MTAC 2010

I am preparing to get the MTAC survey going in 2010 - 5 years since the project first started we will be looking for volunteers to help monitor adder sites in the New Forest and outside the forest in other parts of the county.

I have set up a new website looking at wildlife in and around Alresford www.alresfordwildlife.org which will also have information on MTAC in Winchester.

Jon

Make the adder count in Hampshire 2009

Surveys are being planned for adder sites in Hampshire in 2009. 

We are looking for sites in the New Forest. We know the species is quite well recorded in this area but we do not have any count data which follows the same protocol as the National Make the Adder Count Survey.

I will be visiting my adder haunts again this spring 

Avenue Park

Project Freespace

Emer Bog & Baddesley Common

Botley Wood

There are some new sites which are also going to be visited including

Hayling Island

Pamber Forest

Shedfield Common

I would like to hear from anyone who would like to learn more about adders and adopt their own local site to carry out spring counts

See you in the field soon

Jon

Adder Project in Hampshire 2009

As a wildlife investor my company Herpetologic Ltd is going to be providing funding to help set up an adder monitoring project across the county.

I am working on a project plan at the moment and I hope to help people across the county to carry out Make the Adder Count surveys at adder sites in Hampshire.

My companies environmental policy is to support local environmental organisations and the local one to me is Hampshire Wildlife Trust. I am also going to be supporting ARG UK www.arguk.org and I am planning on making contributions to the Essex Field Club www.essexfieldclub.org.uk Herpetologic Ltd has recently become a corporate supporter of this excellent natural history society.

more info to follow soon


jon

Female adder found after 4 years

A large female adder was photographed at Emer Bog in 2007 during a Hampshire Wildlife Trust - Know your Reptiles event.

Through using the photo identification technique of looking at the head markings it was confirmed that the female was one of the first adders I stumbled across in 2003 four years previously.

This was excellent news. The female lives within an area of bracken and small clumps of birch provided ideal basking areas.

Unfortuantley the area has been disturbed by habitat management and a follow up HWT event failed to find the female again.

A survey visit is going to be arranged at Emer Bog to hopefully find this big female which would hopefully put my mind at rest about the localised disturbance to the bracken which the female has made her home over the last few years......

J

Queen Elizabeth Country Park

The conservation volunteers and rangers are carrying out surveys on adders at the Country Park. Looking at the individual animals the Rangers are now marking individuals to help study their movements through the park and especially along woodland rides.

A refreshing view on the importance of adders to the ecology of woodland can be found at the Country Park. When the first reptile walks were undertaken in the 1990's there were less than a handful of people now the reptile walks are over subscribed and many people want to come and learn about adders and other reptiles.

The public are more involved through the paint marking of animals in a small area of the park - people can recognise particular adders due to the paint spot on their tail.

Over 8 years of observations have been collected from the park's adders and more is being learnt about the movements and habits of individual snakes.

Watch this space for more details on the adder at QECP.......

Adders at Valley Park

Mark has found a new site for adders in the county. At Valley Park a female and male adder were found.

A nearby woodland is going to be targeted for survey next year in the spring - keep an eye out for a Make the adder count field survey day in 2009


Regards


Jon

Adders in Eastleigh update

Adders at Avenue Park have not been seen despite repeated visits this spring. A visit to the site is planned for the 24th July to track down any basking female adders on the park.

Another viviparous lizard was spotted this year - the sites holds a very small population of viviparous lizards - I have only seen one other adult lizard near the road along side the hedgerow.

Slowworms have been spotted amongst the vegetation and on log piles. A limited survey using artifical cover objects will hopefully be undertaken this autumn to record numbers.

An early morning visit is planned on the 24th July and the results (photos etc) will be posted up here.

Anyone who would like to help do contact me on 07769 644354

Winter management works will be planned for November to February so do check back when you can come and help with hibernacula building and scrub clearance.