Britain in Cold Blood with Ben Waddams - The Modern Day Dinosaurs (and Snakes) of Britain

[happycereal]

Assuming this video is about modern day dinosaurs of Britain, shouldn't all the subjects of this video be avian? After all, birds are pretty direct descendents of coelurosaurid dinosaurs... Just saying :) As you said, dinosaurs certainly are alive today!

Anyway, lovely video! British reptiles are amazing!

[benwaddams]

@happycereal Absolutely! But maybe I thought 'Dinosaurs' would pull in a few more viewers :) ... subjects abound for a future film though :)

Thanks,

Ben

[Welshwarrior85]

Ben, do these lizards have the ability to drop their tail like many other lizard species?

[benwaddams]

@Welshwarrior85 Hi there. Yes Vip lizards can drop their tails. Thankfoully I've never experienced that. I think one must have to be fairly rough with them to cause it - they're pretty hardy little guys.

Thanks for commenting,

Ben

[24203604]

it's like a slow worm with legs...

[jigglestumps]

I love the content of your videos and how intelligent you are. That's why I'm a subscriber. However, it sometimes seems like you're trying to come across like other presenters. You take on the personality (And sometimes accent) of Steve irwin, and in this video it seems like you're trying to come across like David Attenburgh in the intro.

[benwaddams]

@jigglestumps Hello. Thanks for watching + commenting. I did not mean to impersonate any other presenter in my films, except for the obvious exceptions, however when I first began making my clips, I was hugely influenced by Steve Irwin, later however it was Sir David who had the larger + longer-lasting effect. This is perhaps why I may tend to put emphasis on particular words, names, etc similar to how he does, simply because it is his previous studies of those creatures, that are in my head. B

[sharpshooterelite195]

wicked vid i like watchin ur vids there good to see were the habitats and things great vid iv subed to you hope u will sub me no vids thoo :( lovly stuff

[bardofely]

When I was a boy and later in life Common Lizards were once common in South Wales but not any more. They have vanished from most of the places I used to see them around Cardiff.

[Naturallyskeptic]

Lovely stuff. Are all reptiles and amphibians becoming scarce or do I have a false memory. When I was a kid “lizards” (not sure as to the species), seemed to be under every rock. I live near Cannock chase and often see Adders, but Lizards are a good spot nowadays.

[benwaddams]

@Naturallyskeptic Nope, you're sadly correct. Most animals are becoming scarcer in the UK, but reptiles and amphibians especially because they are so sensitive to change. Heathland is already and rare environment and unfortunatly, it still makes great building land, so we are losing that at a rate of knots. Wetlands are also drying up and being lost, so there go your amphibeans and your reptiles' food source. Thanks for commenting mate.

Ben

[benwaddams]

@Naturallyskeptic Nope, you're sadly correct. Most animals are becoming scarcer in the UK, but reptiles and amphibians especially because they are so sensitive to change. Heathland is already and rare environment and unfortunatly, it still makes great building land, so we are losing that at a rate of knots. Wetlands are also drying up and being lost, so there go your amphibians and your reptiles' food source. Thanks for commenting mate.

Ben

[maarakailet1]

Another great vid! 

[benwaddams]

@maarakailet1 Thanks man, as ever, way too kind.

Ben

[kreeddem]

Awesome as always Ben.

[benwaddams]

@kreeddem Cheers mate :) glad you enjoyed it.

Ben

[pseudechis]

Great stuff Ben...really enjoyed watching it and you've done your research.

My only concern is was that rock you let the lizard go under back in its original position.....didn't look like it!

[benwaddams]

@pseudechis Hiya mate, good to hear from you. Thanks for the comments. You're quite right, it was slightly askew, but when I lifted it up there were two lizards underneath. The one I handled scuttled off infront of camera and the other stayed put, so I replaced it as quickly and carefully as I could at the time. I know the golden rule is: put things back where you found them, however I was TOO concerned with the gap, as it would only have been a temporary hiding place, rather than a home. B

[benwaddams]

@pseudechis ....Ooops, that should have read 'wasn't TOO'.... :)

B

[0oSNYPEo0]

Ben, I have been looking for snakes and lizards all over Milton Keynes... even in the grassy areas and still cannot find them :( .... Out of curiosity, do you keep reptiles yourself?

[benwaddams]

@0oSNYPEo0 Sorry to hear you haven't found any yet. As for lizards though, I know a dead cert.... I'll message you, as the instructions are a bit long and boring! Cheers,

Ben

[gillenpantera]

nice find mate, you remind me of irwin, attenborough and bear grylls in a oner! keep it up!

[benwaddams]

@gillenpantera Thanks mate. I'm not a great fan of Grylls, but I'll take the others! Too kind :) cheers,

Ben

[windchimex]

Some of my friends don't believe we have reptile wildlife in Britain and i had to tell them about your videos ;) x

[benwaddams]

@windchimex I'm glad I could be of assistance! Cheers,

Ben

[benwaddams]

@gersfan109 I'm glad you noticed...my passion that is. Yes, more clips to come. Thank you. B

[benwaddams]

@gersfan109 V kind, as ever mate. Cheers, glad you enjoyed it, I really had a good time making this one. The rain meant I never saw another soul!

Ben

[tommybritain]

@benwaddams Love your videos! Just wanted to ask a question.... With climate change happening all around the world would there be a possibility of Britain harvesting some more exotic reptiles in the future with a hotter climate?

[benwaddams]

@tommybritain Hi Mate, thanks for watching and for the comment. It is a possibility, however those 'exotic' species would have to be brought over, they wouldn't just start appearing, so if you're talking about species such as tarantulas and crocs, then ofcourse, the answer would be no. But if you mean mainland-European species, then yes, it would be probable that they would manage the trek over the English channel somehow over time. Plenty more videos to make in the future eh?! Thanks,

Ben

[MrMoodang]

Does the UK have salamanders too?

[benwaddams]

@MrMoodang Nope, no salamanders, although we do have newts. I believe the terms are interchangable. A newt over in the US for example, would be a salamander, and vica versa. Thank you,

Ben

[TheSnakeIdiot]

Great video Ben! Keep it up!

[benwaddams]

@TheSnakeIdiot ...I'll try! Thanks mate :)

Ben

[billflowers]

fellow dinosaur hunter!

Love the video!

[benwaddams]

@billflowers You bet 'cha! Thanks Bill (everyone check out Bill's Channel - you will not be disappointed!) Cheers mate and keep up the good work,

Ben

[tw1stedgrudge]

God dammit, you found an adder! GOD DAMMIT!!! -Shakes fist-

I know people who have Sand Lizards in their garden. People who can go out and find snakes, slow worms and sand lizards make me jealous. : (

Nice that you found the lizard during the rain. I have to go out only when there isn't a cloud in the sky to see them. The wooden tracks warm up in the sun and they lay across it to warm their stomachs. Its probably the one time they're easiest to find. They seem to like wolf spiders.

[benwaddams]

@tw1stedgrudge Mate, keep it up! You sound like you know some great spots, you'll find an adder one day :) thanks for watching,

Ben