Snake spotting in the London Borough of Camden may seem a rather quiet, uneventful occupation. Birds surely offer a more promissing hobby? But wait! It seems there is a fairly well established feral population of rat snakes - Elaphe Longissima - Aesculapian Snake, normally native to continental Europe (as far north as the English Channel, so quite able to survive an inner London winter) living along the Regents Canal on the north side of Regents Park.
These snakes can grow up to 2 meters long, and quite thick and strong. They are mostly feeding on rats and mice (good for them!) and also thought to spend time in the summer high up in the trees which overhang the canalside path. Wow!