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Grass Snake Identification : |
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INFORMATION Member Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 16  View other posts by INFORMATION |
Posted: 18 Feb 2003 A description and images of the Grass Snake Natrix natrix may be found at:
http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/grass_snake.htm
® Alan Hyde
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INFORMATION Member Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 16 View other posts by INFORMATION |
Posted: 05 Apr 2003 Grass Snake Distribution
Please add your Grass Snake sightings below so they may be added to the above table and the RAUK distribution map. If you are unsure of the forum policies regarding accuracy of site descriptions and sighting reports please review them before posting. http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/Forum%20policies.htm
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 16 Apr 2003 April 12 Mendips - Grass snakes mating - 2 males + female other males nearby April 15 Chobham Very warm and sunny 2 nice size females, one basking on side of path est 85cm other moving casually across parh in shade nicely marked est 80cm also another male I think (ask Gareth M. he was with me) Frensham stil very warm biggie female moving slowly across path 127cm very aggressive - got sprayed - don't really mind the smell, get used to it I suppose. The wife thinks differently, had to eat dinner in garden with the dog. April 16 2 nice size males, 70cm & 75cm at a rescue site in Hampshire Nr Fleet. Tony
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 23 Apr 2003 View from a bus. Had an unusual one today. My landrover had to go in for service - meaning had to take bus from Swanage to Poole to collect same vehicle. I was on the upper deck - enroute to Poole the bus had to pause on a narrow bridge crossing a small stream. On looking down from my high vantage I saw a large grass snake moving along the edge of the stream, said bus was stationary for a minute or so and I had a good view. The snake was obviously hunting, it would pause and dip its head in the water, looking for ??. It was a big snake at least 4ft in old money. Will have a proper look at this site ASAP.
Tony
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Wolfgang Wuster Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 326 View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster |
Posted: 24 Apr 2003 April 20th, north of Newbury - 1 male, 1 specimen of unknown sex. Photo is of the male.  Cheers, Wolfgang Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 24 Apr 2003 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 O-> O+> |
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Wolfgang Wuster Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 326 View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster |
Posted: 25 Apr 2003 Camera: Canon EOS DX30 - an SLR. Very expesnive, but slightly dated. Sexing: in this case, I just looked at the tailbase, which was clearly swollen - this indicates a male in most species, but I am more than willing to be corrected if someone here knows better in the case of N. natrix. Cheers, Wolfgang Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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-LAF Senior Member Joined: 03 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 317 View other posts by -LAF |
Posted: 29 Apr 2003 Wow, never found any of these on the Island. Lots of Adders but never Natrix. I'd heard they occured on one of the RSPB sites there but the only place I ever saw one in N. Wales was on the Llyn peninsula. Arnold's Atlas shows a few sites on Anglesey but, like I said, they always provided me a no-show. Do you know what their status is like on the island? Are they doing as well as the Adders are there? Cheers, Lee. Lee Fairclough |
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Wolfgang Wuster Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 326 View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster |
Posted: 29 Apr 2003 Lee, This was Newbury, Berkshire, not Newborough, Anglesey ;-) I have never seen any at all anywhere in N. Wales and certainly not on Anglesey. Apparently, some years back, one used to frequent the disused pond beind the Brambell Bldg. in bangor, though. I have heard that they are reasonably common around Porthmadog, though. I have to say that I am more than a little skeptical about the various Biological Recording Schemes - too many people tend to confuse things, and the recording bodies themselves screw up as well. I remember sending records of slow worms and common lizards to one county recorder, and when I later went to see some more of his records, I found that the information for the two species had been transposed. Moreover, the supposed adder localities in the county that I checked out all yielded grass snakes (and generally looked likeperfect grass snake habitat), but no adders. Go figure... Cheers, Wolfgang Cheers, Wolfgang Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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-LAF Senior Member Joined: 03 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 317 View other posts by -LAF |
Posted: 29 Apr 2003 Ooops Cheers, Lee. Lee Fairclough |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 01 Jun 2003 Harry, I moved your post to "unwanted grass snakes" Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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penbox Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003 No. of posts: 2 View other posts by penbox |
