Slow-worms and a High Adder!

Footage from yesterday. A male melanistic adder basking on top of a hedge, plus some natural slow-worm footage.

Newspaper Article - Snakes

BLACK ADDER GOES FORTH

Below is a link to a newspaper article I supplied to the local press, it has been slightly changed and edited.
My main purpose was to try and dismiss the fears that some have regarding our native snakes as just rumours and folklore. I hope it helps to save a few!
I usually find between 2 and 5 dead snakes within my reptile sites throughout the Forest of Dean. This figure may not seem high, but it is when both the adder and grass snake are in decline and are both protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Schedule 5 from Trade, Injury and Killing!


http://www.forest-and-wye-today.co.uk/tn/news.cfm?id=10365&headline=Black adder goes forth



Rob

Filming Reptiles

A short film below from 21st March 2010. Reptiles in the Forest of Dean. This clip has been edited down from over 35min of footage. So not to disturb the reptiles, I focus my camera on them and move away, this way I capture their natural behaviour!

Hope you like?

Rob

Reptiles in the Forest of Dean

Today "terrible", but what a day yesterday? The sun was blazing and the reptiles were out dancing!

I counted 8 adders, at least 12 common lizards and a slow-worm in just one of my survey spots! Naturally I had the camera(s) with me and glad I did as I captured some of my best snake and lizard footage to date!

Safety in numbers! I think these adders are taking advantage of each others body heat?

I see you! This male was on the look out!

A melanistic male adder. How do I know he was a male? He was out of hibernation very early and one of the first adders I saw this year. The females emerge slightly later.

Notice that he has flattened his body. They do this to create a larger area so that they can absorb more heat from the sun.

A common lizard. Wherever you find the predators, you will find their prey not too far away!

Rob

Juvenile Male Adder (Vipera berus)

They were out basking for approx 2 hours on Friday, before the rain started falling, forcing them the retreat back into hiding. I will wait eagerly for the next dry sunny day!

The two pics are of the same snake, just different angles. He was only a nipper (excuse the pun!), about the thickness of a pencil, but slightly longer.

Photographed with my 100mm macro lens.

Canon 7d - Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro

Canon 7d - Canon 100mm f/7.1 macro

Rob

Great Crested Grebe Footage

I filmed the great crested grebes today. They are constructing a nest, so I should be able to get some decent footage later in the year when the chicks hatch.

Rob

Some Grebes and a Short Film

Below are some photographs of a pair of nesting Great Crested Grebes on a local pond. I was using my beanbag and left the tripod in the car. Result? All pics were hand held at 400mm - Yikes!
Lucky to come away with a few keepers!

This bird is the reason we have the RSPB today. The RSPB was formed in the 19th century to protect the Great Crested Grebe as it was hunted to near extinction, for its head feathers!

And this is a new "Spring" video. Filmed for around an hour a day over three days in March and then edited down to 4 mins.

Rob