I Saw 2 Reptiles In Pwllheli

[phil2]

lol,i have not many if any sites here close to me in liverpool and the north west to look for adders so i will have to wait for a while yet,shame as i love them.

[demicav]

Originally Posted by yellowhammer

Adders do move around some after mating. On my study site in Dorset unmated females moved back to the hibernaculum and were found under refugia within about half a kilometre of the site.

Males and a few of the gravid females utilised logpiles in woodland clearings, sites with a lot of cover for prey. Gravid females should be easily spotted (assuming your fieldcraft is up to scratch ) through the summer as they'll be basking in order to speed up the development of the young.

Males can be less predictable through the summer months and (in Dorset at least) to dull down in colour until they can be confused with females. Gue Jam Fowsid has made some good points about this on another thread.

So they're out there, it's just knowing where to look. Also, as the days warm up earlier peak basking activity will take place earlier in the day. If it gets really hot some individuals may start to become active at night. So spread your net a bit wider and you should be able to keep in touch with 'your' adders.

Oh, and if you hear a snake in the undergrowth, try and tell if it's an adder or a grassie. It can be done!

By the way how would you tell if it was an adder or a grass snake just by listening ?

[Steve149c]

Nice Shots - might have to start looking under a few 'select' rocks & slates myself :-) Replacing them carefully afterwards

[Andrew_C]

Greetings all

Have finally registered after lurkng away reading all the great posts for a while. Seems like an excellent community of naturalists herein. Thought it was time to contribute, especially as I live west of Pwllheli.

Well done with your sighting! That looks like perfect reptile habitat in the photo.

There are loads of lizards here on the coastal heathlands of the Lleyn Peninsula - I see them every day I'm out when the sun is shining (or more often hear them scuttle way into the undergrowth as they are superbly camouflaged).

Saw a kestrel with a fine specimen in it's talons a while back!

I've not seen Adder locally for a few years but they are regularly encountered, but have seen the odd Slow Worm.

I've always found it difficult to reconcile the eys on the skies perspective of a birder (my main passion) with that of a reptile enthusiast or botanist - the eyes down posse!

All the best

Andrew

[phil2]

andy if only i met you before lol.thanks,we may go back to pwkllheli or pothmadog later this year,and this time hoping to look for adder.
your so lucky living there

[Andrew_C]

Hi Phil

If you need any local information regarding wildlife sites do pm me before your next visit.

Best wishes

Andrew