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Adders 2010: |
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JStroud Member Joined: 22 Jan 2009 No. of posts: 9  View other posts by JStroud |
Posted: 27 Feb 2010 Hi! I have been a long time follower and reader, but unfortunately have never posted much on this forum! Hello to the few of you that I know already on here! I thought I would make a quick thread to note down when everyone first starts observing snakes in their area this year. I read on the pinned thread that someone noted one in Dorset on 13 Feb. We had our first successful trip this morning, a rare day of sunshine let us go and have a look at a known hibernation site in an area of upland heath in North Yorkshire. It has been particularly fruitful in recent years, however we nearly always began to visit a little later than this, almost certainly in March. We managed to observe 22 snakes, ranging from yearlings to adult males (the largest of which was confirmed at over 55cm). All were spotted basking individually, with the exception of one group of 4 and one of 5. Air temperature was not measured but was guessed at between 4-6C, however there was continuing brief spells of good sunshine. Unfortunately we only managed to get one photo (of the first male - thinking it may be the only one we see!!) before the battery died! But when they are uploaded and passed on to me I will attach them to this thread. Good luck everyone, the snakes have even woken up up North so they must already be awake and partying down south!! Edit: Photo now included!  Regards, James Stroud |
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dave fixx Senior Member Joined: 13 Mar 2007 No. of posts: 319  View other posts by dave fixx |
Posted: 28 Feb 2010 Nice one,welcome to the site(as a poster).Still havent had chance to have a look this year,was hoping for today but not the conditions needed so far.Glad to see someones having some luck. 
Dave Williams davewilliamsphotography.co.uk |
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will Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 No. of posts: 330 View other posts by will |
Posted: 28 Feb 2010 Fantastic start to the year - well done. Must be a tough lot, those N Yorks adders - nromally I don't think of looking for soft southern adders til it's at least 8-9 Deg C. Perhaps the cold weather forces adders (especially males) to take advantage of any sunny weather, even if it's a few degrees below the preferred minimum temperature for emergence. Cheers Will |
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Peter Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2008 No. of posts: 260 View other posts by Peter |
Posted: 28 Feb 2010 Well if it isn`t the Stroudster!
Good to see you here James, and good work with the adder spotting. Sounds like you have found a significant post hibernation aggregation. 
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JStroud Member Joined: 22 Jan 2009 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by JStroud |
Posted: 28 Feb 2010 Thank you very much for the welcome! Hi Peter, no surprise seeing you here mate! Thanks for the welcome! The site is really good, and incredibly rich in adders. When the females begin to emerge I think along the crevice bank stretch, possibly 3-400m, if it was searched completely by a team of people (as oppose to just two of us!) I would not be surprised at all if there is up to 100 snakes there. Will be heading back when and if I can! Regards, James Stroud |
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Chris Monk Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2004 No. of posts: 157 View other posts by Chris Monk |
Posted: 28 Feb 2010 James You were obviously lucky with the weather this weekend, here in the Peak District we are still stuck with cold dull weather, hill fog and snow on the high ground. So far this year the only herps around have been the dozens of dead frogs floating in the ponds whenever the ice has thawed enough. Over the past few years we have had adders out in the first week of February with a bit of sun and air temperatures of only 4 degrees. Hoping we will get some suitable weather in the next week or so. Southern softies - better not leave a comment Derbyshire Amphibian & Reptile Group www.derbyshirearg.co.uk |
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JStroud Member Joined: 22 Jan 2009 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by JStroud |
Posted: 01 Mar 2010 We were lucky with the weather again today, I managed to return to the same site and spot 17 males, but I surveyed a much smaller area and I was on my own! There was still a good thick layer of frost on the opposite north facing banks, and we are still experience night temperatures dropping comfortably below freezing. Here are a few photos:
Regards, James Stroud |
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kevinb Senior Member Joined: 18 Mar 2009 No. of posts: 61 View other posts by kevinb |
Posted: 01 Mar 2010 Well, from the first one from Stroud to the first one from Stroud.Here is the first Adder of the year from a location in Stroud.
