Daniel Bohle wrote: no sun and cold is perfect for finding babys!
You were right! I had a few hours up at the wood today and saw 8 snakes in total. Sunny on and off around 2pm, but quite warm with the sun out. The first snake of the day was an orange juvenile, probably one of last years neos. Next were 3 adults basking together; two males (M6 & uni'd, but looks like a new one from upper labial markings) and a female (F11). M6 I last saw in March so it was good to see him alive and well.
- the two males - the female was just to the lower right but I couldn't see her until I was stood up properly
At about 3pm I moved to the other part of the wood where I often find snakes; it is the part where I found my first Adders at this location back in 2009. By now it had gone cloudy and quite cool but didn't take long to find a male (M13) coiled up near where I saw him on the 17th. He is another who I hadn't seen for a while - before the 17th, not since early April this year.
- M13
Shortly after seeing him I saw F12 at her usual place - only a few metres from where M13 appears to have a hibernacula. I had hoped to see the other snake she was seen basking with at the beginning of the month but this time she was by herself. I just took a photo for records and moved on to find some more snakes. It took a while to find the next, and I was contemplating going home as it had started to rain a bit. As has happened a few times before though, I just looked down at my feet and there was one.. The first neonate of the year
- N3
- Nice colours of a newborn
About 10 minutes after this the rain had stopped and the sun came out so I went for a last look at F12's location before going home;
- F12 &.. F3
For my university study I need to identify individuals, which requires a clear shot of the top of the head; I had no idea who this girl was when I saw her but when I had a look at snakes from previous years I got a match - she is F3, the third female snake I saw here. Last encounter was August 12th 2010. She seemed very healthy - I don't think she was gravid, just a bit fat. Maybe she will be breeding next year.. Just as I saw these two basking the sun went in again, then it poured down so I went home. I'm hoping to have one last trip up there this year before I move back to university at the weekend.
I also saw quite a few Viviparous lizards, neonates and adults, and some more dragonflies.
- Male Vivi
- Common hawkers - landed right next to me as I was taking a photo of the first snake of the day