Reptile Cold Case - Blood Warning -
- Thread starter JonathanD
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Aha! I think I got a bit carried away there.
Ive only heard rumoures that they went after them, I didnt know it was true.
Yeah, they are a nightmare in September/October when the young are born. They take adders, grass and smooth snakes and all the lizards.
They seem to know what they are, they attack the neonate adders by pinning the body and neck and pecking the head to prevent them biting. I guess in their native country that the instinct to do this would be there from the many venomous snakes they have to deal with.
pretty sure that humans are a worse threat to them, but thats a surprise to me.
i was going to start listing things like phesants, partridges and grouse but he got there first.
i was going to start listing things like phesants, partridges and grouse but he got there first.
Humans are the biggest threat as they collect them to sell, kill them on sight or destroy their habitat. Next would be cats, corvids, pheasants. Followed by the mammals and birds of prey. Corvids are the biggest natural killer, including cats.
I never new that pheasants did that! I am enjoying these 'cold cases' a lot. Cheers, Jonathan for posting these.
-Emile
Red, out of all the animals I've seen take neonate adders, pheasants I've seen take the most. With them and cats, it's the only time I intervene.
Not seen an adder in twenty years Jon - pheasants aplenty though - gaudy dumbasses that they are. I do like watching the males scrap at mating time when they rear up at each other but can take em or leave em to be honest - mind you thers 6,000 of em on this farm and the novelty wears off.
Would like to see an adder again though.....
Would like to see an adder again though.....
Red, you are in prime reptile country. In fact, the best in the country. I've worked your area intensively, especially Studland.
Where are you in the UK, Jonathan?
The reason I ask is that I worked from March until September in Dorset many years ago and became fascinated by the Hobbies which were seen hunting regularly in the area. On one or two occassions I witnessed them lifting what I thought was a snake, although too far away to identify, which surprised me as I had read that they were exclusively aerial feeders (and what aerial feeders they are, that can take a swallow on the wing!).
I was also surprised to discover adders in the area, but believe the said prey to be either slow worms or grass snakes.
The Hobby spent minimum time on the ground, however and I can't see them being caught unawares.
A Hobby?
The reason I ask is that I worked from March until September in Dorset many years ago and became fascinated by the Hobbies which were seen hunting regularly in the area. On one or two occassions I witnessed them lifting what I thought was a snake, although too far away to identify, which surprised me as I had read that they were exclusively aerial feeders (and what aerial feeders they are, that can take a swallow on the wing!).
I was also surprised to discover adders in the area, but believe the said prey to be either slow worms or grass snakes.
The Hobby spent minimum time on the ground, however and I can't see them being caught unawares.
A Hobby?
Hi, I'm on the West Mids, South Staffs, Worcs border. Dorset used to be my old herping grounds and you are lucky enough to have all our six species (plus some foreigners) in your county. Hobbys are known to take slow-worms and juvenile snakes.
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