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Chris Monk Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2004 No. of posts: 157 View other posts by Chris Monk |
Posted: 01 Mar 2010 One of our surveyors got out on site this lunchtime and found one hardy male out at one site but none showing at the other sites he looked at. Unfortunately the sunny start to the day didn't last with quite a bit of cloud building up over the high ground and a few showers around in the afternoon. Derbyshire Amphibian & Reptile Group www.derbyshirearg.co.uk |
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Peter Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2008 No. of posts: 260 View other posts by Peter |
Posted: 02 Mar 2010 Great pics everyone. I managed to sneak out for a brief period today and spotted two males in South Wales at 12.30 to 1ish.
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tim hamlett Senior Member Joined: 17 Dec 2006 No. of posts: 572  View other posts by tim hamlett |
Posted: 02 Mar 2010 hi folks up and running in north staffs. only one male out but its a start. the kids have named him melville. he was also the last one to retreat into hibernation, or more accurately he was the last one i saw out in the autmun - early november.
cheers tim |
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dave fixx Senior Member Joined: 13 Mar 2007 No. of posts: 319 View other posts by dave fixx |
Posted: 02 Mar 2010 Just us Welshies letting the side down then,none out in very good conditions today,good find Tim and good herping this year.
Dave Williams davewilliamsphotography.co.uk |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369  View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 02 Mar 2010 Well I went and cold called on my local woodland yesterday and managed to find two male adders - Adders have been out in Nofolk I hear. Now I want to encourage people to get involved with Make the Adder count this year. I want to get as many spring counts as possible from around the UK. I will be getting this years forms I would be pleased to get these to people so that they can fill in their counts over this coming spring. Please do get in touch your adder data/counts is vital for the conservation of the species. Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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Vanderklam Member Joined: 20 Apr 2008 No. of posts: 39 View other posts by Vanderklam |
Posted: 02 Mar 2010 Hi all, Great pictures from all. Unfortunately I will not be able to get onto my sites for another 3 weeks or so (these pictures are making me impatient!). Jon - Would data from previous years be useful for make the adder count? I have GPS co-ordinates for approx 45 individuals from the past couple of years with all the typical data. Presumably you could put this to some use? Regards Kev Kevin Palmer Lecturer in Animal Management/Course Manager Reaseheath College |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Good stuff. Luv those n.York adders. If anyone can get a hibernation bank photo with multiple males on it would be very useful for me book which will be out later this year. Looks like the hard winter did no harm, as I thought/knew! 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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JStroud Member Joined: 22 Jan 2009 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by JStroud |
Posted: 03 Mar 2010 I love that snake from Stroud, it looks absolutely fantastic! Great to see them starting to come out everywhere now!
Regards, James Stroud |
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arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445 View other posts by arvensis |
Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Jon, Managed to find a closer site to you then? Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group. |
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Paul Hudson Member Joined: 24 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 33 View other posts by Paul Hudson |
Posted: 04 Mar 2010 First male adder seen today 4 miles north of Penrith, Cumbria ,6oC sunny cloudless skies , unfortunately this site is being churned up by a herd of Highland cattle!!
Paul Hudson Paul Hudson |
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Suzi Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 860 View other posts by Suzi |
Posted: 04 Mar 2010 Out for first visit to East Devon heath today. Sunny but cold wind. Just the one adder basking on the route I take. Saw it on the outward walk and on the way back when my son took some pix. Also saw one lizard. The adder route is still open to cattle grazing and is messy and churned up. Suz |
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JStroud Member Joined: 22 Jan 2009 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by JStroud |
Posted: 04 Mar 2010 Recorded 31 males at one site this morning, however I was just on my own so possibly far more. Didn't get any air temperature readings but all north facing banks were still covered in frost and any standing pools were iced over. South facing banks were hit with intermittant sunshine for about 3 hours, with all snakes observed during that time Regards, James Stroud |
- Adders 2010 |
