tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post6625467379139660803..comments2023-06-24T13:44:48.019-07:00Comments on Shenstone Birder: Monday 5th March 2012 - Wyre Forest (Worcs)Jason Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370640317306824066noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-61708257843084702452012-03-08T06:42:57.099-08:002012-03-08T06:42:57.099-08:00Thanks for the info. The bit about the Pheasants s...Thanks for the info. The bit about the Pheasants surprised me. Didn't know about the bracken rhizomes either, but the land where I used to see them had lots of bracken and sunny grassy slopes where there were lizards.Mike Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-44985050319625080452012-03-08T01:43:44.618-08:002012-03-08T01:43:44.618-08:00Hi Mike - A lot of work has been done over recent ...Hi Mike - A lot of work has been done over recent years to try and halt the decline of Adders in the Wyre. There main problem is that it is a so called 'island population' and very limited to the Wyre and its outskirts. This can lead to a lack of fresh DNA in the gene pool. Another problem can be predation by Pheasants (honestly!) and with large numbers being released locally this has had an efect on the numbers of young snakes and there prey species such as Common Lizard. Heavy mechanised management of the forest can also be a problem.<br /><br />That said areas of the forest such as Town Coppice have had parts fenced off and grazed by cattle which leaves large areas of bracken for the addres to lay out on. The bracken rhizomes act as a heat source for the snakes this time of year. So to finally answer your question I think yes work done in the Wyre is helping the AdderJason Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370640317306824066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-72055961164307131152012-03-08T00:45:18.427-08:002012-03-08T00:45:18.427-08:00When I was a kid, used to live not far from the Wy...When I was a kid, used to live not far from the Wyre Forest and saw Adders near my home, but rarely in the forest itself.Do you think management of the woods (like opening out glades) has helped?<br />Well done finding one.Mike Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-65912970639953915362012-03-07T08:30:02.509-08:002012-03-07T08:30:02.509-08:00Blimey, excuse the typos!Blimey, excuse the typos!Jason Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370640317306824066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-88568612494991322422012-03-07T08:29:38.283-08:002012-03-07T08:29:38.283-08:00Hi Jan - Dreaming about adders!!! I gues it more i...Hi Jan - Dreaming about adders!!! I gues it more interesting than counting sheep! Yes I though it was bet to be non-specific about the snake's location.<br /><br />As for 'Marshgate', I did post an update but decided to pull it as I feel that I have said all that I really wanted to on the matter. Thought it was time to move onJason Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370640317306824066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-9081194367380773162012-03-07T07:49:09.783-08:002012-03-07T07:49:09.783-08:00Goodness! I was dreaming last night that I was try...Goodness! I was dreaming last night that I was trying to photograph an Adder and the camera shutter button wouldn't work and I was gutted....dreaming about Adders....how sad is that? ;-) Well done Jason, I haven't seen one for a long time. A wise man not to reveal the location I think.<br /><br />By the way my sidebar shows a 'Marshgate' update but it doesn't seem to be here, maybe you withdrew it?ShySongbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-14501546260956892262012-03-07T00:36:45.309-08:002012-03-07T00:36:45.309-08:00Keith - Glad to hear you are getting back out ther...Keith - Glad to hear you are getting back out there. As for the previous posts...well the whole Marshgate thing came to a head last night when an upton regular posted a reactive comment on the blog. I think I have put it to bed =on hear now...but have a look at the 2nd of March comments to see the latest. As for that sneeze...have you got hayfever mate?<br /><br />Dean - Its a shame that Adders seem to be struggling outside the South and South East of the country. It may be worth an away day to those peat moors soon!<br /><br />Phil - Thanks mate...keep those eyes peeled the males should be laying out during the next week or two before the shed their skinJason Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370640317306824066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-64703562851386070302012-03-07T00:20:00.466-08:002012-03-07T00:20:00.466-08:00Great stuff Jason. Looking forward to seeing some ...Great stuff Jason. Looking forward to seeing some Adders myself soon.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10543610581948446675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-347079167596874062012-03-06T13:21:36.246-08:002012-03-06T13:21:36.246-08:00Jason, the nearest Adders to where i am are quite ...Jason, the nearest Adders to where i am are quite a few miles away, on Thorne Moor. It`s an old peat working site on the other side of Doncaster.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-52418560109000264852012-03-06T12:56:48.426-08:002012-03-06T12:56:48.426-08:00Mark - The Wyre is a magical place through all fou...Mark - The Wyre is a magical place through all four seasons. Its a large remaining fragment of medieval forest and we are so lucky to have it just a few miles up the road!<br /><br />Pam - Although Ive seen a number of Adders in the New Forest (Hampshire), this is only the first one that I have managed to see in The Wyre<br /><br />Dean - Cheers mate...they are stunning creatures. Any lowland heath in your part of Yorkshire?<br /><br />Alan - Thanks. I think you will agree, its a privalidge to see them <br /><br />Warren - the last couple of sunny Spring days have really lifted my spirits mate. Should hopefully get something interesting pn our respective patches over the next weekJason Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370640317306824066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-57402368900528082632012-03-06T12:51:24.083-08:002012-03-06T12:51:24.083-08:00Hi Jason, my birding time has been limited more re...Hi Jason, my birding time has been limited more recently but back in fray now! Have just trawled your blog for a catch up! Great stuff on the Adder and as ever I love the diversity of your blog! <br /><br />Simply couldn't get my head around the stuff I missed in your previous posts! "Pitchoo" sorry I think I'm getting a cold ;)boatbirderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04285893866498111218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-45362329443897529172012-03-06T09:58:19.252-08:002012-03-06T09:58:19.252-08:00Nice to see Spring moving on again Jase, after tha...Nice to see Spring moving on again Jase, after that cold spell. No Adders here anymore, but I live in hope :-)Warren Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16042798315431561018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-1896267795286547582012-03-06T07:24:18.668-08:002012-03-06T07:24:18.668-08:00Great to find the Adder, I've only seen two bo...Great to find the Adder, I've only seen two both last year!Alan Paveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09286527051679271536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-41641378636761963612012-03-06T06:34:42.967-08:002012-03-06T06:34:42.967-08:00One of these days, i`ll get to see an Adder. Im ve...One of these days, i`ll get to see an Adder. Im very envious in that respect, Jason.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-35903504283788475672012-03-06T03:17:42.100-08:002012-03-06T03:17:42.100-08:00A good read Jason. I have looked for Adders but wi...A good read Jason. I have looked for Adders but without success, well done on your find and super pic of the basking Adder! The Wood Ants always make me feel itchy after coming across them, an amazing sight to see though.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07363526036551313101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657877595796583471.post-40723884440579593992012-03-06T02:35:44.892-08:002012-03-06T02:35:44.892-08:00Agree, has become my favourite local location, I d...Agree, has become my favourite local location, I didn't fancy looking for Snakes on my own !!Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988789138318235476noreply@blogger.com