Monday 4th. April 2011

Although the sun was shining when I arrived up on the Downs this morning , a very lazy , cool wind told me that I was definitely one fleece short for the visit . With bare arms , I headed off to see what reptiles could be found . That wind was blowing up the Downs , and my hopes were not high , and any hopes of an early Skipper butterfly were most certainly crushed . But , within a few minutes , the first Adder was found in a very sheltered position , soaking up the early rays . The second , the only Adder found any where near refugia , was using the corrugated tin as a warmer , and , as I was down wind , managed to get quite close before he got my scent , and disappeared under the tin . Another sheltered patch of scrub provided a place for a rather 'pinky' individual to sun himself . Just two Common Lizards were found today , this one looking as if it was just getting out of bed . 6 Slow Worms were recorded , these two males both showing 'blue spots' on their skin , not rare , but unusual . The last of 6 Adders found today , was on the side of a footpath , probably out from the hedge , as that is where he went as I passed by . It was noticeable that all Adders seen today had 'blue' eyes , a sign that they are coming up to slough , sheddding their skin , after which , the next thing on the agenda is mating . Only other interest found was this clump of Primrose , not the normal pale yellow , but tinged with orange/red , probably hybridised with a cultivated garden Primula . When I got back to the car , the thermometer read 11C. , but in reality , it felt nothing like that .