Adders at Burnham Beeches

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   I went to Burnham Beeches for the first time last spring (bad considering im not very far from there!) looked for reptiles on quite a few visits on days which i thought would be ideal but all i saw was a common lizard.

Had a good look round any areas i thought they might be hiding but cant help thinking i was looking in the wrong places. Great place for a walk and im already excited about having another look soon as its warm enough!

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Andy_B Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Status: Offline Points: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andy_B Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Adders at Burnham Beeches Posted: 09 Jan 2008 at 3:39pm
	I went to Burnham Beeches for the first time last spring (bad considering im not very far from there!) looked for reptiles on quite a few visits on days which i thought would be ideal but all i saw was a common lizard. Had a good look round any areas i thought they might be hiding but cant help thinking i was looking in the wrong places. Great place for a walk and im already excited about having another look soon as its warm enough!

mikebrown Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 108	Post Options Post Reply Quote mikebrown Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Dec 2007 at 7:55pm
	Further to my previous post, I would be very interested to know what the present status is with adders at my old 'stomping ground' of Stoke Common, which I used to frequent regularly before migrating to Lancashire and eventually Liverpool in 1978 (due to work, not choice, initially, although I really like living in Merseyside now). Please PM me with any info. Many thanks, Mike Brown
	Mike Brown Merseyside ARG

Steg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steg Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 2007 at 5:37am
	Went over to BB yesterday and saw a snake - unsure which species it was because I just saw the tail end of it as it slithered away into the ferns and didn't get to see the patterning. Also saw a common lizard, and found a shed from an adult grassy :) Need to go back to find adders though

mikebrown Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 108	Post Options Post Reply Quote mikebrown Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 2007 at 2:54pm
	Nice to see the adders thriving again at BB, as I, like Tony, first encountered them there and at Stoke Common, as a kid, before I emigrated to Lancashire. I would also be interested to know if there are any left at Stoke Common. I noticed that there were signs for them there last year. Cheers, Mike
	Mike Brown Merseyside ARG

Danial Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 100	Post Options Post Reply Quote Danial Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 2007 at 2:14pm
	Great pic Rick Maybe one weekend I'll come along with you to BB, as it sounds a great site.
	Consultant Ecologist and Amphibians Officer of Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group www.surrey-arg.org.uk

st rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141	Post Options Post Reply Quote st rick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 2007 at 2:11pm
	Tony, never seen Adders at Littleworth Common, but quite a few Grassies, including some big ones, as I reported to you a while ago. The common is looking pretty wild right now and the ponds are clean. I tend to look close to the water as this area is best for the Grassies. There's a lot of bracken there, which perhaps favours Natrix. I certainly would not rule out Adders at Littleworth. You will be pleased to note both pubs doing well. The Jolly Woodsman under new management and packing them in all week it seems. I must check out Stoke Common.

st rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141	Post Options Post Reply Quote st rick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 2007 at 11:30am
	How do you delete a post altogeter on the forum when you realise you've made a silly mistake and posted the same pic twice? Edited by st rick

st rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141	Post Options Post Reply Quote st rick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 2007 at 11:19am
	Burnham Beeches has been managed very well for reptiles since the introduction of grazing. Some areas are even closed off in Spring to allow them to thrive and, if you look, you can see reptile-friendly piles of logs and patches of brush dotted aqround the place. You will see signs here and there that mention the presence of Adders, so look where you see the signs. A good pointer would be to have a look at a map online and locate the larger clearings. Forests are very good for reptiles but you won't see much in the thick of the trees. Have a look at where the sun is falling (or would do if it was out)and search the sunny sides. Good luck! Edited by st rick

Alex2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 265	Post Options Post Reply Quote Alex2 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 2007 at 10:23am
	Thanks for going to the effort Steg, nice little toad. Got some common toads of various sizes living in a raised herb garden out the back of my cottage, they get very tame especially when hand fed waxworms each week. Good luck finding those adders tomorrow :)

Steg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steg Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 2007 at 10:12am
	http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/princess_doom/0709200 7.jpg There's the link for the toady pic. Not very good, as the digital camera here is no good for close up shots, so I had to use my phone. Only a baby :)