Robert V
yeah, I'm due some time off in April (I missed out last spring) so I might widen my net for a year or two, try to pin down these stories of the humungus ones.
Southern lakes and somerset levels as well as another visit to kent, must find a least a couple of biggies.
R [/QUOTE wrote:
Rob - my offer still stands for showing you a couple of good sites on the mendips...
btw one of the stories of the humungus ones comes from you.....!!!?! - was it a wind up then..
Paul
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Paul Ford
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Posted: 11 Feb 2012 at 5:10pm |
GemmaJF wrote:
Regarding pinkies, it seems that some of the captive natrix from European stock will take them. Still yet to see a UK specimen do it, though I'm told some will. My observations show they will sniff them, even mouth them but I've never yet seen a UK natrix actually eat one. |
When I was a horrible kid I kept a 3 and a half footer for a couple of weeks and got her to take a dead (obviously!) mackerel - I dangled it in front of her on a long pair of forceps and prodded and poked her with it until she grabbed it (I remember thinking that maybe she saw it as some kind of threat but once she had grabbed it she decided to scoff it )
A while later I had to clean up the smelliest, nastiest grass snake poo in history
And before anyone says it.. yes, I have now grown up into a horrible adult
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Robert V
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Posted: 11 Feb 2012 at 7:26pm |
Paul Ford wrote:
[QUOTE=Robert V
Rob - my offer still stands for showing you a couple of good sites on the mendips...
btw one of the stories of the humungus ones comes from you.....!!!?! - was it a wind up then..
Paul |
Hi Paul,
yeah thanks for the offer, I might even get over to your neck of the woods. And no, it wasn't a wind up, far from it, but I haven't seen it again in four visits. I'm wondering if its in an aquarium somewhere, but why?
And also, those guys on you tube, was that in kent?? I would imagine the biggie I witnessed there would have shed something in that region. I hope they didn't find it.
R
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Paul Ford
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Posted: 14 Feb 2012 at 5:26pm |
And also, those guys on you tube, was that in kent?? I would imagine the biggie I witnessed there would have shed something in that region. I hope they didn't find it.
R
I've no idea where it was - I'm no good with accents (although I think they said 'Kent' a couple of times )
Paul
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sussexecology
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Posted: 15 Feb 2012 at 9:49pm |
That looked like Kent to me..... Can't wait till see some grass snakes (and adders too) this year.... just waiting for that all important mild weather. Keeping close eye on forecasts but apparently the cold weather is coming back. What a shame Was starting to get excited.... Never mind eh, spring will be here soon.....
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JaySteel
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Posted: 16 Feb 2012 at 5:47pm |
My friends think I'm crazy when I give 'reptiles emerging from hibernation' as my main reason to look forward to the coming Spring! I'm glad I'm in the company of like-minded crazy folk.
Jason
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GemmaJF
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Posted: 16 Feb 2012 at 8:10pm |
Not long now. Usually it is about the 14th I dust off my field gear for my first full day of the season in the field. This year though it was cold and we did a round trip to Wales to buy stuff for my sons car instead. Working on the car though today, the sun came out and I could feel the warmth in it for the first time this year. All we need is some clear days now.
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Suzy
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Posted: 16 Feb 2012 at 9:03pm |
Think I've said before but when younger I used to do a lot of fishing (in the Lake District - brown trout, char, sea trout, pike, perch, eels etc.) Well just as eagerly as emerging reptiles we were on the starting blocks for the first day of the fishing season. It was very early - about 6th March - and it used to be so cold. We'd be there trying to catch trout in the sleet and snow and all sorts - flipping perishing. As we waited for this magical time of year we used to reckon we could feel our dorsal fins twitching! Whatever the weather we were always there on the first day - MAD! Keeping to the subject I did spend 35 mins sat by my pond this afternoon watching for newts and frogs. It was 10degC, but with a cool breeze. I either saw 3 frogs - or one frog three times, 3 newts - or one newt three times! Just been out in the dark with a torch but nothing stirring in the pond.
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sussexecology
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 at 12:02am |
Thanks for that Suz and Gemma Must admit I was sat in the office when the sun came out today and I started to think about my adders emerging. If the sun shines a bit more, I'll be out and about for sure.... Suz, probably the same newt going round and round in circles just to confuse you. Don't know why they do that, but they seem to know when you're watching. Happy newting. That's a reminder as well to make sure that all the torches are working before going out in the field. LOL Jay, No, your're not crazy folk at all. Glad to have your enthusiasm on here
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Suzy
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 at 8:58pm |
Torch search tonight revealed one frog poking its head out of my pond at 7pm.
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Suz
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