SLITHER ON THE SAND: Paul Widdowson took this shot of an eastern brown at Emerald Beach.

SLITHER ON THE SAND: Paul Widdowson took this shot of an eastern brown at Emerald Beach.

BASKING in the spring sunshine on the sand, this eastern brown snake surprised beachgoers and a flock of seagulls at Emerald Beach.

More likely to be found on sand tracks in the dunes, the snake was spotted at the water's edge before it took to the surf on Sunday afternoon.

Paul Widdowson, who captured this great image, said at first he thought the brown snake was sick or injured.

"The hungry seagulls were moving in closer and closer, but then it seemed to catch its breath, saw off the seagulls and with a flick and a hiss, calmly slid back into the breaking waves," Paul said.

"Head up, the snake swam along the beach then out on the rip in the corner until out of sight in quite big surf.

"It raised a few eyebrows on the beach especially among the surfers.

"We love nature, but don't want to share the line-up with this guy."

Steve McEwan of Reptile World identified the snake as a four-to-five foot male eastern brown.

"They do take to the water regularly, even the sea and this snake probably came off a headland," Steve said.

"The thing about the browns is that they aren't that common in Coffs Harbour.

"They usually prefer drier climates where you find their prey field mice, whereas black snakes are more common in our parts because they feed on frogs."

He said the Coffs Coast is home to 20 species of snakes and just six, including this guy, are dangerous to humans.