Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Scott W]

sounds like fun, unfortunately there are a couple of problems, firstly the weather, unless you get the right weather you can spend a day and see nothing (me & Stu had that problem, only caught a glimpse of an adder). Also giving out adder site locations isn't something I do lightly. I made the mistake once of telling someone a good site once and found a lot of 'destruction' from someone lifting logs, peeling back dead bark etc and it had an impact on the area for a couple of years

If any one is interested, perhaps we could organise something? Epping forest does have a few good sites as does Southend. I've not really got much free time but you never know
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[Stuart]

[JStroud]

Yeh I'd be up for a little trip too...does it include beer and a picnic?
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Regards James Stroud

[big_boids_uk]

Yeah im with you on that one scott, there will always be one who trys to take one home in his pocket after wrecking half of the woodlands to find it. Well how bout the 4 or 5 of us that are interested chat about going herping together over email? That way we can discuss sites to go and all the specifics. I'll even throw in the beer and picnic myself seeing as im the newbee and dont know ass from elbow in the field herpin world! Stuart, you have my email, feel free to pass it on scott jstroud and any other trusted members you fancy coming and we can sort something out. Sound ok guys?
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Just a collector/lover for now

[Stuart]

Sounds good. Someone mention beer!
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[Rickeezee]

[slippery42]

As a highly experienced native herper its probably wise to point out that field herping in the UK isn't as straight forward as in say the USA.

Out native herps are in many areas scarce and very hard to find.

Yes there are sites where experience shows that you can regularly expect to see adders. This Slow Worms its similar as with Common Lizards though they are harder to see and get close enough to photograph.

Grass Snakes are more transitory and although you can go to southern sites and come across them its never guaranteed.

With the rarer species such as Sand Lizard and Smooth Snakes they are almost always associated with SSSI's and there is the first major problem.

Also the act of seeking them out is likely to be classed as hunting/surveying and you need to be licensed for EN or CCW.

Our rarer amphibians are the same.

You could go to the many areas where introduced species are found, bullfrog, Wall Lizard, Marsh Frog etc as they aren't covered by Wildlife and Countryside act ......unless yo caught one and let it go ....an offence.....yes by now your getting the gist of this thread.

Of course if you live in the hallowed country i.e anywhere north of say Manchester then you the species list your after starts to decline to Adder, Slow Worm and Common Lizard apart from the amphibians.....and I know there are a few (count them on your hands) sites where grass snakes may exist in northern England but hell they are hard to find at the best of times.

Being a field herper in England is hard in Scotland and Wales even harder and in Ireland your up against it!!

Even if you have some luck and find your target species things don't always go smooth..bad weather, rain, hot sunny day, adder with attitude, bad sight and well sometime you get it wrong.

4 days hospital rest thanks to Mr Adder.






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Live for today as your dead for a long long time

Using Nikon D300's and pro lenses

[Stuart]

Great info there but you really should eat your peas you know!
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[Dan]

[slippery42]

hadn't thought about the orangina and peas but i know what you mean

if I'd have been blowing my trumpet i wouldn't have included the adder bite story

25 years experience doesn't mean squat when you get it wrong
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Live for today as your dead for a long long time

Using Nikon D300's and pro lenses