Dorset Heaths, Reptile ramble.

After last weeks detour to go and see the Dusky Thrush in Kent , this sunday me and Badger finally made it to Dorset for a reptile ramble. Unfortunatley Ewan couldn't make it this time around.
We arrived in Dorset about 8.00 a.m and went sraight to Great ovens in the hope of seeing Sand lizards.
When we arrived at the car park we were greeted with the beautiful song of a Woodlark nearby, A Cuckoo was also heard calling.Tree Pipits were also seen as well as Dartford Warblers and a pair of Stonechats. At times I thought we had a Nightjar that didn't know what time of day it was but unfortunatley it turned out to be Jason's ring tone!
We spent nearly 2 hours at the site but were unable to find any Sand lizards but we did manage to find our main target species of the day, 2 Smooth Snakes. A few Common Lizards were also seen and a single Slow worm.

 Reserve sign

 Smooth Snake

After this we headed back to the car and drove to our next destination at Creech.
On entering the reserve a few Four spotted chaser's were seen flying around, also the odd Azure and Large red damsels.
A Sika deer was seen running off after being disturbed from the undergrowth.
While we were walking around the site,Jason called me over as he had found something in the grass,as i got to him I realized he had found an egg laden female Emperor moth.It was a first for me and jason although i had seen loads of caterpillars but I'd never seen one in the adult stage.
After this we carried on walking around coming across the odd Common Lizard scurrying away.We then found another Smooth snake.We watched it for a while and took a few pics then headed back to the car.On leaving the reserve a Downy Emerald was seen landing on a fence post but all to briefly for either of us to get any pics!
Pleased that we had seen Smooth snakes and an adult Emperor moth we got in the car and headed off home.

 Reserve sign

 Four spotted chaser

 Four spotted chaser

 Emperor moth

 Smooth snake

 Smooth snake