The shy serpent-Richard Williamson's Nature Trails
Adders appeared above ground in the warm weather around March 17, with the temperature well up to 18C and now nearly six weeks later are mated and lying together.
I know a warm bank where I can always expect to see the smaller, blue male with the much fatter female whose colour is a dark sienna. Both have the black zig-zag running the whole length of their back and which gives a vivid warning.
Gilbert White kept records of the earliest and latest times for their appearances from hibernation between 1768 and 1793 and so did his friend William Marwick of Battle.
For full feature see West Sussex Gazette May 10