Snakes, Damselflies & Spiders.....Pevensey Levels in September

The name Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) is somewhat of a misnomer for this water loving reptile. Although it is often encountered basking in sunny spots on grassy banks, it is very much at home in water where it can be found in pond margins and in open water, hunting for frogs and other amphibians.

 

Yesterday, I watched this Grass Snake in hunting and stalking mode.

 

 

Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)

 

 

 

My search for more colonies of the Willow Emerald Damselfly on Pevensey Levels continues.

 

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) (male)

 

 

I usually see adult Fen Raft Spiders well into October but I haven't seen any in recent weeks. Perhaps the hot summer months allowed plantarius to have two or even three quick successive broods and now the females are spent. I have however been seeing plenty of juveniles and sub-adult plantarius in the water margins. The photograph below looks to be of a sub-adult male.

 

Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius) (sub-adult)