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RAUK - Archived Forum - slow worms in the north east

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slow worms in the north east:

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andym
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Joined: 16 Jun 2009
No. of posts: 3


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Posted: 16 Jun 2009

Hi does anybody know of any sites in the north east of the uk that has slow worms I regulary see common lizards and the occasional adder but i have never seen a slow worm

 

any help??????

cheers andy


daveg
Member
Joined: 02 Jul 2006
No. of posts: 24


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Posted: 16 Jun 2009

Hi Andy, I havent seen any myself in the NE but the distribution maps suggest the North York Moors are well covered with them judging by the one in Amphibians and Reptiles  (A natural history of British Herpofauna) by Trevor Beebee and Richard Griffiths

Elsewhere in the NE they seem to be patchily distributed. Luckily I live in the SW where they are common but even here you dont often see them above ground, got to look under stuff such as discarded plastic, roofing felt or tin etc. Good luck


andym
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Joined: 16 Jun 2009
No. of posts: 3


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Posted: 16 Jun 2009
Cheers dave I will keep on looking mate plenty of lizards on the moors but not much to lift up and look under for slow worm! I will keep my eyes peeled.
Caleb
Forum Coordinator
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 448


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Posted: 17 Jun 2009
I occasionally see slow worms in Co. Durham, mainly on moorland in the west of the county. They're pretty sparse (or well hidden), though, especially compared to the SW.
GemmaJF
Admin Group
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
No. of posts: 2090


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Posted: 17 Jun 2009

I don't think we see slow worms unless they are high density. I thought they had gone from the garden, loads of cover, loads of felts see N.n and L.v any time I like. Yet two years after seeing the last slow worm I lifted the favourite N.n felt the other day to see a sub-adult female slowy.. can be hard to detect them at low densities for sure.

Best time Andy is after rain. Get a shower or thunderstorm in the summer then when the sun comes back out you might just be lucky enough to see gravid females out in the open. One of the few times I see them in any numbers without using artificial cover objects.

GemmaJF39981.6696296296
Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
andym
Member
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
No. of posts: 3


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Posted: 19 Jun 2009

Cheers for the replies I had a good tramp round the local woods and meadows must have looked under hundreds of rocks,logs,dry stone walls and piles of grass and found................1 toad!!!!

I'm starting to think that there aren't any reptiles in the north east!!!


daveg
Member
Joined: 02 Jul 2006
No. of posts: 24


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Posted: 19 Jun 2009

Andy

This link gives some info on the best areas to try near Durham

http://www.durhambiodiversity.org.uk/pdfs/species/reptiles-a mphibians/Adder&slowworm.pdf

The first pic is a slow worm from last week, I found under a piece of plastic next to the large pyramid of discarded wood chippings inside a small fenced off field overgrown with grass, must be private but popped over the fence for a look. Nearby on the road was a squashed baby grass snake. This area is near a small river called Shreen water 5mins from home in Gillingham Dorset. Not a hot spot for any rare species like Sand Lizards or Smooth snakes but slow worms crop up frequently enough.

 

 

 

 

Plastic sheet just out of view to left of compost heap!

Keep on looking and dont give up hope!

Dave

 

 

 

 

 

 


daveg
Member
Joined: 02 Jul 2006
No. of posts: 24


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Posted: 19 Jun 2009
Forgot to mention my SW had just shed its skin as it still had a bit stuck on its tail, hence the very shiny appearance.
dave fixx
Senior Member
Joined: 13 Mar 2007
No. of posts: 319


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Posted: 19 Jun 2009
not north east England,but heres a slowie from the north east.....of Wales.One of 3 I found this eve.
Dave Williams
davewilliamsphotography.co.uk
Daz A
Member
Joined: 04 Jul 2010
No. of posts: 2


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Posted: 04 Jul 2010
Hi Andy . I found a slow worm a couple of weeks ago at Tunstal Reservoir (weardale) Dont know how abundant they are but its worth a look. By the way where is a good north east site for common lizards?   Cheers Daz.
Caleb
Forum Coordinator
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 448


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Posted: 05 Jul 2010
Hiya.

I've visited Tunstall reservoir a few times, never seen any reptiles there. Masses of toads, though.

Whereabouts on the reservoir was the slow worm? Was it on the moor to the north, in the woods, or near the actual reservoir?

Wark forest is pretty good for common lizards.
Daz A
Member
Joined: 04 Jul 2010
No. of posts: 2


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Posted: 17 Jul 2010
Sorry its took ages to reply but ive had no computer. I found the slow worm on the left side of the path just over the dam.I was up there photographing pied fly catchers but heard a rustle in the leaves at the side of the path. Further investigation resulted in finding a nice female. I will dig the pics out and post one. Cheers for the common lizard info
Caleb
Forum Coordinator
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 448


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Posted: 19 Jul 2010
Thanks for the reply- do post the pic!

- slow worms in the north east

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