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Great news!!: |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416  View other posts by Alan Hyde |
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, Alan O-> O+> |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 09 Oct 2006   Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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*SNAKE* Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 No. of posts: 220  View other posts by *SNAKE* |
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
PAUL SMITH |
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*SNAKE* Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 No. of posts: 220 View other posts by *SNAKE* |
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
PAUL SMITH |
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*SNAKE* Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 No. of posts: 220 View other posts by *SNAKE* |
Posted: 09 Oct 2006 alan it was a great day for me i didn't get bitten  PAUL SMITH |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
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 O-> O+> |
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arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445 View other posts by arvensis |
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. |
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*SNAKE* Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 No. of posts: 220 View other posts by *SNAKE* |
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 |
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*SNAKE* Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 No. of posts: 220 View other posts by *SNAKE* |
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 |
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Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar |
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). |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
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' |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
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, Al O-> O+> |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
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. O-> O+> |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
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. O-> O+> |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
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' |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 04 Jan 2007 HCT are aware, is that enough? O-> O+> |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
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' |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 04 Jan 2007 Done. Now I just wait for Chris's reply O-> O+> |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369  View other posts by herpetologic2 |
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 |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
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!! |
