Why did the viper vipe her nose?

Cos the adder 'ad 'er hankerchief!

Considering I am not a big fan of snakes, I seem to spend a fair amount of time either looking for them or stumbling across them.  We did a reptile survey at Brenchley Wood and Cinderhill last week with the hope that we might find adders on site.  Sadly (for conservation, not so much for me) there weren't any but the site may not be dry enough for them.  We did record plenty of slow worms and a few grass snakes though so it wasn't a total loss.

Slow worm (legless lizard)

Today, we were at Kiln Wood Nature Reserve doing a bit of path cutting.  Whilst having a break from the heat, I was rummaging around the pond trying to get pictures of the damselflies and got startled by something in the water.  Fortunately it was not an anaconda, but instead a grass snake happily swimming along.  Once I had recovered from the mild shock, I remembered I had my camera in my hand and tried to get some photos.  Not brilliant, but you can just about make out Britain's longest snake...

I did also manage to get a picture of the Large red damselfly, but be warned, it is x-rated.

Other shots from today...

Red campion

Common Spotted-orchid avec spider

Speckled Wood

Our new neighbour

See if you can locate the world's smallest bird house in this picture...

This was a gift from Tom and Laura following its brutal rejection from their wedding favour shortlist and now makes an attractive little decoration for our balcony.  We were hoping to wake up one morning to find a blue tit's bum sticking out of it following a mis-judgement on potential nest sites.  Alas, we have resorted to accepting its mere ornamental status.

However, as I was munching my lunch today I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye, only to watch a small creature enter the teeny house.  Surely not I hear you cry.  But yes, this splendid little gimic has now become the nesting ground of what I can only assume is a solitary bee...

She is in and out of there pretty quick but I know it isnt a wasp (phew) and maybe it is a Red Mason Bee?

Frolicking in the meadows

I spent a splendid morning last week basically frolicking in a meadow.  My task was to count the Green-winged orchids at Marden Meadows so we can check that their numbers are staying up.  What a beautiful place - if you want to see a fine example an unimproved hay meadow (very rare habitat these days) I would suggest a visit to this reserve near Maidstone.  There are thousands of these orchids as well as many other wild flowers.  Naturally, I had my trusty camera with me and it didn't let me down...

Water-violets

Bugle

Yellow-rattle

So Maidstone actually does have something good to offer!

To bee, or not to bee

I am considering joining Buglife (the Invertebrate Conservation Trust) when I finally transform back to tax-paying pleb from student, sooner rather than later hopefully.  Despite being somewhat freaked out by insects on a regular basis, they are undoubtedly very important little monsters.  Sir David Attenborough quite rightly said:

"If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear over night, the rest of the world would get on pretty well.  But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world's ecosystems would collapse."

It's amazing what is down there in the depths of the underworld.  I spotted this little chap on Saturday whilst hunting for adders on the heath at Brenchley Wood...

Green Tiger Beetle

So I think I would like to be an advocate for bug conservation, as long as mother nature keeps them small.  I may have to re-consider my position should films like "Them" come true.