Notice: Undefined index: forum_id in /home/sites/herpetofauna.org.uk/public_html/forum_archive/forum_posts.php on line 69 Deprecated: mysql_connect(): The mysql extension is deprecated and will be removed in the future: use mysqli or PDO instead in /home/sites/herpetofauna.org.uk/public_html/forum_archive/forum_posts.php on line 73

RAUK - Archived Forum - Early sightings

This contains the Forum posts up until the end of March, 2011. Posts may be viewed but cannot be edited or replied to - nor can new posts be made. More recent posts can be seen on the new Forum at http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/forum/

Forum Home

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

www.geoffsimpson.co.uk


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

Content here