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Alan Hyde
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Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


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Posted: 09 Oct 2006
Anyone remember the pic I posted last year of a possible smoothy at Ash?(Thread smoothy or not smoothy) Also I found a skin near to the same area.
Well late last year I put out a few tins and myself and Paul (aka snake) went to check them today. We found two smoothies, one subadult and one adult male . All these sightings (the photo, skin and two snakes are over quite a large area so it would seem that they're quite widespread.
I'm chuffed!

I expect there will be some pics from Paul soon.
All the best everyone,
AlanAlan Hyde38999.6675694444
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GemmaJF
Admin Group
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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Posted: 09 Oct 2006

Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
*SNAKE*
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Joined: 16 May 2004
No. of posts: 220


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Posted: 09 Oct 2006

it was a great day out not to mention the slow worm adder and the over fed grass snake al hears the pics 

paul045.jpg

paul044.jpg

paul024.jpg

*SNAKE*38999.7017476852
PAUL SMITH     
*SNAKE*
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Joined: 16 May 2004
No. of posts: 220


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Posted: 09 Oct 2006

al when i left you i thought ill look down the road a bit this is the young adder next to the 2 pound coin i told you about

paul054.jpg


PAUL SMITH     
*SNAKE*
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Joined: 16 May 2004
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Posted: 09 Oct 2006
alan it was a great day for me i didn't get bitten  
PAUL SMITH     
Alan Hyde
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Joined: 17 Apr 2003
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Posted: 09 Oct 2006
Hi Gemma! And thanks! It's good to see you again, boy has it been a busy summer with this new house, no time for herping or this forum either

Hi Paul Glad to see some of those pics came out nice mate, the buby adder's a beauty too!
Remember though, watch out for red admirals they have a nasty bite
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arvensis
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006
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Posted: 10 Oct 2006
Nice piccies.   What sort of time did you check the tins?   I'm curious because I feel a visit to one of my sites is in order very soon...

Next year, perhaps we should get a few of us together and go herping, it'd be nice to meet up with a few of the regs on here.

Mark

Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group.
*SNAKE*
Senior Member
Joined: 16 May 2004
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Posted: 11 Oct 2006

hi mark the time was about 12 - 12:30 it was sunny but the tins were not hot the weatherman said about 20 degrees

will be great to get together next year  


PAUL SMITH     
*SNAKE*
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Joined: 16 May 2004
No. of posts: 220


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Posted: 11 Oct 2006
Alan you got a small bite from one of the smooth snakes  i managed to get though the day without getting bitten until we went back to your place for coffee and the cat had me 
PAUL SMITH     
Vicar
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Joined: 02 Sep 2004
No. of posts: 1181


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Posted: 11 Oct 2006
ROFL Paul, at least you got a bite :P, you're still one of only two people I know of to get tagged by a Grass snake .
Steve Langham - Chairman    
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG).
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


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Posted: 11 Oct 2006
Nice one guys, lovely male SS.

BTW were you having a larf re the overfed grass snake? a joke yes? or is my age showing. Cos I looked at that first pic and then realised the 'large grass snake' was in fact a shadow. Its certainly grass snake shaped.

Apologise if my senility is showing.

T
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
Alan Hyde
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Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


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Posted: 11 Oct 2006
Thank you everyone!

LOL! I hadn't noticed that shadow, well spotted Tony. No joke we came across a very overfed Grassy laying on top of the heather. It looked ready to burst and the scales were stretched far apart exposing the black skin underneath. When it moved away the snake had difficulty creating any motion, I think it must have been rodent prey

Paul, it's only you my cat attacks
Cheers,
AlAlan Hyde39001.6110416667
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Alan Hyde
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


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Posted: 04 Jan 2007
An update on this story. Shortly after we found these smooths myself and Paul went out and laid a further 12 tins ready for this year.
Also a couple of days after that my good photographer friend went and checked some of the tins and uncovered another two.
We're hoping that this year proves that smoothys are quite abundant in this spot.

However, I don't know if this is good or bad but, there are now signs up near the smooths saying that animals are going to be grazed there.
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Alan Hyde
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Joined: 17 Apr 2003
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Posted: 04 Jan 2007
[QUOTE=arvensis]
Next year, perhaps we should get a few of us together and go herping, it'd be nice to meet up with a few of the regs on here.

Mark

[/QUOTE]
yup most definitely Mark sounds like a good idea.
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armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
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Posted: 04 Jan 2007
If the powers that be are aware of the smooth snakes then they will have to modify their management plan.
You could also end up like the NF and have to remove tins and replace with horse/cow/sheep/goat/ibex/wild boar friendly material.
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
Alan Hyde
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
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Posted: 04 Jan 2007
HCT are aware, is that enough?
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armata
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Posted: 04 Jan 2007
Then talk directly to Paul Edgar or Chris Gleed-Owen. HCT may not be directly involved with management.
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
Alan Hyde
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


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Posted: 04 Jan 2007
Done. Now I just wait for Chris's reply
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herpetologic2
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Joined: 15 Jun 2004
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Posted: 05 Jan 2007

 

I would contact the people regarding the smooth snakes - so that steps can be taken prevent any damage from over grazing - a suggestion would be to keep the grazing light and take on board the sightings of smooth snakes from people like yourselves

At least it isnt burning like in the New Forest where several fires have taken many of the best smooth snake sites - according to the recent survey results from HCT - one particular place was picket post which had a fantastic smoothie population - all gone in a fireball!

JC


Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant -
visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
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Posted: 05 Jan 2007
Oh No!!!!! I didn't know about Picket Post - I had a lot of adders and smooth snakes marked there. It was a wonderful habitat, beautiful sloping heath down to bog mire - absolutely classic habitat. I presume this was arson or at least accidental.

You have not really made my day ander after all that reminiscing about old adder friends and pubs on the other thread.
'I get my kicks on Route 62'

- Great news!!

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