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What is the easiest reptile to see...:

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james4
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Joined: 13 Nov 2006
No. of posts: 466


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Posted: 01 May 2007
i would go for a snake,maybe a lizard if your experienced.i first thought snakes until i seen 2 lizards in pwllheli,i thought snakes because they are bigger and easier too see,i know lizards or snakes arnt easy to spot but with the size of lizards then...

i suppose slow worm and smooth snake arnt as easy as they are undercover.
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Suzi
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Joined: 06 Apr 2005
No. of posts: 860


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Posted: 02 May 2007
I think Phil you probably mean easiest to find. Adders and grass snakes are fairly camouflaged until you've got used to seeing them. I think I've said my husband can't see adders even when pointed out to him! Yes you're right and slow worms are usually under cover but when you find them they usually only move off slowly. Lizards often bask on quite exposed places - logs, boardwalks, stones, sun-bleached grass, fence posts to name a few. With being so exposed they are easy to see but as you now know can whip off pretty quickly.
Suz
james4
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Joined: 13 Nov 2006
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Posted: 02 May 2007
yep.
thanks

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arvensis
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006
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Posted: 02 May 2007
If you do mean 'easiest to find' then I would say the Slow-worm.   As you are aware Phil, they are found mostly under some sort of cover, though I have had 3 out in the open this year so far. 
Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group.
Alan Hyde
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Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


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Posted: 03 May 2007
Agree with Mark, easiest to find is the slowy. Once you know where they are just go round lifting up things that you find. I know a field where i can see up to 20 in a few minutes sometimes.
O-> O+>
st rick
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Joined: 26 Apr 2006
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Posted: 03 May 2007

Phil, you have opened a can of slow worms now!

I think slowies are only easy to see if you are the kind of person who goes around looking under stuff.  I have only ever seen 2 out in the open, although the last one was a couple of weeks ago.  I know that we are the kind of people who do indeed go around looking under stuff, but what about the 'normal' people?

I think common lizards are probably the easiest to see.  Often, if you go to a good reptile habitat and are not rewarded with anything else, then at least you often get to see one or two common lizards.  If I am in Surrey and am having a particularly bad day in the field I often go to Thursley and look at the famous boardwalk, so as not to go home completely empty-handed as it were.

 

   


james4
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Joined: 13 Nov 2006
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Posted: 03 May 2007
yes i seen both of those,the lizard just sat there for ages.id say smooth snake and sand lizard are the hardest,im having trouble finding the sand lizards.
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Suzi
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Joined: 06 Apr 2005
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Posted: 03 May 2007
Twould be even harder where I live in Devon Phil as I haven't got either smooth snake or sand lizard apparently - although I think they have some secret releases of the lizards.
Suz
james4
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Joined: 13 Nov 2006
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Posted: 03 May 2007
yep but in merseyside i have the sl i dont have slow worm,adder,grass snake,smooth snake.
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Jimpklop
Senior Member
Joined: 23 May 2006
No. of posts: 200


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Posted: 03 May 2007
Bit late joining this thread, sorry.

But Anguis fragilis (Slow Worm) i find from my experience are very tolerant to high and low temperatures making hours for observing far greater than any other reptile in the UK. Can any one verify this? Also i was talking to some one the other day who knows of places of very high concentrations of Slow Worms also increasing chances of them being spotted (on those sites of course).

James
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dave fixx
Senior Member
Joined: 13 Mar 2007
No. of posts: 319


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Posted: 03 Sep 2007
Well I can find adders,common lizards all the newts but cannot find slow worms for love nor money ,Ive lifted every loose stone or tin sheeting Ive been near in my life still none yet. loads of none reptile fans I know seem to bump into them all the time.Mice and rats are all I seem to find.lol.
Dave Williams
davewilliamsphotography.co.uk

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