I was at this lake this weekend https://maps.app.goo.gl/zna6tGNQXwDQ99A19 . I was there from 1:45 PM to 3:00 PM. I walked along the shore, carefully examining the tall yellow grass. The only thing I saw were the tails of water snakes (grass snakes/Natrix species) slithering into the water.
Should I go earlier to find the snakes? Or was I looking in the wrong direction?
I was looking for snakes basking on the shore, not swimming. The weather was cloudy, the temperature was about 15°C. The grass was tall, so they may have seen me before I saw them. Any tips on time of day, technique, or how to approach them without scaring them off and take photos?