 |
|
|
Early sightings: |
| Author | Message |
|
Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575  View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 06 Jan 2004 Studland today 1145 sunny after v.heavy rain in night Air temp 8degC ground 14degC Male adder (recapture) tight coil wt 65g (summer 03 72g) Swanage coastal 1300 air temp 7degC ground 12.8degC male adder tight coil (new record) wt 45g SVL 46cm Tony |
|
Wolfgang Wuster Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 326 View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster |
Posted: 07 Jan 2004 Hmmmm... one wonders whether that might be a bad sign. It has been a very mild winter so far, and now that snake is out in early January and has already lost 10% of its body mass. It would be interesting to see to what extent winter excursions like this correlate with mortality later in the season. Do you have any data on that, Tony? Cheers, Wolfgang Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
|
Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 08 Jan 2004 Hi Wolfgang That weight loss may seem a bit worrying also bearing in mind that males do not feed until after the mating period. This particular male is 18yrs old and has shown similar weight fluctuations but what is suprising perhaps is how quickly they regain condition, I fully expect him to be around the 80g mark come mid-summer. Wt loss during the mating period imediately following emergence is variable depending on status of male. Old males lose 5-10% body mass young males up to 25%, the latter accountable to negative mate searching for most of the time. The large males find females quickly and are subject to just the odd combat, but mostly mating and mate-guarding. Tony |
|
Geoff Simpson Member Joined: 11 Feb 2004 No. of posts: 12 View other posts by Geoff Simpson |
Posted: 12 Feb 2004 Three male adders observed at principle Derbyhsire site at 2 pm today. Having been a keen observer of adders at this site over an 8 year period this is the earliest sighting to date. My previous earliest sightings were 25th February 2002, 2 March 2001 and 4 March 1998. Though I do have a record of a male on Guan Boduan, Gwynedd for 4th Jan 1997. Geoff Simpson |
|
Leigh Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003 No. of posts: 16 View other posts by Leigh |
Posted: 09 Mar 2004 Saw first adder of the year today. Small male, very lethargic (not suprising), tightly coiled. Within three feet of him was a Slow Worm, also in a tight coil. Been popping into my site for the past three weeks off and on, but today was the first successful sighting. Hoping to see the males 'dancing' presumably sometime soon. Photo and Digital Imaging http://www.leightovey.com |
|
Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 17 Mar 2004 Overcast day but very warm <16degC Studland - 11 male adders, some in 'blue'. 8 male grass snakes Corfe Castle - 12 male adders, including 'old friend' 62cm - 87g - this is his 34th season! Also 3 male grass snakes. Tony |
- Early sightings |