Hatfield Moor for Adders

Roger and I had been waiting for a couple of weeks for the right conditions to visit Hatfield Moor, part of the Humberhead Peat Levels National Nature Reserve, managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, to look for adders.  The Humberhead Peat Levels represent the largest area of raised bog wilderness in lowland Britain and comprises Hatfield Moor, Crowle Moor, Thorne and Goole Moor.  These peatlands are a remnant of a large wetland that occupied the floodplain of the Humberhead Levels thousands of years ago.  They have been worked for peat to their detriment throughout recorded history.  Extemnsive restoration work is being carried out to return them to their former condition.  The area is internationally important for nightjars as well as adders.

We were waiting for a clear sunny, but fairly still morning and, eventually on the 11th March the forecast looked promising.  I was up early, pack up made and at Roger's for 7.00 am.  By 8.00 am we were parked and heading for the location they favour.  The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust have worked had to create suitable habitat for the reptiles by creating sheltered bays of brash where they can lie out and warm up in the sun.  Being cold blooded they are slow and inactive, and so easier to approach and photograph, early in the morning.  As the day warms up they move much more quickly.  As well as adders we saw a marsh harrier and a pair of buzzards and coltsfoot and goat or pussy willow were in flower.  Altogether we found 9 individuals.  To photograph and sit closely observing these creatures is a real privilege.  As with all wild life photography and observation the subject must come first and so we always approached them slowly and quietly making sure to move slowly so that we did not disturb them.  To observe an adder from only one or two feet and not disturb it is a magical experience. 
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Adders and Butterflies at Hatfield Moor

As the weather had been warming up, friend Roger and myself decided it was time for a visit to Hatfield Moor to look for Adders.  We had picked an excellent day for weather, in fact I forgot to take a hat and got my head a tad over sunned.  We found 13 different individual during our walk round, but because it was so warm, they were fairly active and difficult to photograph.  We did manage a close approach to one or two and we were pleased with the photographs that we took.  Butterflies were also in evidence and we spotted several peacokcs and half a dozen early brimstones on the wing.

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A Day with Adders.

Having been suggested by wildlife photography friend Roger that yesterday was to be a warm and sunny day and that we ought to try for the adders at Hatfield Moor NNR, I was full of anticipation.  Unfortunately I had another appointment in the morning and couldn't get to Roger's until 11.00.  Nonetheless we still opted to go for it.  When we arrived it was bright and warm and after a quick lunch we set off to the best locations to try to find some.  We were not on our own and plenty of people gave advice as to where we should look.  When these reptiles first emerge from hibernation in early spring the weather is usually still relatively cold and they need to bask in the sun to warm up before they can become active; this is a good time to photograph them.  At Hatfield, in a favoured part of the reserve, the wardens have cleared areas in sunny spots that they frequent and piled up low brash fences for them to hunt and take cover in and they are able to bask in the cleared areas.  These were the spots we searched and were successful in finding several individuals, judging from the darker colouring, all females.  Once we had found an individual we tended to disturb them and so we found that the best tactic was to sit or lie and wait patiently for them to re-emerge, which they usually did.  It was a privilege to observe and photograph these beautiful creatures at really close quarters.

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