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Posts by longcrippler: |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12  View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 May 2007
Topic: grass snake obsession
Is there a cure for grass snake obsession? After seeing maybe one every few years through my life, last year I realised they were present on my local waterside walk, since when I have spent more and more time looking for them. After half a dozen sightings last year,and using this forum to learn more about them, this year I have already had over 40 sightings, I am starting to recognise individuals, and am starting to feel that a day without grass snakes is a day with something missing. Yesterday found me lying on the grass, oblivious to what passers-by might be thinking, getting face to face with a beautiful two-footer who didn't seem to object to my presence. Is there any hope for me? |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 25 Apr 2008
Topic: Natrix - the longest!
So what's with this "Snout to vent" business? Is this the official way of measuring a snake? I assume that most of this talk of six-footers is about total length? Unless you have the snake in your hand, any assessment of length is going to be a guess, and surely most people would guess the entire length, and not try to take off a percentage for the tail? Can somebody clarify this for me please? I haven't come across a grass snake longer than a meter or so (including tail) since I was young when of course they were all monstrous like anacondas! |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 28 Jun 2008
Topic: Snake personalities
Thanks for the responses. The other day there were three snakes close together. One moved away quickly and immediately; one presumably remained oblivious to my presence and didn't move; the third (my friend) moved to the edge of the water and remained stretched out at the edge of the reeds for some time, as she's done several times before. Two other factors; this week her eyes have started to cloud and it seems they are less prone to move when pre-slough. And she's got a distinct lump like a boil on her side; if this is painful she could be less willing to squeeze among rocks? I must try watching one spot for longer; I tend to combine snake-seeking with a regular five-mile walk and sacrifice quality for quantity. Many years ago, before I became "obsessed", I was sitting on heathland in Surrey reading a newspaper when I became aware of movement and saw a male adder heading straight for me. If I'd held my nerve he would have gone under my legs but I panicked and so did he. |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 21 Jun 2008
Topic: Snake personalities
Most grass snakes I see either remain coiled if they're not aware of me or disappear from sight soon after they are. There's one I've seen several times recently who moves away at first, but then either drapes herself among the reeds at the edge of the water or goes for a short swim before heading back to sit on the rocks about a metre in front of me. Is this a particularly bold individual? Is it possible that after several encounters she has grown accustomed to my scent? She seems like a particularly attractively-marked specimen, with a lot of personality, but then maybe I'm biased because I see more of her and I feel she's my friend! |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 25 Jun 2008
Topic: Snake personalities
While I consider this individual my friend I don't seriously imagine the feeling is mutual!  Seriously, though, it's good to regularly see a snake who's neither motionless nor rapidly disappearing from view. I wonder whether it's partly down to the location; stones sloping down to the water's edge, then a lot of reeds. She seems to feel safe among the reeds even though she's still clearly within my view. But then others nearby disappear straight into gaps between the stones...I guess it's hard to know how a snake thinks! |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 03 Sep 2008
Topic: Fylde Coast Viviparous
Suzy, I counted 76 common lizards (the majority were young ones) one day last week on the East Devon heaths (also 10 adders, 4 grass snakes, 5 slow worms). Mind you, it took about five hours of slow walking over several miles! Mark |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 05 Sep 2008
Topic: Fylde Coast Viviparous
Suzi, 82 lizards on Woodbury Common yesterday! I went on to Aylesbeare but the weather had turned by then. The best lizard hotspot I've found is on Aylesbeare Common, just inside the reserve, along the track opposite the RSPB notice board running east parallel to the main road; 20 plus there in a few minutes last week along the south-facing verge. Mark |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 17 Feb 2009
Topic: First of the year?
A bit of warmth in the air today so I went up to Aylesbeare Common, East Devon. One male by some thick grass tussocks, one female flattened out, basking. But surely others have beaten me to it? |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 18 Feb 2009
Topic: First of the year?
Sorry, no photos (I must get a camera sometime!) I'm no expert on adder sexing, I know there's been plenty about it on this forum and it isn't so straightforward. I was going by the coloration; brown zigzag on a reddish-brown background. I stand to be corrected; is your question based on males emerging earlier? |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 17 May 2009
Topic: Grass snake altitudes
Saw a couple of grass snakes in North Wales the other week on moorland at about 330m. Is this unusually high? |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 05 Aug 2009
Topic: Refuge finds - your best
Al Would that be frogsporn?  |
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longcrippler Member Joined: 11 May 2007 No. of posts: 12 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 23 Feb 2011
Topic: Adders 2011
First two of the year on Aylesbeare Common, East Devon, Saurday 19th Feb. |
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