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Wow, I can only dream about seeing adder in December here, cool find!

I wanted to fly in Thailand for Christmas holidays, but now I'll made a thought about England: Aesculapian snakes in the center of London and snakes active in december... It's better and nearer than the tropics...
Jokes apart, is it so normal in England to find snakes active in the middle of the winter, is it rare but it has always been possible, or (third possibility) something is changing actually in global weather conditions?

Thanks for your comments.


Ruggero,

The Met Office here declared 2014 as the warmest year on record, only to repeat the claim for 2015. Looks like 2016 could make it three in a row. Temperatures in the mid teens this month. I think the Chinese have taken this hoax too far.

My previously latest recorded Adder was mid November. Mid November this year and we were still turning up these...






With regards to your difficult choice between Thailand or England for Christmas;
If it helps, think of all those tropical beaches - warm, crystal clear sea - forests full of unusual and exotic reptiles - strange cultures and customs - delicious new food and of course, warm beer! Look forward to seeing you soon.

Thanks Ray! Unfortunately I will stay at home for Christmas... For me no warm beer in Thailand, and no snakes in England either...

Interesting observations. Looks like year-round salamandering is not the only cure for winter depression anymore...

I have a very small pond in my garden, I checked it last week and there was no sign of life, checked it last night and was very pleased to find 19 Palmate newts L helviticus.

Lot of rain last night near Bordeaux and lot of activity : Common toad, Palmate Newt, Agile frog, Fire Salamander...
A female of Fire Salamander on a puddle last night :

Up and running again in the south of England.

Six Adders at one site at midday on Thursday 16th February 2017.
The last sighting in 2016 was on the 22nd December giving a 'closed season' here of just 55 days.

I have visited the site several times this year when conditions felt close to being just right but no luck, probably due in the main to a chilly wind crossing the site. Today good sunshine and no wind. As I stood feeling pretty smug and watching the snakes a local old boy walking his dog shuffled past and said, "I saw them out over a week ago."

nice , and here in A is still winter

Very nice! yesterday I had no luck here in SW-Germany...Cant´t wait