Posted: 15 Jul 2003 [QUOTE=Tony Phelps] April 12 Mendips - Grass snakes mating - 2 males + female other males nearby April 15 Chobham Very warm and sunny 2 nice size females, one basking on side of path est 85cm other moving casually across parh in shade nicely marked est 80cm also another male I think (ask Gareth M. he was with me) Frensham stil very warm biggie female moving slowly across path 127cm very aggressive - got sprayed - don't really mind the smell, get used to it I suppose. The wife thinks differently, had to eat dinner in garden with the dog. April 16 2 nice size males, 70cm & 75cm at a rescue site in Hampshire Nr Fleet. Tony [/QUOTE] paul D. |
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penbox Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003 No. of posts: 2 View other posts by penbox |
Posted: 15 Jul 2003 I have seen one (possably two) grass snakes in my garden pond in cranbrook kent. it is about 3 feet long and swims in the pond in full view. deffinaitly a grass snake dark olive green (almost black) with a white flash behind the head. the second one hasnt been seen as often and is slightly shorter and lighter in colour. we used to have an abundance of frogs but now there are non. i am just hoping that they dont start eating the fish!!! paul D. |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 08 Aug 2003 Called out to 'nest of vipers' yesterday, Stoborough Nr Wareham. Hatchling natrix evrywhere, one had climbed two metres to the top of conservatory. Went down to large compost heap, cause of 'eruption', counted 85 then gave up. Persuaded residents that the snakes were harmless, and although the lady of the house had a real phobia they were happy to leave all as is. Nice one. They have a pond, as does next door, and all properties adjoin good habitat. Tony |
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pauldunf Member Joined: 19 May 2004 No. of posts: 1 View other posts by pauldunf |
Posted: 19 May 2004 Male and female grass snakes seen today, 19/05/54, in my garden in Chaldon, Surrey. Female something like 1.5 metres and male about 1.0 to 1.2 metres. Female laying by side of the pond before swimming across into a dense conifer garden adjoining the pond. Male emerged from the centre of the pond and eventually disappered into the same conifer garden after laying on the outskirts for five minutes or so. Both snakes olive green/brown. This is the first spotting I have made for about 2 years. I'm sure they're always there - just don't get to see them too often. Lots of tadpoles around right now - must be an abundance of food. The pond itself is about 20 feet long by 15 feet wide with a natural surround of long grasses and water plants - with the conifer garden adjoining the pond at one end. The compost heap is about 150 feet or more from the pond. Is this likely to be used for egg laying or is it more likely they use natural compost from fallen leaves etc in the dense conifer garden? |
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frogworlduk Senior Member Joined: 19 Aug 2003 No. of posts: 72  View other posts by frogworlduk |
Posted: 27 May 2004 hello all. i think i have read about this before, but i can't remember. i have a grass snake that i keep finding under one of my tins, but it has blue eyes. they are pale blue and look like they completely cover the complete eye. it's a sub adult i believe, male. any thoughts on what is wrong with it? mark jacobs
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 27 May 2004 Mark, It's 'in the blue' coming up to shed it's skin. Grass snake are often found under tin in this state, it's a time when they seem to seek extra heat. As the old skin breaks away the eyes become opaque with a distinct bluish tinge. In a few days it will shed and look like new :0) Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Wolfgang Wuster Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 326 View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster |
Posted: 28 May 2004 Mark, You say you keep finding it - how many times have you found it, over what period of time, and were the eyes always blue? Normally, as Gemma said, blue eyes simply mean the approach of shedding, but that only lasts for ~ 1 week, so if you found it week after week after week, always with blue eues, then there is soemthing pecuiliar going on. Cheers, Wolfgang Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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frogworlduk Senior Member Joined: 19 Aug 2003 No. of posts: 72 View other posts by frogworlduk |
Posted: 28 May 2004 i have only seen it this week, but everyday so far this week. today i found it again and it only had a slight bit of blue left the rest was clear. so i take it from this that the snake was just shedding it's skin. but it did look rather odd and cool. mark
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 28 May 2004 Mark, the eyes will clear for 1-3 of days before the snake sloughs (usually), they do look lethargic and ill when in this state. I would guess once it sloughs you won't see the same snake under the tin anymore, let us know if you do though, and if you find the sloughed skin. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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- Grass Snake Identification |
!, In hindsight I seem to remember something about a Newbury that had a by-pass built neer it on the news now. My brain obviously doesn't function too well at 9am.