reptiles in pwlheli

James,

by the end of the month, the reptile would have been out for a good while and with luck it will be warm. try to get up before the crowd and set out to look at about 8 O clock in the morning. Look for nooks and crannies where the sun finds early but which are a little secluded from view. you know, like those small rabbit tunnels you sometimes get at the base of blackberry bushes. I've seen many an Adder thinking that they were hidden from view just inside those.

just because you dont see anything dont rush off. find asuitable place that "looks good" and just sit and listen. it might take half an hour - so what- thats what you've gone for eh! Listening is just another way of seeing, better in fact, as it allows you to see through bushes not just on the outside.

Good luck.

RobV

Phil, a little story from last week, I was with a contractor onsite and could see a common lizard. He couldn't see it for looking even though it was out in the open. He asked, "how do you see them" when I finally pointed it out to him, my answer.... because I believe I will.

Phil you must believe also, you won't be quiet enough at first, nobody is, you will scare them off, but watch and listen all the time. If you do scare something off and see a tail disappearing in the vegetation, come back really quietly a few minutes later, they are often not far away basking again.

Good luck and remember we have all been like you also, wanting to see things, but not quite there yet.

Interesting what you say about belief, Gemma.

I was talking about this at the Narrs training in Surrey.  I'm not superstitious, but I do have a 'theory of luck' where spotting herps is concerned.  It seems that as soon as you spot a reptile your chances of seeing another one shoot up about 100% right then in an almost spooky way.  Similarly, if you haven't seen a reptile for years and then suddenly 'break your duck' you then seem to go on spotting them all over the place.

It can seem a little weird, but I expect confidence, 'getting your eye in', knowing where to look and how to look make a big difference and, as Gemma says, believing that you will actually see something.

It's like that famous Theologian, George Michael, once said:  you gottta have faith!