the online meeting place for all who love our amphibians and reptiles
Home Page Live Forums Archived Forums Site Search Identify Record Donate Projects Links
Forum Home Forum Home > Herpetofauna Native to the UK > Slow Worm
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - So slow worms climb hedges - Iom amazed
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

So slow worms climb hedges - Iom amazed

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
smallstuff View Drop Down
New Member
New Member


Joined: 19 Dec 2017
Status: Offline
Points: 2
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote smallstuff Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: So slow worms climb hedges - Iom amazed
    Posted: 19 Dec 2017 at 10:34pm
...any other suggestions?!
Back to Top
smallstuff View Drop Down
New Member
New Member


Joined: 19 Dec 2017
Status: Offline
Points: 2
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote smallstuff Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Dec 2017 at 10:33pm
It seems we need to start looking for slow worms in higher places. Today my attention was drawn to our cat on the old 'shed' roof as a tile was displaced and slid to the ground. She seemed to have been interested in something up there. About 5 minutes later I returned and she was on the ground playing with a still moving half of a slow worm, right next to the tile. Too much of a coincidence that she'd found it at ground level.
Back to Top
administrator View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 01 Jan 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Oct 2010 at 4:23am
Well if nothing else it's a new party trick to add to the repertoire I guess. I use to think being able to catch lizards off the top of refugia was impressive but to spot the right bit of a hedge and pull a slow worm out would surprise a few people. 

Don't feel bad about it Shawit, it would never have occurred to me that a slow worm would be up in a garden hedge. Sad as it is I'm sure your experience has enlightened many of us. I'll certainly not be taking the hedge trimmer to the privet from now on when it's the only part of the garden in sun. It is horrible when these things happen but I guess we all learn from these experiences.




Edited by GemmaJF
Back to Top
Shawit View Drop Down
Member
Member


Joined: 08 Apr 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 12
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shawit Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Oct 2010 at 11:02pm

Today was the first time I've been at home in the morning since last Sunday's carnage. The six foot stretch of hedge the slow worm was on is the only spot in direct sunlight at 10.15 now that the sun is getting lower in the sky.

 

Back to Top
Liz Heard View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 27 Apr 2010
Location: South West
Status: Offline
Points: 1429
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Liz Heard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Oct 2010 at 10:09am
jonathon- large vertical panes of glass beside 5' garden hedging are rather uncommon on heathland though wouldnt you say?

its still a very interesting post from a behaviour point of view.

regards, ben
Back to Top
administrator View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 01 Jan 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Oct 2010 at 1:07am
Yep I guess put like that, most of my visual encounters are on the tops of heather or bracken piles - but a garden hedge.. guess I had just never thought about it. I've seen grass snakes coiled up at the top of those six foot fencing boards though and our common lizards in the garden climb up to the top of them most days. I'll have to start inspecting the privet at the end of the garden for slow-worms. 
Back to Top
Jonathan View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 08 Sep 2009
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 71
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jonathan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Oct 2010 at 11:22pm

People!!! I'm amazed at this thread and your reaction to it.  Most if not all of my slow-worm sightings if not under refugia are on top of dense gorse or heather.  As soon as they see you they freeze and if aproached will drop.  The heather is usually very very thick and found between my usually open adder areas, but they are always there if you look for them..

"England Expects"
Back to Top
Liz Heard View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 27 Apr 2010
Location: South West
Status: Offline
Points: 1429
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Liz Heard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 2010 at 8:30am
thanks suz. thats one for me to look up!

ben
Back to Top
Suzi View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1025
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Suzi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Oct 2010 at 7:35pm
The hedge I think is lonicera nitida which is a commonly grown hedging/topiary shrub  which can be golden coloured as well. It too is very dense like box.
Suz
Back to Top
Liz Heard View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 27 Apr 2010
Location: South West
Status: Offline
Points: 1429
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Liz Heard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Oct 2010 at 3:52pm
wow! thanks for the pix mark and chris (and WOB "user").

i cant be sure but the hedge looks like common box (buxus sempervirens). if thats the case then its density as garden hedging probably makes for an easier climb for AF in this case???
hard to imagine AF doing such an edmund hilary in cypress anyhow.

looks like the slowies are taking advantage of the glass for TR.

really interesting post all!

is that a wood mouse (apodemus sylvaticus) curled up beside the slowies in the last pic?
incredible.

ben

Edited by ben rigsby
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.06
Copyright ©2001-2016 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.141 seconds.