RAUK - Archived Forum - Posts by Vanderklam:

Hey Robbie,

Kev here!! Nice shots!! Still have some head shots for you as part of your I.D. records. Still updating the disc whenever im out in the field so will pass it over to you soon.

Reserach coming to a close now as started to find a fair few mating pairs over the site, so not really worth disturbing them as i have the data required to complete my thesis. Will try to pop up this coming weekend one last time before I head for canada, so will give you a call to exchange ID data.

Hope new job goes ok dude, will be in touch

Hi Dan,

Having just completed a uni study on vipera berus (and having taken data from quite a few specimens!!) I can say that i have seen a fair proportion of specimens exhibiting this yellow/orange colouration to the tail tip. Would be interesting to propose its purpose...........any suggestions from anyone??

Hey Mibes, they came out pretty good then I see? The first shot is especially good as you have managed to capture the yellow colouraytion of the belly

I have noted that a number of my adder subjects for my MSc thesis have exhibited an uncharacteristic orange colouration to the tip of the tail. This had been observed in at least five specimens caught thus far this season. Has anyone else noticed this unique attribute among other populations?? Im aware that many juvenile viperids utilise tail colouration to lure prey, but could this be the case for V. berus?? Any other suggestions??

Hey mibes,

Toronto was great. Spent much of my time around lake ontario. Caught a few freshwater turtle species and a few Northern Water snakes (Nerodia spiedon). Didnt manage to see any other species of snake unfortunately as temperatures were unusually low for that time of year.

*ATTENTION ALL CHARTERHOUSE HERPERS*

Does anyone that regularly visits the charterhouse site, Mendip Hills AONB, be kind enough to pass on their experiences of viewing adders in late september/ early october??

Researchers at The BBC Natural History Unit have contacted me regarding this issue, thus I require information regarding the abundance of adders people come across at this time of year specific to Charterhouse. Obviously this is very much dependant on local climatic conditions at this time of year, but any relevant information would be very much appreciated.

Regards

Kev

TP,

I believe the producer is Wendy Darke. The series is titled "Deadly 60", presented by Steve Backshall. My ties to this programme has been solely through the reserachers, Charlie Bingham and John Gray. Following an unfortunate climbing accident involving Steve, all scheduled filming had to be suspended. They have since contacted me requesting that they film in early October. I have expressed my concern stating that the chances of getting the proposed sequences would be challenging at this time of year.

Kev

***Message for T.P***

Hey,

I noticed you were conducting ongoing reserach into the re-classifed Bitis armata. Are you also  conducting specimen I.D surveys???

I was in De Hoope nature reserve in January with the University of Exeter and found a juvenile specimen (I think!!) close to a stone wall in the car park, which I also managed to photograph. Would yhis photo prove useful in aiding your study at all??

Regards

Kev

T.P,

Not sure which car park exactly (I was asleep in the van!!). I remember a footpath then a board walk to the left of the path which took you directly onto the dune system (stunning it was too!). The specimen was found tightly coiled under a loose rock (quite late in the morning/early afternoon ) that had been removed from the wall. It was actually within the vicinity of the car park. It was no more than 15 cm max as i remember I captured it using my scorpion tweezers!! Would you prefer me to email you the pics or post it here???

Kev

More info: Photo taken on Jan 22nd at 11:27 am, but thats all the detail I have unfortunately, hope this is viable info for you.

By the way, tried to pm you and it says you have reached your limit for recieved pm's????

Kev

Hi Tony,

I have seen an image of an Adder feeding on a Sand lizard. I believe it was in Arkive imagery. I cannot recall the photographer, but have a nose anyways.

Kev

Hi guys,

Does anyone have any idea as to how to change the shooting resolution for a Canon EOS 400D?? It is currently on a default set at 72 dpi, but Im looking to crank it up to at least 200, but I have lost the manual. Any ideas??

Kev

Hi all,

Im currently in deadlock with local habitat management authorities with regards to the management of some local heathland. Here I have used GIS to map hibernacula and surface den sites utilised by three adder sub-populations. Current methods of habitat management is predominantly controlled burning, with additional grazing where necessary. However, I wish to recommend alternative forms of habitat management that will: (a) maintain habitat structure in these key areas; (b) maintain habitat corridors to local summer quarters. Im sure we are all aware of the risks posed to herpetofauna through the use of controlled burning....so any ALTERNATIVE suggestions?

Best

VDK