nature spots

Grass Snake.

/ Andy Finnegan / 3 Comments

The UK’s largest snake, and harmless the grass snake, is found of wetland habitats, but can also be found in dry grasslands. During the summer, grass snakes can be spotted basking in the sun. Often seen near ponds or swimming in the water looking for one of their favourite meals “frogs”!

 Grass snakes are greenish in colour, with a yellow and black collar, pale belly, and dark markings down the sides. The females are bigger than males.

Today we were lucky enough to see this fine grass snake enjoying the sun at Titchfield Haven.

Buzz.

/ Andy Finnegan / 1 Comment

Some Hornets spotted while out in the New Forest this morning. Hornets are giant wasps with yellow and brownish-red striped bodies, reddish wings and a yellow head. The Queen is larger than the males and workers. They have a wingspan of between 2.5 to 3.5 cm. In the UK many people are fearful of our native Hornets but they are actually much less aggressive than the common wasp. It is also an important pollinator and a predator of species that feed on plants and crops, I have watched them hunt and decapitate wasps!

The Adder.

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The New Forest Reptile Centre is located near Lyndhurst in the New Forest. There are unique outdoor ‘pits’ that provide a natural home for reptiles and amphibians found in the forest. During the summer season to help educate visitors to the forest and help them see our various snakes lizards and frogs they are on show in the pits (they are released after a couple of weeks).

As part of a walk through the forest on Friday we called into the centre. We arrived on foot just prior to the car park gate opening. So had the opportunity to chat to the staff before the influx of holidaymakers. The snakes were being offered food – this adult female Adder was quick to come out of the undergrowth and take the offering. Adders are the only venomous snake found in the UK. Sightings are not guaranteed.

A number of juvenile Adders were visible (about 8 inches long) note their zig-zag pattern has not yet developed.

Garden visitors.

/ Andy Finnegan / 1 Comment

Garden visitors or just passing through. Yesterday morning I thought I was dreaming as I woke I heard parrots! The noise got louder and interrupted by the cackle of Magpies. Our garden is small and divided at the bottom of the garden by large Beech and Sycamore trees.

Four Ring-necked parakeets were high in the Beech trees eating the beach nuts. With their strong beaks they can easily remove the nuts from the husks. At this point the Magpies try to steal the nuts.

Yesterday evening and this morning the sound of parakeets are again in the trees although I did not see them again.

Thursdays walk.

/ Andy Finnegan / 4 Comments

Another study of Raft Spiders (Dolomedes fimbriatus) (& a post). The adult male Raft Spider is 9 -16mm & the female a larger 13-22mm. They are found in wet lowlands and heaths & upland mires. Widespread in Southern England on wet heaths & scattered colonies throughout the rest of Britain. We have found a stream in the New Forest where they seem abundant. Here they seem to favour wild mint growing on the edge of the small stream where they wait for a passing meal – dropping down to walk on the water’s surface to catch their prey.

Wild mint bed in the New Forest.