RAUK - Archived Forum - RAUK Fieldtrip 2008

Here we go, post your ideas and availability for another RAUK fieldtrip, some interest already in a site with smooth snakes and a reasonable chance of seeing them (somewhere tinned perhaps) and someone to show us around.

Any thoughts, dates, locations members fancy?

I would suggest a re visit to Light Water plus visiting local smooth snake sites around that area. I would be available to take people round - I would like to see the smooth snakes for myself as I havent seen any there along with many other people - but St Rick found a youngster last year.

Alternative sites would be Dorset way or my neck of the woods around the New Forest - dates I am easy if I can fit it in I will - June would be good in the early morning to mid morning

Jon

glad to see you made it back safely gemma. is flying with a hangover any easier than driving with one?

it probably wouldn't be a very good idea to arrange a field trip to dorset purely on the basis that me and my family are around, but seriously, if anyone is likely to be around the area from 13 - 20 august it would be great to meet up. we've already had a very kind offer from david to show us around depending on the weather etc. the more the merrier i reckon.

tim

Tim as it happened, in the end it was weathered off so I never left the UK the idea was to get a lift over to Le Touquet then for me to fly back.

As it was though I was too hungover to test ride a bike I went to look at today  (oh well they agreed it was mine subject to the test ride on Monday when my system has been flushed a bit). Say again Gemma 'I will never ever drink again' - I did give up for a few years but now one glass leads to 10 and feeling very icky the next day. Also flight planning at two in the morning whilst a bit worse for drink is the realm of airline pilots - so best avoided in future

Sounds like we have two potential trips then, one for June to Lightwater and a nearby site and one to Dorset during 13 -20 August if David is agreable?

Any way the decision is the forum members so post up what you want to do.

[QUOTE=GemmaJF]Say again Gemma 'I will never ever drink again' [/QUOTE]

giving up drinking is easy...i've done it hundreds of times! in fact i maight do it again tomorrow.

all eight species in one day sounds like a fine ambition to me, although i'm yet to see all four widespread sps in the same year and the kids are yet to see their first wild snake!

tim

The challenge seems to be set - several sites within an area around Dorset -

Though there would be a challenge to spot the following in a sub optimal time of year (june to august) according to the guidance.

Adder, grass snake, smooth snake

slowworm, viviparous lizard & sand lizard

Wall lizard & green lizard

for good measure perhaps a few species of terrapin  red eared, yellow bellied slider, or map turtles.

Perhaps we could write up the field trip or road trip for the European Herp community - it would mean a very early start for people or we could try for an late afternoon/evening......

J

Does anyone want to take a lead on setting the date and location for a field trip? Surrey looks the most viable for a large group but is a bit out of my way to organise the whole thing, though I would like to attend if possible.

For my part, I don't mind when it is.... It would be better if there was plenty of notice so that people can be sure to work their other commitments around it.

I's love to see Coronella austriaca, but I'd be happy with another shot at an Adder!

eeer um eeer um .... yes (don't multiple choice usually have letters??)

Which means a summer trip to Dorset sounds good as does a September trip to Surrey  (oh and I think the Northern faction of RAUK are organisation their own breakaway trip )

I'd like to come on the Southern one.

I vote for option 2 (category B, sub-section 'Votes')....September in Surrey.  I'm not too bothered about seeing alien species.