Slow worms

JaySteel · #1 (**permalink**) 20-08-2009, 09:18 AM

On Tuesday whilst up on the cliffs in Hasting with my family I couldn't resist the urge to turn over a large rock and look for wildlife. To my great joy this rock was hiding a pair of adult slow worms. I wish I'd had more time to take better photos but unfortunately my family don't share my passion and were getting impatient so I had to put them back under their rock and move along. Still a lovely find though!

Dutchess · #2 (**permalink**) 20-08-2009, 10:21 AM

Hello JaySteel,

I see you found a friendly slow worm to oblige! I live in Hastings and am pleased that our slow worm population is still here. I spotted my first wild living slow worm down here about 25 years ago, soon after moving to this house. My garden is still a haven for them, I deliberately keep piles of rocks, rubble and retreats of long lush vegetation towards the sides of the garden so that they have plenty of hideaways

Well done on capturing the shots. What a shame your family didn't appreciate your find

D.

JaySteel · #3 (**permalink**) 23-08-2009, 08:47 PM

Thanks for your reply. I'm glad you're helping to preserve the slow worms in your garden. My garden is a haven for frogs which all live under boards I have placed in a corner of my garden.

Malx · #4 (**permalink**) 26-08-2009, 08:04 PM

Apparently the first week of September is official 'birth week' for Slow worms, so a need for extra vigilance as well as a potential photo opportunity.

I have 4 smallish squares of corrugated iron positioned in grass not far from my pond. I painted the ones for slow worms dark green (in theory to provide a warmer spot for the lizardy types) and white ones for the frogs (to minimise the sun's heat).

But no one here will be surprised to hear that if you peek under one at random, it's almost exactly a 50-50 chance that it could equally be a frog or a slow worm underneath...

Apartheid doesn't seem to work in the wild either!

Dutchess · #5 (**permalink**) 26-08-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malx

Apartheid doesn't seem to work in the wild either!

And thank heavens for that!

It's good to hear of what other folk are doing for the reptiles and amphibians in their garden

.

Cheers,

D.

JaySteel · #6 (**permalink**) 27-08-2009, 12:21 PM

1st week in September eh? I think I'll have to have a look around then for some photographic subjects again soon.

Graeme Robson · #7 (**permalink**) 28-08-2009, 11:02 AM

Excellent!!

Malx · #8 (**permalink**) 28-08-2009, 09:36 PM

In case, like me, you've never encountered a baby slow worm, here's some notes from the Net:

Firstly from The Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis)

"The young are very thin, about 4cm long with black bellies and gold or silver backs with a thin black line down the middle."

Also, from the BBC Nature site: "An average of 6-12 young (although as many as 26 is possible) are born after a gestation period of 3-5 months. They are encased in a transparent membrane at birth, which they immediately break free of."

So for crying out loud, tread carefully in your gardens for the next month, and treat all apparent 'worms' with respect!