Adders – Cavenham heath

They never let me down I always seem to find adders when I visit Cavenham heath , I saw three today while looking for bees and wasps .. Ive posted information on them before.

The dangers of bee hunting

I was searching for bees around the dunes in Suffolk and again nearly stepped on another adder.

Adder sunbathing (cavenham heath)

Today it was a beautiful clear morning but a frosty start. I rushed off to Cavenham heath but I was a little early and the clouds came over, so I saw about three bees , two snakes and a few beetles. Disappointing really !!

Adder bite (Cavenhem heath NR)

Today while insect hunting , I was so engrossed in what I was doing I didn’t see this adder in my path , she struck at me biting my toecap and you can see the venom.

Adder (cavenham heath NR)

Another venture to Cavenham Heath NR to spot some insects , yet again none found but did see another Adder

for more information please click here 

Adder (Vipera berus) Cavenham Heath NR

 

My first venture to Cavenham Heath Bug hunting , it was a frosty morning but blue skies and sunny. The Adder was sunning itself as you can see by the habitat photo it wasn’t easy to spot but I was on the look out for them as there were almost no insects. I saw one bumblebee and one beetle.

Very happy with the photos

Adders are the only venomous snakes found in Britain, although they are absent from Ireland. They use their venom to immobilise prey such as lizards, amphibians, nestlings and small mammals. After striking their prey, they leave the venom to take effect before following the victim’s scent to find the body. Although an adder’s venom poses little danger to a healthy adult human, the bite is very painful and requires urgent medical attention. Adders are the most northerly distributed snake and the only species found inside the Arctic circle.

Grass snake-Natrix natrix (Cavenham heath NR)

A very lucky find while checking one of my favourite oak logs for wasps

Our largest snake, the Grass Snake, particularly likes wetland habitats, but can also be found in dry grasslands and in gardens, especially those with a pond nearby.Lays eggs in rotting vegetation, often in compost heaps. Like all reptiles, Grass Snakes hibernate, usually from October to April. During the summer, they can be found basking near favourite ponds or even swimming.

How to identify

Usually greenish in colour, with a yellow collar and black neck patches. Females are bigger than males. Often found near water and frequently swims.

Snakes about (cavenham heath NR)

I am always careful where I tread in the heath as you never know if there is a snake about. This skin seemed fresh as it was still supple. and as you can see it was a fair size grass snake or adder (if it was an adder it would have been a very large female )

Adder (St davids , Wales)

Not an insect but a rare find these days , an Adder.

Adders are the only venomous snakes found in Britain, although they are absent from Ireland. They use their venom to immobilise prey such as lizards, amphibians, nestlings and small mammals. After striking their prey, they leave the venom to take effect before following the victim’s scent to find the body. Although an adder’s venom poses little danger to a healthy adult human, the bite is very painful and requires urgent medical attention. Adders are the most northerly distributed snake and the only species found inside the Arctic circle.