 |
|
|
Posts by Kraftykarl: |
| Author | Message |
|
Kraftykarl Member Joined: 06 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 7  View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 06 Apr 2007
Topic: RAUK field trip
Wait For Me! Only just joined. I intend to attend this field trip tomorrow morning at LCP.A little about me. I am 43 and have been interested in the UK herps since my teens (no official credentials though). Look forward to meeting some of you. Sorry about the short notice. I feel a bit like a gatecrasher really. Regards, Karl. |
|
Kraftykarl Member Joined: 06 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 7 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 08 Apr 2007
Topic: RAUK Field Trip 7.4.07 - Smooth Snake
Thanks for posting the pictures Rick. I have emailed the GPS co-ordinates of our finds at Lightwater, Crooksbury and Hankley to you and all who were there except for our completely certified Smooth Snake handler who had his own GPS anyway and did not leave me his email address. Enjoyed the whole day. Thanks to all involved and glad that some of you were able to visit the other sites. That was the first time I have seen a Surrey Smooth Snake and it really rounded the whole day off nicely. Thanks to Steve for pointing us in the right direction at Hankley and for the Car Park directions at Crooksbury. |
|
Kraftykarl Member Joined: 06 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 7 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 08 Apr 2007
Topic: RAUK Lightwater field trip 7 April 2007
Far right. Black T Shirt and shaved head. Karl |
|
Kraftykarl Member Joined: 06 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 7 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 09 Apr 2007
Topic: RAUK Field Trip 7.4.07 - Smooth Snake
It is good that you were there with us Mark. I do not think that the Smooth Snake would have stuck around for long to pose for pictures. I noticed that you and Paul seemed to have an "eye" for spotting things. Apart from another trip to Dorset last week it was the first bit of herping I had done in quite a while I was starting to worry if my eyesight is getting worse. maybe I am just out of practice. Karl. |
|
Kraftykarl Member Joined: 06 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 7 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 07 May 2007
Topic: Smooth Snakes Found In The Far East
I was recently reviewing records of sites at which Smooth Snakes have been reported in the UK. One
site(near to Peaslake in Surrey) struck me as particularly interesting because it appeared
represent the most Easterly colony. Further checks indicated that some of the reports are quite recent.
Out of curiosity I decided to arrange a Herping trip to investigate the area. Yesterday morning Rick (St. Rick) and myself met up close to the site to see if we could find any evidence of
this reported colony. I was armed with my GPS unit (great for finding your way back to the car!) and Rick with the largest ordnance survey map I have ever seen in my life.
The actual site is a quite small piece of heathland within a much larger area of mixed
woodland. The weather was a little cold and that combined with limited size of the heath made me
suspect that we had set our alarm clocks in vain.We spent a largely futile first ten minutes
wandering around getting the lay of the land. Eventually Rick found a likely looking piece of
refugia which turned out to be providing much need shelter to a few ants.Out of pure stubbornness
we persisted in our quest. Our luck changed when we turned over a tin to reveal both a small male
Grass Snake and small male Smooth Snake. Fired on by this success we continued the search. A female
adder was spotted basking in the open. It did not hand around for pictures. Another Grass Snake was
found and then finally we hit the jackpot again in the form of a very large female Smooth Snake. It
was quite close to sloughing which obscured the patterning quite a bit but a very impressive snake
due to its size, girth and unusually (for a Smooth Snake) prominent head.Anyway it appears that the
colony is doing well.
Later we looked for Grass Snakes at the Riverside nature reserve near Ash. No Grass
Snakes were spotted although a lot of the habitat looked very suitable. Another RAUK member
reported seeing 13 there in one day last month so it's definitely worth another visit.Quick trip
to a local pub and finally, spurred on by the recent discovery of Smooth Snakes by RAUK members Alan
Hyde and Paul (aka Snake) we searched some of the heathland near to the army firing ranges nearby.
Nothing was found but we could only search a small area of the heath in the time that we had
left.Again a place that I will certainly return to. |
|
Kraftykarl Member Joined: 06 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 7 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 07 May 2007
Topic: Smooth Snakes Found In The Far East
Never mind Mark. It would have been good to have you along. Can anybody advise me as to where I should report the Smooth Snake sightings? I know that the HCT are aware of this site.Should I send them the details anyway? if so, how do I go about it? TIA Karl. |
|
Kraftykarl Member Joined: 06 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 7 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 09 May 2007
Topic: Smooth Snakes Found In The Far East
Good one Rick.Whereabouts in the Riverside NR were the Grass Snakes? Normal size eh? Maybe. Topo maps for the whole of the UK in my little battery powered cartographic wonder. Anyway I know better than to try to convert a luddite Thanks for your company on Sunday and good luck on your hike. I noticed that the Savernake Forest is on your route. Food for thought. Karl. |
- Posts by Kraftykarl |
