RAUK - Archived Forum - Posts by Alan Hyde:

Hi all,

I'm a field herper living in Hampshire uk . Just wanted to say hi and have a shot at posting a pic.

Cheers,

Alan

<img src= "http://cgi.reptilians.org/allherps/forums/uploads/Grassy_Natural2small.jpg">


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Hmmmm, Can anyone help me out here and tell me how to attatch pics?

Thanks,

Alan

Hi There, and thanks for the help and warm welcome.

Please feel free to use the picture , I'd be honoured.

Thanks again,

Alan

I have walked the heaths of Chobham, Brookwood , and Bisley Surrey since early childhood (70's). In this time I have noticed a climb in the number of berus during the 80's , and a serious drop in numbers during the 90's up untill now.

Two areas in particular are of serious concern to me , xxxxxxxx in Chobham , and Sheets Heath Brookwood. Both of these areas where extremely good with regards to berus , and at Chobham one muggy overcast day in 87 a friend and myself saw 28 in less than two hours. Sheets heath had a high number of Large berus ranging between 28-30 inches .

Sadly over these past 5-6 years I have watched the numbers drop rapidly ,and now in both areas it is very hard to even spot one.

There has been an increase in horseriders and dog walkers to both of these heaths ,and both are poorly managed in my opinion. With regards to Chobham I have often wondered whether Inbreeding or lack of prey items could have caused thier demise. This is quite a small compact area and as I said it held a large population of adders , (perhaps they ate themselves out of thier area?).

The heath I walk mostly these days is at Bisley/West end , and I have noticed the same drop in numbers over the last three years .It soon dawned on me that I have been ophotographing the same specimins over and over.

Here's a few pics

The Adder pictured in my other post on this forum was out on March 22nd. The latest I have ever seen adders is November 28th , and that was on Bisley heath.

Alan

Hi Mervyn,

Sure, I understand totaly , I didn't think before posting ."Doh!"

Thanks, and nice to meet you.

Alan

Thank you everyone for your replies and observations.

I am going to keep a much closer eye on the adders at my usual herping spots in future , and will give regular reports .

Alan

I see this male year after year , and he seems to have become quite used to my taking pictures.

I took this picture with a +1 macro lens so I could get really close .

Another shot of the same neo

Hi Tony, Caleb, and thanks.

Tony-

That's realy Strange that you say about using Scales and patterns as a means of Identification. I was lying in bed last night discussing just that with my wife. I have started to carry around a small square of white cardboard for placing the adders head on when photographing . These close-up head shots will be named and stored on disc for quick reference.

Caleb-

I use the Olympus E20 and various lens's, mostly close up macro .

I am saving up for the Tele extension tube that is made for this camera , but unfortunately it's veeeeery expensive

Not all , but most of my herp pictures are posed unfortunately . I prefer to actually get down close and intimate with the subject rather than zoom in .

This may sound comical but, as my main interest lies in venomous snakes I actually made my own sort of shield to protect my hands during shooting.

I have a square of clear perspex (18in x 18in) . At the bottom of this I have cut a perfect fitting circle that clips over the lens. Using this I can actually get down in the heather up close to the adders, and all the time my hands are protected ,plus I can see what the snake is up to at all times. Sounds corny , but it works for me .

The main reason I came up with this idea was 1- so I can still use my favoured method , getting close. 2- A visit to St Lucia where I was hoping to see B .caribbeaus,(but didn't), and 3- a stab in the knuckle with one fang from a grumpy V.berus.

I hope this helps ,

Cheers Tony, Caleb

Alan

Caleb,

You're welcome , and thanks again. No , luckily the bite wasn't serious at all. It was only one fang and he barely penetrated because he hit the bone of the knuckle.

The snake was very cold , and the strike sluggish . I only recieved a small purple dot on the knuckle. It was foolish of me to be so close and not pay attention . My fault entirely , and definitely not proud of it .

Cheers, and take care,

Alan

Great tips Tony , Thanks.

By 'Appropriate licence for rare species'I'm assuming you mean the smooth snake and Sand lizard?  I never come across these two species where I look , only when visiting Studland , and have never photographed either.

I couldn't agree more on the ethics involved with regards to reptile welfare , and have upset many regulars on other forums with rants regarding Imorting , captivity, and handling of wild specimins. I'd be interested to know your thoughts on removing specimins from the wild and releasing in the same spot at a later date. My theory is that the snake would be so stressed by its captive ordeal that it would move on , thus this results in the same situation as a relocation. 

I also use the left hand method of distraction when taking photographs, because as you said the snake will automaticly take up the deffensive position. But I must confess I've never belly crawled up to a basking berus , and must give that a go , thanks.

One other point you mention is early evening searching. I've always had great success looking early morning , or on cloudy muggy days , or after rain , but I've never seen much in the evenings, .

Cheers Tony ,

Alan

I seem to recall reading somewhere that a slow-worm was once kept in captivity for over 50 years. Has anyone else read/heard this , or was it some crazy dream?

Alan

Morning Wolfgang , everybody.

I'm affraid that's not so on my regular patches. Natrix natrix is also in decline where I walk.

It's not my ability to find either , as during the 80's I could find absolutely looooads! So many that I stunk to high heaven . My favourite game would be to sit in the passenger seat of my friends car on the return home , dampen my hands with water to refresh the smell , then place them infront of the airvents pointing in his dirrection :¼D!!

I read elsewhere on this forum a post from Tony saying a population of large specimins is often an indication that they are infact in decline. Well , in the eighties all these natrix were large thick set specimins. I rarely see these now , usually just thin 2-3 footers.

Cheers,

Alan

PS Looking forward to your pics from this past weekend.

Thanks Gemma , Caleb.

What amazing little creatures

Glad to hear it wasn't one of my dreams

Alan

Hi Wolfgang , great pic as always.

One question though , well two actually ... how do you sex natrix in the field? Also , you said you borrowed a dig camera for the pics , do you know wht make it was?

Cheers.

Alan

Anyone have any idea why the sand lizard vanished from chobham common in the late 70's?

Thanks,

Alan