Lovely roe deer, stonechat and smooth snakes on a local heath

Here is one of our most endangered reptiles. These snakes are so elusive and fossorial that almost nothing is known about them. They are thought to be constrictors that feed mainly on other reptiles, especially lizards. Who knows. Other snakes certainly don't seem to fear them greatly.....I wonder what you think. They are often found in the same places as stonechats and roe deer are found.

A smart white egret

These lovely white egrets are a recent colonist in Southern England and are a lovely sight. There is an all black form in West Africa and the two are often seen together hunting in the shallows. In England only the white form exists. They are found on the Pagham marshes where they dash through the water spearing fish.

What a marvellous little stone chat and a roe doe

What a beautiful little bird this is. Look out for them now, as they tap out their alarm calls over the heath.

Beautiful Grey Plovers, ringed plover, oyster catcher and redshank

I think you'll like these lovely grey plovers and friends on the shore line at Pagham harbour.

Two adders together on Crooksbury Common

I found these two gorgeous adders together yesterday on Crooksbury Common. One of them is especially beautifully marked. What a splendid snake. The female adders need lots of warmth now as they prepare to give birth so they sun themselves as much as possible. Look out for them on the edges of paths and in bracken and heather....

A smooth snake and a grass snake together

Now here is an amazing picture!! Why? Because smooth snakes (our rarest reptile) are thought to feed mainly on other reptiles. However the grass snake is safe here because the two are the same size. Lucky old grass snake! Both species are found on the Surrey heaths where they live in the heather and are rarely seen.

A beautiful male stonechat

The stonechats are tiny robin sized birds with a big personality. They are among my favourite birds and the males are especially feisty, "tapping" madly if you get too close and flickling their wings. I also think they are amazingly beautiful and their stone tapping sound is one of my favourite sounds on the heath. Look out for them now as they are nesting again after returning from Africa.