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Smooth Snakes Found In The Far East: |
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Kraftykarl Member Joined: 06 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 7  View other posts by Kraftykarl |
Posted: 07 May 2007 I was recently reviewing records of sites at which Smooth Snakes have been reported in the UK. One
site(near to Peaslake in Surrey) struck me as particularly interesting because it appeared
represent the most Easterly colony. Further checks indicated that some of the reports are quite recent.
Out of curiosity I decided to arrange a Herping trip to investigate the area. Yesterday morning Rick (St. Rick) and myself met up close to the site to see if we could find any evidence of
this reported colony. I was armed with my GPS unit (great for finding your way back to the car!) and Rick with the largest ordnance survey map I have ever seen in my life.
The actual site is a quite small piece of heathland within a much larger area of mixed
woodland. The weather was a little cold and that combined with limited size of the heath made me
suspect that we had set our alarm clocks in vain.We spent a largely futile first ten minutes
wandering around getting the lay of the land. Eventually Rick found a likely looking piece of
refugia which turned out to be providing much need shelter to a few ants.Out of pure stubbornness
we persisted in our quest. Our luck changed when we turned over a tin to reveal both a small male
Grass Snake and small male Smooth Snake. Fired on by this success we continued the search. A female
adder was spotted basking in the open. It did not hand around for pictures. Another Grass Snake was
found and then finally we hit the jackpot again in the form of a very large female Smooth Snake. It
was quite close to sloughing which obscured the patterning quite a bit but a very impressive snake
due to its size, girth and unusually (for a Smooth Snake) prominent head.Anyway it appears that the
colony is doing well.
Later we looked for Grass Snakes at the Riverside nature reserve near Ash. No Grass
Snakes were spotted although a lot of the habitat looked very suitable. Another RAUK member
reported seeing 13 there in one day last month so it's definitely worth another visit.Quick trip
to a local pub and finally, spurred on by the recent discovery of Smooth Snakes by RAUK members Alan
Hyde and Paul (aka Snake) we searched some of the heathland near to the army firing ranges nearby.
Nothing was found but we could only search a small area of the heath in the time that we had
left.Again a place that I will certainly return to. |
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arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445 View other posts by arvensis |
Posted: 07 May 2007 Due to a change of plans, I could've gone to part of yesterday - as long as i was back by 3pm... but I'd totally forgotten about it. Mark Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group. |
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Kraftykarl Member Joined: 06 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 7 View other posts by Kraftykarl |
Posted: 07 May 2007 Never mind Mark. It would have been good to have you along. Can anybody advise me as to where I should report the Smooth Snake sightings? I know that the HCT are aware of this site.Should I send them the details anyway? if so, how do I go about it? TIA Karl. |
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st rick Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 141  View other posts by st rick |
Posted: 07 May 2007 The OS map was actually normal size, Karl. You nu-skool types just can't seem to get your head around any cartography bigger than the screen of your GPS I went back to the Lakeside Nature Reserve after I left Karl, later in the afernoon, and saw 4 small Grass Snakes. It's excellent habitat. A great trip and the first in which I've seen all 3 snake species in one day. I camped overnight on one of the heaths (hardcore) and spotted one Adder and a Slow Worm this morning. I had thought it might be an excellent day later on, after the rain had cleared, but I think the high winds must have been keeping the herps at bay. |
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Kraftykarl Member Joined: 06 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 7 View other posts by Kraftykarl |
Posted: 09 May 2007 Good one Rick.Whereabouts in the Riverside NR were the Grass Snakes? Normal size eh? Maybe. Topo maps for the whole of the UK in my little battery powered cartographic wonder. Anyway I know better than to try to convert a luddite Thanks for your company on Sunday and good luck on your hike. I noticed that the Savernake Forest is on your route. Food for thought. Karl. |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 09 May 2007 I have found adders and grass snakes in Savernake; they get adders in Tidworth barracks as well. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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st rick Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 141 View other posts by st rick |
Posted: 09 May 2007 The Grass Snakes were where the good lady predicted, in the area we searched. I will check out the Savernake Forest. I am walking from London to Bristol via Thames and Kennet and Avon Canal. Hoping to spot at least one grassy along the way. |
- Smooth Snakes Found In The Far East |
