Adders

[al woodcock]

Has anyone been Adder hunting yet yhis season? I've recently found a great spot here in the New Forest after a disappointing 2007. Al

[demicav]

Best place for me is Pwllheli, North wales. I can guarantee seeing them from Feb/March and they're everywhere.

[al woodcock]

Hello demicav. What's the habitat like there?

[demicav]

Originally Posted by al woodcock

Hello demicav. What's the habitat like there?

Most of it is heathland near the coast but I've recently discovered Adders in bushes and woods slightly away from the coast. The heathland is the best place to see them but they tend to wander a fair distance now the weather is warming up.

[al woodcock]

Yes there's plenty of heathland here too. And gorse 'ouch'! I'm also near the coast and have heard that Adders like sandy areas on coastlines. I put a few corrugated tin boards out to encourage them last year but with no luck. Plenty of beautiful Grass Snakes though.

[demicav]

Originally Posted by al woodcock

Yes there's plenty of heathland here too. And gorse 'ouch'! I'm also near the coast and have heard that Adders like sandy areas on coastlines. I put a few corrugated tin boards out to encourage them last year but with no luck. Plenty of beautiful Grass Snakes though.

Funny you should mention Gorse. I googled it and low and behold it is the same plant that covers much of the heathland in Pwllheli where the Adders are. I never knew what plant it was until now.
I'd love to see a Grass Snake but I wouldn't know where to begin.

[demicav]

You can just see the plant on this pic of my daughter with an Adder.

[al woodcock]

Great pic of a nice fat female. [the Adder of course, not your daughter Ha Ha]
I've found Grass Snakes are nearly always near water as they eat frogs, toads and tadpoles, Possibly small fish too. Why not try laying a board of wood or corrugated felt roofing near a lake,pond or river and check under it regularly. Last year we had a lot of success. Slow Worms and lizards love to take refuge under it too. Obviously you'd have to put it [or them] somewhere discreet where no one can disturb it or mistake it for litter and bin it! Yeah give it a go,I'd love to find out how you get on.

[NickCantle]

Demicav, I was Adder hunting on Saturday but I found a Grass Snake instead. You say you'd love to see them like you've never seen one If not, get yourself a nice walk by a river- you can often see them swimming their way down the river or bathing on reed beds.

[Deer Stalker]

Seen a few on the Forest this year but I don't really get out at the right time of day to see them.

[windy]

Hi

Two weeks ago we visited the RSPB reserve at pulborough brooks in sussex and we found quite a big sized Adder on the move.
As shown below





Rich

[NickCantle]

Nice shots Rich. I thought that they were nice when I saw them in the gallery the other day I've still yet to see one this year, but I shall be out on the best Adder heathlands I know when I get home from Uni

[tigger]

I've never seen an Adder. Wanted to see one this year. May have to call on the help of a friend at Dorset Wildlife Trust, who knows a place on the heath. However, saw three Smooth Snakes the other day.... which was exciting.

Managed some good shots of them as well.

Jane

[Wozza]

I'm like you Nick, waiting to get home from Uni! I'm making a note of all the places near my house where people claim to have seen Adders, and when I get back I'm going to check them all out. Having said that there are a few places near me here at Uni which are supposed to be good Adder spots - I'll check them out after the exams.

I'm also lucky enough to have a field at home with a pond in which is always full of frogs. I've seen Grass Snakes in and around this pond quite a few times before and I'm going to make myself a little project of improving it for snake hunting - log pile, corrugated iron, compost heap etc. I once even found the remains of snake eggs on the pond's island! I'd love it to happen again.

[NickCantle]

Hiya Wozza! Always good to meet others in your situation. Seems you're fairly new here, so make sure you keep us posted Where are you from, if you don't mind my asking?

Nick

[Wozza]

I am indeed new, and what a great forum! I now come here every day
I live in the lovely Kentish countryside, the Garden of England! When I'm not studying at Swansea that is. I'm no photographer but when I go out hunting I shall take my camera and see what I can do!

[NickCantle]

Well, you've found a good place If you ever feel that you need to read up on your photographic info, then there's loads of info on WAB too

Glad you found this place and you better stick around Us youngens have got to stick together

Nick

[demicav]

Originally Posted by al woodcock

Great pic of a nice fat female. [the Adder of course, not your daughter Ha Ha]
I've found Grass Snakes are nearly always near water as they eat frogs, toads and tadpoles, Possibly small fish too. Why not try laying a board of wood or corrugated felt roofing near a lake,pond or river and check under it regularly. Last year we had a lot of success. Slow Worms and lizards love to take refuge under it too. Obviously you'd have to put it [or them] somewhere discreet where no one can disturb it or mistake it for litter and bin it! Yeah give it a go,I'd love to find out how you get on.

I will give the idea of putting something down a thought, anything is worth a try. Thanks.

[demicav]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Demicav, I was Adder hunting on Saturday but I found a Grass Snake instead. You say you'd love to see them like you've never seen one If not, get yourself a nice walk by a river- you can often see them swimming their way down the river or bathing on reed beds.

Thanks for the advice. I've heard there are Grassies about in parts of Cheshire, along the canals. Don't know if there are but I would love to find out.

[NickCantle]

I would have thought there most definitely are!

[good_egg]

if anyone is in Cornwall, upton towans is heaving with them

[wildherbalian85]

Anybody know whether Adders can still be found on portsea Island (Portsmouth)??

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by wildherbalian85

Anybody know whether Adders can still be found on portsea Island (Portsmouth)??

I'd imagine not, you probaly would just get slowworms. I reckon however if they were anywhere they would probaly be in the heathy/boggy/grasslandy bit along the east/langstone coast south of the harvester.
The best bet would be contacting hampshire Wildlie trust and asking them about there and possibly farlington marshes and the chalk grassland north of portsmouth

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

I'd imagine not, you probaly would just get slowworms. I reckon however if they were anywhere they would probaly be in the heathy/boggy/grasslandy bit along the east/langstone coast south of the harvester.
The best bet would be contacting hampshire Wildlie trust and asking them about there and possibly farlington marshes and the chalk grassland north of portsmouth

I know that they have in the past been found on Portsdown hill, and i am pretty sure that have also been found on the stretch of heath running down the eatern side of the island - and didin't real thik to check farlington marshes purely because it is marsh land and can be very muddy at times. I know Grass Snakes have been found at farlington marsh and all over portsmouth.


They have been documented all over the portsmouth area but unfortunatly i only have access to NBN Gateway records and they generaly speaking are not very specific as to date and location. The records are more general area and date range. The only detailed one is the portsdown hill record

[al woodcock]

Hello all. Does anyone know if we have Smooth Snakes in Hampshire? I'm sure we do but I'm wondering where.