Adder Emergence.

Adder 79

A few shots from my first couple of visits to see the adders after coming out of hibernation. A very good start with ten different individuals seen in total, including nine in one visit. That’s already more than I saw in any visit last year during March and April.

Three new male adders which I haven’t recorded before (77, 78 and 79), alongside the rest which are familiar faces. Most notable being adder 28 which I haven’t seen since 2023, basking in its regular spot where I first recorded it back in 2022.

Females should start emerging soon but they really are few and far between on this site which is an ongoing worrying trend.

Adder 51 - Recorded for the fourth consecutive year. Easily identified in the field by its unique snout. Looking head-on, the central rostral scale is fused with the scale to its right where there would usually be a divide.

An image of Adder 51 from 2025 that illustrates the “fused” scale to the right of the rostral

Adder 53 - First seen in 2024

Adder 32 - First seen in 2022 “dancing” with a rival male. Thought to have had a permanent injury to its left eye in 2024 but after shedding its skin a few weeks later, it had completely cleared up. The damage was obviously just on the surface membrane.

Photo from 2024 showing the damage to Adder 32’s left eye

Adder 77

Adder 74 - First seen last year getting chased by a rival male, attempting to get to the guarded female.