I find it terribly reassuring that, even when the wind is blowing and song birds can be a bit hard to find, there are still animals to find on the ground.
This weekend we had great views of up to a dozen Palmate Newts in our pond. I was surprised at how aggressive they can be, even after the main mating/spawning season, with males, in particular, constantly snapping at intruders.
Huge numbers of Slowworms, with some of the slates that I have put out in sunny spots having three underneath them. Lots of large females, which seem to outnumber the males at present.
Finally, the first Adder I have seen this year, basking in patch of grass below Lockley Lodge. A lovely large pale green specimen, with black diamonds on the back. Does anyone know: are these females, and the brown specimens males, or are there just various colour morphs?
Males typically have a grey, creamy white or steely grey background colour. Females range from browns and yellows to brick red. Females are larger than Males.
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