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Grass snake habitat: |
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yorky Member Joined: 15 Jul 2005 No. of posts: 9  View other posts by yorky |
Posted: 17 Jul 2005 I have just returned from an afternoon of trying to spot a grass snake on a local heath. The heath has an information board describing the different wildlife that exists there, it mentions Vivaporus lizards and Grass snakes. Call me old fashioned but I always thought that Grass snakes preffered dry sunny well vegetated banks near water. The above mentioned heathland is void of any water, and although I did manage to see around five vivap lizards, I saw nothing that rezembled anything like Grass snake territory, if anything it screamed Adder country. The majority of the heath is typical heather and rocks mixed with an abundance of bracken. Can anyone tell me if this is a rarity or is it common for Grass snakes to be far away from water in the middle of a heath around 300 mts above sea level? Please help  |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 17 Jul 2005 Grassies are very mobile, I see them on dry heath whilst looking for adder often some distance from water. Bracken is often good for all 4 of the widespread UK reptiles, but easier to search in during the spring whilst it is flattened. To be honest though it wouldn't be where I would spend a lot of time looking specifically for grass snakes. Well vegetated banks of ponds would be my first option also. At this time of year your most likely to see them fairly early in the morning. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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yorky Member Joined: 15 Jul 2005 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by yorky |
Posted: 17 Jul 2005 Many thanks Gemma, like you say I'd probably be better off concentrating my efforts elsewhere. I'll stick near the ponds next time.  |
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Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar |
Posted: 17 Jul 2005 Loads of Grass snakes on my local Heaths Yorky! Steve Langham - Chairman 
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG). |
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John Newton Senior Member Joined: 19 May 2005 No. of posts: 151 View other posts by John Newton |
Posted: 18 Jul 2005 I note from your post on South Yorkshire Reptiles, and the response from Chris Monk that you are probably based local to Sheffield. I would imagine that the heathland you visited is to the north of the city, in the upper Don Valley, and as such does have a localised distribution of Natrix. If you are specifically interested in this species, as Chris Monk has pointed out, the Sorby publication 'Reptiles and Amphibians of the Sheffield area and North Derbyshire' contains a distribution map, and commentary indicating a predominant distribution east of gridline 30. There is a correlation with lush lowland wetland habitats associated with the rivers Don and Rother. Areas around Woodhouse, Rother Valley Country Park, Whittington and Staveley are as good as anywhere. At this time of year, in the hot weather we have been having, you will need to be out fairly early - feeding animals are regularly observed at 7-00am, although Natrix are notably more prone to bask at higher temperatures than Berus. Hope this helps John
John Newton South Yorkshire ARG |
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yorky Member Joined: 15 Jul 2005 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by yorky |
Posted: 19 Jul 2005 Many thanks John I was looking around the Wharncliffe heath area. I will persevere in the north of Sheffield as the south is a bit too far to go on my bike.
Regards Yorky |
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John Newton Senior Member Joined: 19 May 2005 No. of posts: 151 View other posts by John Newton |
Posted: 19 Jul 2005 In the Wharncliffe area, natrix have been recorded from the region to the north of MoreHall Water Gardens, continuing on towards Deepcar, along the Upper Don valley. You will not be tripping over them, and repeated visits will probably be required for an eventual sighting - unless you're lucky!! Regards John
John Newton South Yorkshire ARG |
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yorky Member Joined: 15 Jul 2005 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by yorky |
Posted: 20 Jul 2005 John Do you know if these recordings been literally at the side of the river? I shall be going this weekend with my fingers crossed and my eyes peeled I will let you know if I have been succesful. Many thanks Yorky |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 20 Jul 2005 Hi Yorky, don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for those all important sloughed skins also, you may not spot a snake in the margins, but you may see the evidence of where they may be found. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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yorky Member Joined: 15 Jul 2005 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by yorky |
Posted: 20 Jul 2005 Good thinking Gemma Regards Yorky |
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John Newton Senior Member Joined: 19 May 2005 No. of posts: 151 View other posts by John Newton |
Posted: 20 Jul 2005 Hi again Sightings in the upper Don Valley, as in many riverine habitats are not entirely restricted to within a few yards of the rivers margins, but are spread over a significant area, including many of the embankments with a predominantly 'southern' aspect, and which also offer suitable micro-habitat for such as amphibian prey items. You will probably need to learn to look some 10-12 feet in front of where you are walking in order to maximise the chance of you seeing them before they detect your ground-borne vibrations. Anyway, the main things is to get out there, and stay positive about the chances of seeing something - all records are important, and should be forwarded on to local recorders, including the Sorby Natural History Society www.shu.ac.uk/city/community/sorby/, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust www.yorkshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk/ or through RAUK Alternatively, I'm sure Chris Monk or myself can ensure any of your records are added to the database. John
John Newton South Yorkshire ARG |
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yorky Member Joined: 15 Jul 2005 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by yorky |
Posted: 20 Jul 2005 Have just returned from an evening session and I've finally struck gold! Whilst investigating around a woodland fire pond for newts, frogs etc, my partner shouted "grass snake in the water", I imediately dashed over to investigate and saw a young grass snake fully submerged in the edge of the pond. I managed to lift him out of the water and it was a young male (long tale?) around 20" in length. You can imagine my delight! After having a good look at him for a few minutes I returned him back into the water where he immediately began foraging for food again. I have seen grass snakes in the past swimming over the surface of the water, but never submerged for any period of time hunting for their pray. So this experience felt extra special to me, just wish I'd had my camera with me!! This happened at 7.30 tonight. I'll report my sighting to the Sorby society via e-mail. Can't wait while this weekend for a good spotting session!! Is it just me or does anyone else get excited when they see a reptile in the wild?
Yorky
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 20 Jul 2005 Hey hey well done! I still get excited whenever I see native reptiles and amphibians despite the fact I see them most days during the survey season. We had a grassy under tin in the garden yesteday, I was jumping up and down with excitement It's something really special to me and I still feel honoured whenever I see them, certainly worth the hours of fruitless searching. Still, now you have found one, bound to be more around Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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yorky Member Joined: 15 Jul 2005 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by yorky |
Posted: 21 Jul 2005 I sure hope so Gemma
Regards Yorky |
- Grass snake habitat |
, and when it comes to adders, well I'm in a different world.