Send us your wildlife sightings

Why do we want your adder sightings?

The adder is a greyish snake, with a dark and very distinct zig-zag pattern down its back, and a red eye. Males tend to be more silvery-grey in colour, while females are more light or reddish-brown. Black (melanistic) forms are sometimes spotted in Norfolk.

Adders have a widespread distribution within Britain. They are scarce across much of East Anglia, but there are strongholds that exist along coasts and heaths. Heathland habitat has declined in Norfolk and it is likely that with the loss of this habitat adders have also declined in numbers and range.

The grass snake is protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 and a priority species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.

Why send us your common lizard sightings?

The common lizard, is one of two species of lizard found in Norfolk, the other being the slow worm (which although snake-like is actually a legless lizard).  Common lizard may be seen basking in the sunshine, as being cold-blooded they need to generate heat through the sun’s rays. They are found across many different habitats in Norfolk including heathland, woodland and grassland.  If you happen to be visiting the Broads, check out the tops of the boardwalks, as lizards can often be seen basking in a sunny spot at NWT Hickling Broad and RSPB Strumpshaw Fen.

Living up to its name, the common lizard is the UK's most common and widespread reptile, but it is protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 and a priority species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.

Why send us your grass snake records?

Grass snakes are one of two native snakes found in Norfolk, the other being the adder.  Our largest snake, the grass snake, is particularly fond of wetland habitats, but can also be found in dry grasslands and in gardens, especially those with a pond nearby. In warm weather they may be spotted basking in the sun near their favourite ponds or swimming in the water -  hence their other common name, the water snake.

The grass snake is usually greenish in colour, with a yellow and black collar, pale belly, and dark markings down the sides. Females are bigger than males. Very recently the British population of grass snake was found to belong to the distinct subspecies Natrix natrix helvetica, but new research published in August 2017 proposed that it should be elevated to full species status, with the name barred grass snake, Natrix helvetica.

The grass snake is protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 and a priority species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.

Adder

1.  Adders, like most reptiles, are shy and retiring. Bites mostly occur when people or animals touch the snakes.
2. There have only been twelve deaths from adder bites in the last 100 years, whereas there are several deaths each year from insect stings and bites.
3. Adders do not lay eggs but the females retain their eggs within their body and give birth to live young.
4. Adders can, and do, swim.
5. Although usually have clear markings, including the zig zag back stripe and black cross or v making on their head, they can be totally black. This colouring is called melanistic.

Common lizard

1. Zootoca vivipara is the taxamonic name of the common lizard means live birth in Greek and Latin. The female lizard retains her eggs and gives birth to live young.
2. Common lizards can flatten their body to the ground enabling them to absorb more of the sun’s rays.
3. Common lizards are prey animals for many other species, as a protective measure they can shed their tails. The tails carry on wriggling and distract the predator so the lizard can escape. A new tail will grow but it will leave a scar and will be slightly shorter than the original.
4. Common lizards shake their prey to stun it, making it easier to eat.
5. To tell a male common lizard from a female you need to see the belly. The male has a bright yellow spotted belly whilst the female’s belly is pale.

Grass snake

1. Britain’s only egg laying snake, the eggs are laid in rotting vegetable matter, including compost heaps.
2. When the eggs hatch the young are miniature versions of the adults.
3. Grass snakes are very good swimmers and can stay under water for up to half an hour.
4. When they are threatened grass snakes pretend to be dead as this deters some predators. If this does not work, they hiss loudly and release a pungent smelling liquid from their anal gland.
5. The grass snake’s black and yellow collar gives it the alternative name of ringed snake.