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herp spotting: |
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timmy Member Joined: 26 Oct 2006 No. of posts: 6  View other posts by timmy |
Posted: 26 Oct 2006 hello everyone. first post...only joined this evening. on numerous camping trips this summer my children (aged 8, 5 and 3) and i have engaged in a bit of very amateur herp spotting. we found lots of frogs and toads, smooth (i think) and great crested newts in shropshire, common lizards at conwy and derbyshire and slowworms at porthmadog. i reckon this was a decent effort for first-timers but the kids are a bit disappointed that we didn't see any snakes (i kind of made a bit of a rash promise way back in may!). i assumed it would be too late by now but, reading through some of the recent posts, i am feeling just a tiny tingle of optimism. we are in north staffordshire. the weather forecast looks decent for the weekend. is there any chance of me living up to my promise? many thanks for any help/advice. tim |
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Suzi Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 860 View other posts by Suzi |
Posted: 26 Oct 2006 It's getting a bit late in the season for snakes really. I would also think it will be quite difficult with 3 young children as you need to move quietly looking ahead of you to spot basking snakes. You might have more luck looking under cover objects - corrugated tin sheets for example. Good luck anyway but maybe next spring will be the best time. Suz |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 27 Oct 2006 Hi Tim, Best wait until the spring as Suzi has suggested. Adder can be relatively easy to find in the spring and approachable, IF you know where to look. Parhaps you could contact your local ARG group. Usually it is best to go out at first with someone who knows a good site and exactly where to look to get your 'eye in'.
Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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timmy Member Joined: 26 Oct 2006 No. of posts: 6 View other posts by timmy |
Posted: 27 Oct 2006 thankyou gemma and suzi we will wait until spring. i am aware that there are snakes and lizards at cannock chase, which is only a short drive away (i hope this is well known and general enough not to break the group's rule on not giving out sites). we will also try and get some help, although even with an experienced guide we might struggle...suzi is quite right, the children don't do "moving quietly"! thanks again tim ps what on earth will you guys do for the next five months!?! |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 27 Oct 2006 "ps what on earth will you guys do for the next five months!?!" Usually get depressed and feel totally miserable until the sun gets just that little bit higher in the sky again! Fortunately though it isn't quite five months. I usually get my first adders of the year around the 14th February, so roll on Valentine's Day! Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 27 Oct 2006 Cannock Chase is a good adder area. Will advise nearer spring for tips; unless someone wants to chip in now. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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Suzi Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 860 View other posts by Suzi |
Posted: 27 Oct 2006 Timmy, It is also strongly suspected that some of us hibernate until Feb. like the snakes! Suz |
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timmy Member Joined: 26 Oct 2006 No. of posts: 6 View other posts by timmy |
Posted: 27 Oct 2006 thanks again i would be really grateful for the advice come spring. feb 14! that does seem early. as much as i have read recently about the times that reptiles begin to emerge from hibernation, i still find it hard to believe. last spring i read that the best time to see adders is from late feb to late march. however, being a typical man i ignored this and followed my instinct, ie. that the best time to see them was, in fact, in the middle of a hot sunny day in midsummer! so i can't blame the children entirely for drawing a blank this year. happy hibernation...and remember, like all good moomins, fill your tummies up with pine needles before you go to sleep for the winter. tim |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 28 Oct 2006 The trouble with a hot sunny day in midsummer is they see you WAY before you see them Have we anyone from near Cannock Chase that can show Tim some hibernation areas in the spring? Anyway, I'm getting sooo sleepy now.. best go collect some pine needles Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 28 Oct 2006 [QUOTE=GemmaJF] Usually get depressed and feel totally miserable until the sun gets just that little bit higher in theásky again! [/QUOTE]Oh yes , oh yes , you are indeedy quite right 
Except I seem to be getting progressively worse each and every winter . I've been making a pond in the garden of our new house . It's 12 ft x 5ft x 5ft deep, Sarah say's to guests "What he doesn't know is that he's making his own grave if he's a miserable b*****d again this winter"  O-> O+> |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 28 Oct 2006 No way Al, we need you, just think of all the noots and fwoggies that will come to the new pond in the spring.. if you make it that far I've got a pond to finish too, hopefully this year I'll actually get out and do some digging rather than looking at it out of the window waiting for the sun to come out. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 28 Oct 2006 Thank you Gemma! 
I hope the tuds noots and fwoggies like your new pond too.  O-> O+> |
- herp spotting |
