Good places to see adders

[Hoppingmad]

Can anyone suggest a good place to see adders in the South East? I live in Essex and would prefer to go north of London if possible.

Thanks

[JaySteel]

I think you'll understand that those with this knowledge are very reluctant to share it on the internet especially with anyone they don't know.
I was fairly recently asked to show a person where to find black adders as they claimed that they could "get good money for one". This was someone who I'd previously thought that I could trust. Obviously I declined.

[Mark_b]

Indeed!

Join your local amphibian and reptile group and get involved....

Local Groups - ARGUK | ARG UK

[Flywaver]

Originally Posted by Hoppingmad

Can anyone suggest a good place to see adders in the South East? I live in Essex and would prefer to go north of London if possible.

Thanks

All i would say is that most of the home counties North of London are Adder free. The County you live in its mostly along the Coast. But if your having the luck i am getting its going to take a while. But i have a gut feeling i will be rewarded shortly.....

[Putorius]

Whilst it would be useful for the well intentioned if a "site sharing" facility was set up, it would also undoubtedly draw unwanted attention to already fragile colonies of reptiles from people with less honourable intentions. Reptiles, particularly adders, are still very much misunderstood by a suprisingly large amount of people and I wouldn`t suggest publicising the whereabouts of colonies.

I have in the past described the type of habitat at which to look for reptiles, and If anybody would like me to, I can do so again. I won`t go so far as to say precisely where though! If anybody really wants to get out there and see native herps, all they have to do is look in likely habitat at the right time during the right weather.

People with less honourable intentions are not likely to go to the trouble of taking on board the neccessary information to be able to do so. Giving out precise locations would be asking for trouble from such people however, particularly the "adder vigilantes".

[Dragonyka]

Originally Posted by Putorius

I have in the past described the type of habitat at which to look for reptiles, and If anybody would like me to, I can do so again. I won`t go so far as to say precisely where though! If anybody really wants to get out there and see native herps, all they have to do is look in likely habitat at the right time during the right weather.

I would be interested, if you're sure you don't mind. I've never seen a snake in the wild and would like to know the right times and sorts of places to look to give myself a better chance at least.

Thanks

Nicola

[ViperaBerus]

About an hour after dawn to midday on warm sunny days. On overcast days from about 8am to 1pm are the best times.

South facing banks are the best places to look.

[Dragonyka]

Originally Posted by ViperaBerus

About an hour after dawn to midday on warm sunny days. On overcast days from about 8am to 1pm are the best times.

South facing banks are the best places to look.

Thanks. I'll remember.

[faz]

Grass lands, Commons, Heaths or sheet of corrugated iron or a sheet of roofing felt 3x3

[marvin]

hi

there are adders in essex. as already advised try earg - ARG UK Local Groups Websites i think they're pretty active.

best conditions, times of day etc vary through the season. rather than try to explain have a look at...

National Reptile Survey - Survey Pack

hope this helps.
tim