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slow worms in the north east: |
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andym Member Joined: 16 Jun 2009 No. of posts: 3  View other posts by andym |
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 |
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daveg Member Joined: 02 Jul 2006 No. of posts: 24 View other posts by daveg |
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 |
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andym Member Joined: 16 Jun 2009 No. of posts: 3 View other posts by andym |
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. |
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Caleb Forum Coordinator Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 448 View other posts by Caleb |
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. |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
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. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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andym Member Joined: 16 Jun 2009 No. of posts: 3 View other posts by andym |
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!!! |
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daveg Member Joined: 02 Jul 2006 No. of posts: 24 View other posts by daveg |
Posted: 19 Jun 2009
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
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daveg Member Joined: 02 Jul 2006 No. of posts: 24 View other posts by daveg |
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. |
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dave fixx Senior Member Joined: 13 Mar 2007 No. of posts: 319  View other posts by dave fixx |
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 |
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Daz A Member Joined: 04 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 2 View other posts by Daz A |
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. |
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Caleb Forum Coordinator Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 448 View other posts by Caleb |
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. |
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Daz A Member Joined: 04 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 2 View other posts by Daz A |
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  |
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Caleb Forum Coordinator Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 448 View other posts by Caleb |
Posted: 19 Jul 2010 Thanks for the reply- do post the pic! |
- slow worms in the north east |
Andy