reptile spotting tips!

[wildsusy]

I have never spotted a reptile in the wild

Any tips for finding any of the species? I am paying a visit to Frensham this Summer, for a start.

I was walking on some open gorse-y heath today on a site where adders are reported.. no luck. sun out, south sloping aspect, walking softly in the other direction of the wind..nothing. I look regularly but no snakes or lizards

help??

[Deb London]

Hi wildsusy,

I would strongly recommend that you grab an expert and follow them around.

Your local wildlife trust or natural history soc probably have some guided walks.

I went to one such event recently, and the expert greeted us with a handful of herps, including a Slow-worm.



I have worked for nearly a year of Sundays on that same site, sometimes litter picking, sometimes moving slabs and bricks, and what he has in his hand is exactly what I've found for myself in all that time.

If you want to go it alone, try for a day that promises to be warm, but arrive early when it is still cool. Overcast conditions. Stay downwind. Use binoculars first. When approaching a snake that starts to retreat, stand still. In my (limited) experience Adders will come back to that spot, as often as not.

But when the day has warmed up, I'd call it a day for Adders because they tend to stay hidden then.

Lizards seem to be easier to spot. Some nature reserve that have "boardwalks" or whatever they are called can have a huge number of basking lizards on these pathways. You can be tripping over them (except they are too fast).

Good luck.

[Richard Baber]

Hi wildsusy

Thursley Common is only a few miles from Frensham and I would definitely try to visit if you can, especially early on a hot day. There is a circular walk close to the car park that is wonderful, for dragonflies in particular. Part of the path is raised, wooden boardwalks and there have always been lizards sunbathing on these whenever I've been there. I go there for the nightjars but it's a great site for reptiles too.

Good luck
Richard

[marvin]

hi

these guys should be pretty helpful

http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/

keep persevering...it'll be worth it.

tim

[ViperaBerus]

South facng slopes.

In hot weather, get out so you are there an hour after dawn. You won't see much after 11am on hot days. Cloudy days with some sun breaking through are best for extended searching.

Herpetologists can be recognised as we all have burnt necks from keeping the sun behind us. That is the side of the vegetation that reptiles, especially snakes are found.

[Mark_b]

This is a good read for new reptile spotters written by Peter Hill....

SWWARG - Reptile Habitat

[wildsusy]

thankyou everyone for your advice.. one more question, where exactly to look? in dry sandy clearings in the gorse and heather?? What sort of exact spot? Am dying to see some reptiles

[Dogghound]

Ecotones are often the best places to look. Edges of different habitats, woodland edge onto heath or bracken onto shorter grass for example. Reptiles like to bask near cover so they can quickly retreat if threatened. Specific habitat/habits varies between species, its always worth looking under refugia. 9-11am and again around 4-6pm are probably the best times to look at this time of year. As summer draws on 7-9am and 6-8pm are probably more relistic although they tend to be harder to find further into summer for a variety of reasons.