Time to wake up

The rhythm of the adders' year is a bit surprising (to me at least).  They go into hibernation at the end of summer, when it is still quite warm, and the males emerge from hibernation in February when it is cold.  It seems odd but it obviously works for them.  I went to north Northumberland to see them this week on a bright sunny day but the air temperature was only 2℃ and there was snow on the nearby hills.  The adders come out an hour or so after sunrise and lie on the bank soaking up the rays.  Males are quite dark before their first moult and that helps absorb more heat.  They also flatten their bodies to increase the area exposed.  Next month the males will be silver and black after shedding their skins so they look at their best when the females emerge.  The first one I found was in a typical posture.

They don't move much but when I walked by a bit later it had changed position slightly.

And another wriggle a bit later on.

This one was 200m or so farther along and was also quite large.

It had also adjusted when I came back.

Unfortunately there is new wire fencing along part of the bank.  The snakes don't mind but it makes it harder to get a decent photo.

It is a bit better zoomed in.  The snakes often lie with their heads partly hidden like this.

Being cold blooded means they have a fairly relaxed programme.  After emerging from hibernation adders don't feed before they mate in May.  Females breed only every other year and give birth to live young around August time.

This is the fifth year in a row I have been to see the adders and I have been successful on every visit.  I'll go again next month in the hope that they have shed their old skins by then.