always thought grass snakes were tiny, like a big worm or something, that thing looks huge!

Grass snakes can grow to well over a metre in length.

It's like one of those 'find the cat' photos on Facebook 😂

Just spent 5 minutes staring at a twig. Ffs

Another one who could only see a twig and a step, zoomed in and everything! Finally spotted it!

sycamorecottage so i have just discovered. Tbf i live in Ireland and we don't have them.

Ahhhhhh, now I see it!!!!

Another one who thought ' it's a joke? That's a twig!'

😂 I was looking at the stick too

Twig here too

Yes! I was thinking that snake is tiny and really thin or that step is massive! No advice on the snake, I'd have died if I'd found it, I'm def not a snake fan!

I've just been out to measure & the snake was 2ft/60cms & as I've learnt, he could grow to nearly double that length, astonishing. I always thought they were small things too. The stick however is only 9" long and didn't fair well in yesterday's downpours. Thanks again to everyone for the information & a lot of laughs. Watch out for snakes, you never know when you'll see one 😂

This has given me a good chuckle, as all I could see at first was the string/twig/straw!

My cat found one in the garden last year, frightened the life out of me when I first saw it as never seen one before. Ran in to get my camera to take a photo, but it was slithering under a large bush when I came back so no photo. Not seen one since.

Furries they certainly catch you by surprise don't they? I was lucky DH was sitting nearby with his phone & was quick enough to get a quick video, I was surprised at how fast it moved & at the size of it. Glad this has given you a laugh, the stick has certainly added another dimension to this post 😂

Took me five mins to see the snake!

Grass snakes can grow to well over a metre in length.

Oh my word, lord have mercy!