Active Reptiles

The hot and cold spells of weather this summer has resulted in periods of activity from the Pennine reptiles.  One day I found six Lizards enjoying the morning sun but better still on another early morning I had twelve female Adders out in the open. This is the most Adders I have ever found in one locality in the Pennines and they are obviously having a good season. One of the reasons for this could be the same one that produced the best breeding season for years for Short Eared Owls and Long Eared Owls – an abundance of voles. Adders feed on voles extensively and one vole will keep an Adder going for weeks. click here

Swifts are now migrating south with one over the house on the 18th. In the meantime the local farm still had Swallows feeding five young in a nest on the 29th August.