Hi there adder lovers!

[kdutoit]

I'm a new member who joined a little while ago. I spent my first couple of visits looking through the foto gallery, and where quite impressed with some of the picis, can't wait to add a few to the collection. I'm particularly interested in reptiles and amphibians and my goal for this spring/summer is to take at least one good pici of an Adder. I live in West Dorset, so from what I've heard and read I stand a good chance of seeing one. On recent expeditions to the new forest and a couple of other locations near Christchurch I've seen a few Common Lizards and my first Great Crested Newt, but no luck with the Adders.
So, I'm looking for a few tips from the Adder-experts or anyone else who might be able to help. I know the Dorset heathlands are meant to be good for Adders but I'm not sure about: best time of day; best wheather conditions; ideal habitat or best locations in Dorset to see Adders. Thanks for your intrest and tips

[rlchew]

kdutoit

A very warm welcome to WAB.

Like you, I am keen to photograph reptiles and amphibians this year as I have never reaaly tried this aspect of wildlife photography.

Sorry, I have absolutely no idea how to advise you but I am sure that there is someone here who can .... and also help me!

Richard

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by kdutoit

I'm a new member who joined a little while ago. I spent my first couple of visits looking through the foto gallery, and where quite impressed with some of the picis, can't wait to add a few to the collection. I'm particularly interested in reptiles and amphibians and my goal for this spring/summer is to take at least one good pici of an Adder. I live in West Dorset, so from what I've heard and read I stand a good chance of seeing one. On recent expeditions to the new forest and a couple of other locations near Christchurch I've seen a few Common Lizards and my first Great Crested Newt, but no luck with the Adders.
So, I'm looking for a few tips from the Adder-experts or anyone else who might be able to help. I know the Dorset heathlands are meant to be good for Adders but I'm not sure about: best time of day; best wheather conditions; ideal habitat or best locations in Dorset to see Adders. Thanks for your intrest and tips

Isn't there a reptile sanctuary place in west dorset? You could cheat?!......
Otherwise Dorest is an ace place for reptiles, I think you even have Smooth Snakes and Sand Lizards in places. Top tips would be go now!! get out into heathland in the early morning as it's warming up find bare open patches or heavily Rabbit grazed short turf next to scrub where reptiles may be basking, trying to warm up but not yet warm enough to dash off! Anything above 12 degrees and you most reptiles will dash off before you get anywhere near! - avoid days of full blazing sunshine as things will heat up quickly - April, early May is ideal, any later and your window of sunny but still quite cool will become increasingly small. Otherwise wait until sunny ish days in Sept / Oct when things cool down again. In trying to see the beasties, move slowly and look pretty far ahead of you, reptiles can often be found under logs or piles of debris but as you are looking for Adders BE CAREFUL as you turn such stuff over they don't like suprises!
Top tip for photographing lizards is knowing that after you've disturbed a lizard into cover, if you sit down out of it's light and stay still long enough it will return and may not notice you all that quickly - not sure if this applies to snakes though.
God hope this waffle helps!

[Ollie]

A warm welcome to WAB from me, sorry I can't advise on the Adders but there are a few on here who no doubt will. This is a very friendly easy going place that I am sure you will enjoy
Ollie

[eeyore]

My advice is to try early morning just after the sun comes up, you might well find Adders, (and Grass Snakes) sunbathing on flat rocks in order to warm up their blood. also what about contacting your local reptile group (see the froglife website for details). Holton Heath is good but its restricted access because of the number of holes, trenches, and chunks of abspestos lying arround ( it was a munitions factury during big mistake number 2).

Also don't get bitten, I've been bitten by Adders twice - both times while brush cutting heathland habitats, nasty my leg swelled up like a zeppelin and I had to call 999 from my mobile because there was no way I could drive.

[nightshade]

It is a downbeat note but make sure that someone knows where you are and wether or not the nearest hospital carries anti-venom, I ended up with a 30 mile ride
All the other advice start early before they warm up,tread carefully (there may be one you do not see) snakes sense vibration through their bodies and detect movement by eye, the tongue samples your smell so no strong aftershaves or scented soap(you can buy special soap for stalking) watch your shadow does not fall on it.A recon.to watch where the sun and shadows fall will give a better idea for on the day
good shooting

[Wild-Woman]

I'll help out once I've been on my herpetology course. I been told to wear wellies because where we are going there are plenty of them apparently. Can't wait.Beautiful creatures. ww

[HelenF]

Welcome to the board. I saw my first Adder of the year on Monday. It was basking on a bare batch in some heather. It was about mid afternoon and the sun was out.

Helen

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

I'll help out once I've been on my herpetology course. I been told to wear wellies because where we are going there are plenty of them apparently. Can't wait.Beautiful creatures. ww

An Adders fang can go through a normal wellie if it hits hard enough, as i know from painful experience, I wear leather "Rigger" boots when working these environments now, but it is best not to annoy them in the first place....

[kerfoot]

Hello, some excellent advice already mentioned above. At the start of this week I attended a reptile training course just outside of Bournemouth. It was fantastic-a very well taught course. It went over all the basics and then on to survey techniques and habitat managemnet.
In the afternoon we had a visit to a reserve in Hurn which is leased by the HCT (Herpetological Conservation Trust). Its a SSSI site and has all 6 species present and in good numbers. We were lucky enough to see all 6 on an overcast and slightly windy day. A brilliant venue that has public access. Check out their website to see if it has a list of the reserves.
It was the first time I'd seen any of the snake species so was absolutely over the moon. I've got photos that are on film so I'll get them copied on to CD and will upload them soon.
Good luck in finding the Adders, you're certainly in the right part of the country for it

Viewing reptiles does all depend on the weather including the weather leading up to your visit, but even on suboptimal days you still get surprising results!
All the best

I wonder if Wild Women was on the same course I was on?

[BM]

I've heard that Studland Heath (north of Swanage) is a very good spot for reptiles. It also has all 6 species. Hope that helps.

[life through a lens]

Originally Posted by kdutoit

I'm particularly interested in reptiles and amphibians and my goal for this spring/summer is to take at least one good pici of an Adder. On recent expeditions to the new forest and a couple of other locations near Christchurch I've seen a few Common Lizards and my first Great Crested Newt, but no luck with the Adders.

If you can get to the New Forest try the reptile centre for information. If there's no-one there that can help you could always get a few snaps of the ones they have

Welcome to WAB, hope you enjoy it.

Olly

[Wild-Woman]

Thanks for that tip eeyore. I will certainly bear that in mind. Or should I say 'fangs' for the tip!!:-) ww

[pet]

Hello, just a quicky, the advise given is sound in particular advise about being carefull, Adder camouflage is outstanding.. or not as the case is, a good tip is to look on ebay or car boots for a cheap pair of leather half chaps ( riding gear) to tuck under your trousers, offer good protection from bites and scratches if your passion is tip toeing around heaths and commons looking for herpetofauna as mine is. goodluck and stay safe.

[FungiJohn]

A warm welcome to WAB kdutoit.

Hope you enjoy the site. I'm sure info on Adders will follow.

Enjoy

[kdutoit]

Thanks for all the usefull tips everyone, I didnt expect so many so soon!
The good news is I saw one earlier today! I went out just after eight and walked for about an hour without seeing anything apart from a Slow Worm. It was at about ten when I saw him. Or, I think it was a male anyway. He was basking and kept still just long enough for me to take two snaps of him, I also took some of the Slow Worm. Have a look and tell me what you think.