Black Racer Snake | Gone in 0.75 seconds

The sleek, agile, alert Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor), is known for its speed. The adult racer is a handsome snake with solid black, smooth dorsal scales. I spotted this beauty, coiled out in the open in a pile of leaves. This was a chance to capture on film the behavior of the coiled snake when approached ̶̶ to strike, give warning by shaking its tail, or flee. I stayed low to the ground and moved circumspectly closer. The snake was clearly aroused but did not shake its tail or strike, perhaps because it was not cornered and had many escape routes on its local turf. The snake was off the spot in 0.75 seconds and sped 3 meters away into some taller grass, raising its head to keep an eye on me. Location: Janelia Research Campus in Ashburn, Loudoun Co, Virginia.
Astonishingly, going back to the edit the video I saw a reflection of myself filming in the eye of the snake! May wonders never cease:-)
From my nature channel - Birding Visions. Most, but not all, of the videos have a bird focus. I try to include other wildlife when the opportunity arises. Some of the birds heard in this video are: song of Northern Cardinal, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, and Blue Jay call.
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Welcome to BIRDING VISIONS - portraits and sound recordings of birds and their habitats, sharing the sublime beauty of nature. These wildlife videos are both documentary and impressions of an experience. I hope you get a sense of being there: from the Rock Wren of Willis Creek Slot Canyon, Utah, singing Whinchat in the rugged heathland of coastal Norway, a band of Arabian Babblers in Israel, to soaring Kites over Kyoto, Japan.
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[@swisssights]

Very beautiful footage of this beautiful snake! Thank you for sharing! Greetings from Switzerland!

[@CliveBramham]

Thank you very much!

[@featherdude]

They are very speedy. Last summer there was a big one in Mom's back yard sunning. He spent quite a while before moving off in the bushes. Not the best tempered snakes in the world- pretty quick to bite in my experience.

[@TheJacksnipe]

Nice video!

[@violina48]

Amazing, but not too close☺ Wonderful shots, Clive!

[@CliveBramham]

These are non-venomous but they have rows of sharp teeth and like to bite if picket up :-)

[@StoilDIvanov]

Handsome snake!

[@FollowThomas]

These guys are fast!