Yuk, but at least you know why the hummingbirds have not been coming around or maybe have been food. I sure hope not and sorry that I know nothing about snakes to tell you about this one. Did you just leave it there and it went away? We get hummingbirds if there is something they want and has nothing to do with weather here. I have a Pineapple Sage that blooms in the late Fall, Winter and sometimes into the Spring and as long as it is in bloom the hummingbirds come no matter what the weather is like.
I love reptiles, but I wouldn't want one around my hummingbird feeder. I kind of doubt he's been eating them though because those little guys fly at the speed of light. But he's probably enough to scare them off.
I have a friend who's pretty good with reptiles, so I'll send him your pic and see if he can ID it, but I did a quick Google and it probably is a garter.
What a surprise for you when you saw it! How did the snake climb up there?
@darsphotos He retreated when he saw me taking the pictures because I had to walk by to get a good position. He may have been after the frogs that also sit on the trellis the feeder is attached to. Time will tell.
@pasadenarose I looked out my kitchen window to see if there were any hummingbirds around the feeder and saw an extra "branch" by it. When I looked closer I saw it was the snake I of course ran for the camera! HE may have been after the frogs that also sit on the trellis a lot!
I sent your pic to my friend last night and here is his response. I didn't have an answer for him regarding what state you are in.
It starts with him answering my question: Can you ID this snake?...
"No, not really. Is it here in California? It looks like it could be a Pine, Gopher, Garter or Water snake, and i would say that it is capable of taking a Hummingbird by just sitting still and ambushing them when they land to eat/drink."
:-(
Is there somewhere else you can hang the feeder?
@pasadenarose I am in Alabama and there are other feeders they could use and are not at any of them. I am sure the snake had nothing to do with it. Thanks for checking! ;~}
@myhrhelper I don't think he did and it WAS a quick trip for the camera and outside in a flash to get it before he retreated back into the trellis. Thanks, Kathy!
Boo
@digitalrn Thanks,Rick. That would be a good thing!
I have a friend who's pretty good with reptiles, so I'll send him your pic and see if he can ID it, but I did a quick Google and it probably is a garter.
What a surprise for you when you saw it! How did the snake climb up there?
It starts with him answering my question: Can you ID this snake?...
"No, not really. Is it here in California? It looks like it could be a Pine, Gopher, Garter or Water snake, and i would say that it is capable of taking a Hummingbird by just sitting still and ambushing them when they land to eat/drink."
:-(
Is there somewhere else you can hang the feeder?
cool catch though.