Hextable photographer captures incredible battle between snakes near Faversham
06:00, 03 August 2020
Photos of an incredible battle between two grass snakes over a marsh frog have been viewed thousands of times online.
Amateur photographer Steve Young from Hextable captured the dramatic scene at Oare Marshes near Faversham on Friday, and since been stunned by the response.
Having posted them on Facebook the photos have prompted a huge number of comments - drawing both praise for his skills and sympathy for the ill-fated frog.
"It's gone crazy," said Mr Young, 55. "I put them into quite a few Facebook groups and it's gone pretty mad. I suppose it's not something you see every day.
"A lot of people think it's amazing but a lot of others think 'poor frog', which I understand."
Traffic officer Mr Young, 55, said he had been a keen amateur photographer for five years, and that his passion was more for bird photography.
However he had decided to head out on a hunt for grass snakes on Friday after advice from a friend.
"He said the grass snakes were good there, so that's what inspired me to have a look," said Mr Young. "I haven't seen that many in the wild before so I thought it was a good opportunity to check them out.
"I headed down there and found the area, and within a few minutes I was seeing them swimming around. I was well made up with that because I was getting some decent shots.
"It was really hot weather - we had mega temperatures so that probably helped. Reptiles have got to warm up in the sun, and it was incredibly hot so they were very active."
At the same time, Mr Young had also noticed a number of large marsh frogs in the area.
Europe's largest frog, but not native to the UK, the marsh frog was introduced to Kent in the 1930s, and is ideal prey for the grass snakes.
"They're quite happy taking them, as frogs are their main diet," added Mr Young. "The frogs were just sitting around in the water, and grass snakes are fantastic swimmers,
"I saw them swimming and I thought if I hang around and put the time in - I was there around two hours - then hopefully I will get one close enough and maybe it will go on the hunt for a frog.
"Incredibly it happened, and then to have two of them having a tussle, that was just a bonus. It happened so fast."
He admitted the scene was "a bit brutal" but, said it was incredible to capture it.
"I was lucky my camera was set up," he added. "I was half expecting it, but something like that still takes you by surprise.
"Just by luck the opportunity was there, and there was a bit of a frenzy, and I managed to lock on the focus and get some shots.
"I was a bout 30 feet away with quite a big zoom lens.
"It's an unusual thing to see," added Steve. "That's the way it goes with wildlife - you have to be in the right place at the right time and you need a bit of luck.
"It was incredible to see something that you would normally only see on the telly. It was fantastic - although not so good for the frog.
"The snake that got hold of it ate it in about two minutes. It's a bit gruesome but it's nature at the end of the day."
Since posting the photos on Facebook, the photos have drawn between 2,000 and 3,000 responses in just two days, and have also won acclaim in the Self Isolating Bird Club, set up by TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham during lockdown.
Mr Young is also thinking of entering the photos in some photography competitions, but might avoid entering the contest run by TV show Countryfile.
"Their theme was 'bright and beautiful', and I don't think it comes under that!" said Mr Young.
More of Steve Young's photos can be seen on his website www.naturaphotos.co.uk
