Adder question

[FUDGEY]

All summer I've been looking to photograph an Adder at one particular area I've seen them in the past. After several fruitless trips with the camera I gave up. Today I was back up with the long lens to try snap a grasshopper warbler and it was just my luck to come across an adder basking beside an old ruined building. I had wrong lens on (500mm) but what I'd like to know is how traditional are they on the basking sights? Is there a good chance it will be in the same place or very near in future? Hope someone can help. It was a beautiful female and a tanned brown colour. Love to get a pic of it.

[marvin]

hi

depends. if it is a gravid female it is very likely to bask in the same place throughout the summer. if not you may still be lucky as they can bask in and around the same area if they feel safe and don't get disturbed too much. the ruined building does sound like a likely place to see them.

cheers
tim

[Beekeeper]

I used to have a very large male adder which would bask on the concrete runoff area of one of my greenhouses.

This was a frequent occurence, always around the same time in the morning as the sun got around and cleared the trees

One day he nearly bit me when i disturbed him reaching round the outside corner of the greenhouse to open the rear door (Couldn't get to it from within due to amount of plants in the way), needless to say i was a bit more careful in future.

He stayed around on and off for almost a year but after the following winter never saw him again.

So i guess there is a good chance you will be able to get the picture you want Fudgey.

Good luck.


Ian

[FUDGEY]

Tyvm Tim, great info mate

[marvin]

pleasure

looking forward to seeing the pics.

tim

[FUDGEY]

Thanks to you also beekeeper, I really want this one.

[ViperaBerus]

You certainly do have a very high chance of seeing her in that spot or one not too far away. Overcast warm days are usually teh best days now, as direct sun see them seking cover within a few hours of sun up.

[Adam Cheeseman]

High summer can be very unproductive as they are usually up and about very quickly on warm days. March/April and September are better months as they take longer to warm up so will spend more time basking. As already said, overcast, but not cold days, are better.

Cheers,

Adam

[FUDGEY]

Well guys thanks so much for the help, I returned an hour ago and there she was in the exact same spot. Not the picture Im after, but its a start at least after a good few blanks. I want one at ground level thats pretty close. Im sure it wont be long now seeing as I know where she is. It was the longest Adder Ive ever seen, at a guess just over 2ft long. Beautiful creature, Ty to all who advised me once again

[Meta menardi]

She looks quite flat, adders do this when they want to increase the speed of warming, they present more surface to the sun. I have seen this happen when there has been a sudden sharp shower followed by sun. Nice snake.