Fort Victoria was our venue this week, with an excellent turnout on a gloriously sunny day (weather forecast wrong again, as it should have been rain!). Following some difficult winter weather, one of the footpaths leading down to the beach had partially collapsed, so we were helping the Rangers to re-instate it to join up with the part providing beach access. This involved putting down some membrane and covering it with limestone chippings; this method, rather than just the chippings, will help to make the path more solid and hopefully last longer. As usual there was a large pile (3 tons to be exact) of chippings to be moved down the hill to the path, but rather than wheelbarrows (too difficult to access) there was a new and interesting method - buckets! Nevertheless we soon had a chain going up and down the steep path, and the pile disappeared in no time.
Carrie's Nature Lesson.
Nick the Ranger was kind enough to do some adder-spotting for us, and managed to find one curled up in the sunshine (see image which is a male). Adders, (or common vipers) Vipera Berus are the most northerly distributed snake and the only species found inside the Arctic circle; they are also Britain’s only venomous reptile. They are relatively short and robust with large heads and rounded snouts. The red-brown eyes have vertical elliptical, rather than round pupils, a feature of all venomous snakes. Males are usually grey or buff with vivid black markings, but can vary from silver to yellow or green in colour. Females are brown with dark red-brown markings and are larger than the males.
Adders occupy a variety of habitats including open woodland, hedgerows, moorland, sand dunes, river banks, bogs, heathland and mountains; and although preferring undisturbed countryside, can also be found in surprisingly wet habitats during the summer. Prey, such as lizards, amphibians and small mammals are immobilised using venom, which is left to take effect before following the victim’s scent to find the body. This economical way of hunting avoids any potential damage from struggling with prey. Adders are active during the day, spending time basking until their body temperature is high enough to hunt for food. They hibernate from September to March when temperatures dip below nine degrees Celsius, often using deserted rabbit or rodent burrows or settling under logs.
Adders occupy a variety of habitats including open woodland, hedgerows, moorland, sand dunes, river banks, bogs, heathland and mountains; and although preferring undisturbed countryside, can also be found in surprisingly wet habitats during the summer. Prey, such as lizards, amphibians and small mammals are immobilised using venom, which is left to take effect before following the victim’s scent to find the body. This economical way of hunting avoids any potential damage from struggling with prey. Adders are active during the day, spending time basking until their body temperature is high enough to hunt for food. They hibernate from September to March when temperatures dip below nine degrees Celsius, often using deserted rabbit or rodent burrows or settling under logs.
A big thanks to Carrie for the text and photographs.
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