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Early adder sightings: |
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Caleb Forum Coordinator Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 448  View other posts by Caleb |
Posted: 12 Mar 2003 I remember reading a while ago (I think it was in Malcolm Smith's book) that adders occasionally come out on warm days in winter, and have been seen basking on snow. Has anyone here seen them in the winter? The earliest I've ever seen up here in NE England was mid April, the latest was late September. I'm sure someone can do better than that... |
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Caleb Forum Coordinator Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 448 View other posts by Caleb |
Posted: 17 Mar 2003 Well, I've sort of answered my own question... I saw quite a few adders out in County Durham yesterday... there was frost on the ground, and ponds were frozen over, but adders were out basking in the sunnier spots. There was also plenty of frogspawn about, but no toadspawn yet, so it looks like our adders come out at about the same time as the toads. |
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Gemma Fairchild Krag Committee Joined: 14 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 193 View other posts by Gemma Fairchild |
Posted: 17 Mar 2003 Would be interesting to study first emergences across the country. I can not recall seeing adders this early in the southern regions, so I wonder if they emerge earlier in their northern range to make the most of our poor summers? The identification pages had 3 or 4 hits for searches of Vipera berus last week so I guess they have been sighted elsewhere. ----RAUK e-Forum---- 
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Mike Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 74  View other posts by Mike |
Posted: 17 Mar 2003 > I saw quite a few adders out in County Durham yesterday... Adder them to the forum distribution maps. > There was also plenty of frogspawn about, but no toadspawn yet, This weekend we had our first toadspawn for the year.
Brickfields Park FREE 25th Anniversary Funday, 4th July 2010. Wildlife, Farm Animals, games, quizzes, refreshments and more. Fun for all. See - http://www.brickfieldspark.org/dates.htm |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 18 Mar 2003 I Adder seen on a bank where I know there are several more on 21 February nr Wareham Dorset. Bright sunny day also out on 24 February so individual animals do vary when they come out of hibernation. Another site on Poole Harbour had 3 adult and 1 juvenile Adder out on 2 march Sand Lizards also on the same site and numerous Wall Lizards on a site close by were also out. This last species comes out on any sunny day throughout the winter. British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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Gemma Fairchild Krag Committee Joined: 14 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 193 View other posts by Gemma Fairchild |
Posted: 18 Mar 2003 That's my theory blown out of the water then  ----RAUK e-Forum----
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Gemma Fairchild Krag Committee Joined: 14 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 193 View other posts by Gemma Fairchild |
Posted: 18 Mar 2003 First Common Toad spawn seen at Dartford today, Many Male and Female Common Newts observed in warm shallows. ----RAUK e-Forum----
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 28 Mar 2003 Adders - usually the smaller male <35-45cm often out in force here in SE Dorset on many sites February. Older males <55cm peak early March. Sites variable re microclimate (eg could be screened by tall conifers). When properly emerged (first weeks of March) males undertake local dispersal and establish surface dens - can form aggregations <10 snakes. Today 28/03 Nine males on hibernation bank Hartland Moor NNR; also 6 males grouped close together at Norden, a site near Corfe Castle. Five adult females also out today, several still had a coating of clay adhering to body. Have just heard from Ian Evans in Sutherland that early emergence of March 03 is exceptional - past years have been early April.
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 31 Mar 2003
Purbeck today - 2 male adders moulted - this was alwys first or second week in April, and many still adhere to this date, but it means that the spring male moult is less synchronised than it was say five years ago. Females out in force now. Some quite thin, but most in good condition. More grass snakes mating today 2male on one female. Sand lizard males active and mate searching, about 70% of one population are 'greened' up. Females basking, never more than half a metre from burrow and usually well concealed. I think the TV weatherperson said warmest March day since records began. I recorded 21deg at 1500 today. Will be in Surrey for a few days - reptile survey and translocation |
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-LAF Senior Member Joined: 03 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 317 View other posts by -LAF |
Posted: 03 Apr 2003 I heard a several years back whilst in the YHC (from a guy called Colin Fitzsimmons - BHS education officer - anyone remember ?) that Adders had been recorded in every month on Studland heath when the weather was suitable. In Lincolnshire they were out in force on the 24th of March and were probably out before (I just wasn't there). A few pics taken then can be had at: http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/index.pl?user=29387&cat=500&thumb=1 . I noticed that all the Adders I saw (12 - one day/one site) were looking in really good condition. Don't know if we get 'good years' and 'bad uns' as such but I've never seen them come out of hibernation with this much weight on before. Cheers, Lee. Lee Fairclough |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 04 Apr 2003 Adders can be seen any time of year in theory - strangely enough I see more grass snakes and slow worms 'off season'. Grass snakes mate earlier than adders, at least five matings observed this year. Sand lizards mating/males wandering around in earnest. These males cover a lot of ground in a day when mate-searching but the following morning can usually be seen basking at 'usual' spot. More male adders have moulted, a fresh moult male seen crossing road at Hartland today. Several last years baby adders spotted. (well concealed). Lots of very small juvenile sand lizards at several sites, means that a good number of second broods have survived. Tony
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 05 Apr 2003 Had a report earlier in the week of male adders dancing from the warden of a local nature reserve. British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 17 Apr 2003 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 O-> O+> |
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Jerry Senior Member Joined: 08 Jan 2005 No. of posts: 66 View other posts by Jerry |
Posted: 24 Jan 2005 [QUOTE=David Bird]Had a report earlier in the week of male adders dancing from the warden of a local nature reserve. [/QUOTE] Hi Dave that wouldnt have been one of the hct wardens for a local site, by any chance would it? Jerry jerry |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 12 Feb 2005 As I am stuck in Guildford on a temp. basis thought I would check out a few sites that I had not visited before. Went to Whitmoor Common just up the road. Wet windy but some strong sun. Small male melanic berus coiled up tight. Air 11.5 Ground 12 and very wet, snake very torpid. Tony |
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Jerry Senior Member Joined: 08 Jan 2005 No. of posts: 66 View other posts by Jerry |
Posted: 14 Feb 2005 saw 4 male adders today at a local heath even though the temperature was only about 7 degrees quite sunny in the morning though, just an icy wind jerry |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 15 Feb 2005 Local nature reserve Essex this morning: 2 males 10:54 one female 11:13 8 degrees, light but cold N wind ground frost last night. The males were very alert making the most of strong sun.
second male not in shot but about 12 inches to the right :0) Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 15 Feb 2005 Went to Whitmoor agagin - air temp 9deg - cold N.Wind. same melanic male in company with another male, quite alert ground temp where basking 16.5deg. They appear to have done some decent management here, leaving good cover. Am meeting the ranger this week as he wants to talk 'reptiles' with me; nice! Tony |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 15 Feb 2005 Wish I had the same luck with the site above Tony. I saw today they have been hand clearing bracken, why I have no idea as anyone knows cutting bracken is totally futile, all it has done is remove cover in area where I was recording berus last year a few yards from where todays pictures were taken. I took a lot of trouble to write a report last year regarding my concerns about bracken removal at this site and highlighting the importance of leaving bracken for adder in some areas. I sometimes wonder who the real enemies to nature conservation are. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 18 Feb 2005 Quick correction to my sighting on the 15th, all three are males, thanks Tony for putting me right on this. (I think I'll give up sexing adders and just record them as small, medium and big ones!) Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
- Early adder sightings |
