Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG)

SARG NEWS - 26 April 2011

2011-04-26T07:46:00.001-07:00

SARG NEWS - 26 April 2011

New Forest Reptile Centre, Lyndhurst: Guided Visit
Tuesday 17th May 10:00 a.m.

Martin Noble will give a guided walk around the New Forest Reptile Centre, followed by a visit to his
collection of animals at his home (depending on numbers). Meet in the car park of the Reptile Centre
which is accessed via a track 2 miles west of Lyndhurst on the A35 (Christchurch Road). Admission to the
centre is free but there is a charge for parking. The visit will be 'weather permitting'.

No need to book in advance.

SARG NEWS - 18 April 2011

2011-04-18T14:14:00.001-07:00

SARG NEWS - 18 April 2011

Reptile Rescue at Lightwater Country Park

Unfortunately, there was a large heathland wildfire today at Lightwater Country Park.
The Park is home to all six species of British reptile, including the rare Sand lizard and Smooth snake.

Many animals survive the fire itself, but can quickly die off from predation by kestrels and crows, or more slowly through lack of food. In the past we have been successful in rescuing many animals, by placing artificial refuges, then collecting the animals that hide under these felts or tins.

We are planning to conduct the first main sweep for survivors on Saturday morning (23rd April). All volunteers would be very welcome to assist.

Details can be found on the SARG diary/events web page, which will be updated between now and Saturday to keep you informed of any changes.

I hope to see some of you at the weekend, and to save a proportion of the surviving animals.

Cheers,

Steve

SARG NEWS - 21 March 2011

2011-03-21T11:09:00.001-07:00

SARG NEWS - 21 March 2011

Chaps and Chapesses, (Land managers)

ARC are running a ridiculously cheap course, concerning habitat management for reptiles.

Course details can be found here: http://www.arc-trust.org/downloads/ReptileHabitatManagementtraining2011bookingform.pdf

SARG NEWS - 07 February 2011

2011-02-06T18:05:00.001-08:00

SARG NEWS - 07 February 2011

Dear Surrey ARG members and supporters

You may have heard already that I am doing a sponsored climb up Mount Kilimanjaro next week, to raise money for Surrey ARG and for Save the Rhino. Please support us if you can. You can donate, anonymously or otherwise, online at:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/rickanstis

Or give cash or cheques to me through any conventional way all money is welcome.

I am meeting all the costs of the trip myself and so every penny of your donations will go straight to these two great causes; where every penny makes a difference.

Please give generously. Only one more week till we go!

All the very best, and thank you.

Rick Anstis

Secretary, Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group

7, Arundel Road, Dorking, Surrey RH4 3HY

Every penny raised will be shared between Save the Rhino and The Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group. Full details about these groups are at www.savetherhino.org and www.surrey-arg.org.uk

SARG NEWS - 22 October 2010

2010-10-22T11:52:00.001-07:00

SARG NEWS - 22 October 2010

Every year, one of the south east amphibian and reptile groups hosts the regional meeting.
This year's meeting will be at Milton Keynes on 13th November 2010, hosted by Bucks ARG.

SARG will be showing a strong presence, providing one of the talks, and running one of the afternoon workshops.

These meetings are a great chance to catch up with the other groups, and for a good chin-wag about all things herpetological.

The talks are usually informative, and its a great chance to network.

This year's agenda can be downloaded here: ARG-UK SE Regional agenda

Steve

SARG NEWS - 17 October 2010

2010-10-17T10:58:00.001-07:00

SARG NEWS - 17 October 2010

For next year, SARG has chosen the adder to be its 'species in focus'. This fits in nicely with the current Adder Project, which is a collaboration of south east regional groups to accurately map the known distribution of the adder, and to find new locations.

This afternoon, SARG surveyors visited Banstead Heath to try to establish adder presence. It was late in the year for adder activity, but the bright sunshine raised our hopes. It is important to establish whether adders are present at Banstead, as the Heath is under threat from a major water pipeline development.

Most of the heath is deemed to offer suitable habitat, and the day was made more than worth while with two beautiful juvenile adders spotted and photographed.

If you have seen an adder in 2010, or even in past years, can you please submit a sighting report on the SARG website? We need an approximate date for the sighting, and you can click on a map to record the location. ALL sightings are valuable to us, and we can sort the probables from the certainties. If you have a photo of the animal you saw, please say so in the comments field.

Below is a picture of the first adder sighting today, courtesy of Jonathan Cooper, one of the Banstead Commons Conservators. Thanks also to Richard Knights, Banstead Commons Warden for giving up part of his Sunday to show us around the Heath.

SARG NEWS - 11 October 2010

2010-10-11T08:43:00.001-07:00

SARG NEWS - 11 October 2010

Reptile Habitat Management Handbook - out now!

Everyone needs a good read now that it's too cold for surveys, and we have the perfect thing! The 'Reptile Habitat Management Handbook' has just been published. It's aimed at site managers, and those who advise on habitat management, and gives plenty of guidance aimed at improving the status of snakes and lizards.

Some forum members kindly gave us ideas and photos when we started writing this - many thanks, and we hope that you'll find it useful. The book was published by ARC, with part-funding from Natural England and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Full details are: Edgar, P., Foster, J. & Baker, J. (2010). Reptile Habitat Management Handbook. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Bournemouth. ISBN 978-0-9566717-0-7.

Over the winter, we'll be running a jointly funded (Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and Natural England) series of training workshops for habitat managers. The aim will be to get the main messages out to those who are interested to learn more about incorporating reptile needs into site management. This is aimed at generalist site managers rather than those who already have a reptile focus to their work. We feel that just producing the handbook is only a start; real benefits for reptiles will need persistent promotion of the guidance and follow-up work, hence the workshops.

How do you get a copy?

One could be in the post to you already! Over the next couple of weeks, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation are doing a mass mail-out to a wide range of organisations working on habitat management. Everyone who contributed a photo that was used in the final version will also get a copy soon.

You can see a low resolution PDF version at: http://www.argukjb.org.uk/Downloads/RHMH%20LowRes.pdf

A high resolution version will be up soon at the ARC website: www.arc-trust.org

To get a free copy you can turn up to one of the conferences over the winter (eg ARC/BHS Scientific Meeting on 5 December), where there will be copies available. You can also request a copy directly from ARC - email enquiries@arc-trust.org or tel 01202 391319 (cost £3.00 to cover postage and handling; please enquire for bulk order costs).

How can forum members help?

Two ways spring to mind:

(a) By telling site managers and land managing organisations in your local patch about the handbook. Use its guidance to help enhance management for reptiles on sites that you visit, where necessary.

(b) By letting us have feedback on both format and content; anything missing, or advice that you think could be improved? The handbook gives a feedback email for this so that we can keep all your comments together.

Jim Foster

SARG Reptile Survey Team Note - 17 September 2010

2010-09-17T10:35:00.001-07:00

SARG Reptile Survey Team Note - 17 September 2010

Dear reptile surveyors,

Just a month to go until the end of the survey season (around mid-October, depending on the weather). Some notable recent events:

Anne found and photographed a Smooth snake at **********. This is the first official record of Ca at ********** ******* ****. We've had anecdotal reports, and even a photograph, but the location of the sighting never tallied with the right sort of habitat. So we now have a formal record, as a new Surrey Ca site.

Henry had a staggering survey day at ******** on Thursday with 12 Smooth snake records on one visit...all with great ID photographs.

Mary found and photographed a basking ball of five juvenile Smooth snakes at Frensham, just a little way from a tin concealing an adult pair. But she will have checked about a thousand tins by the end of the season!!

We've set up three new sites in Sussex: *********, Iping and **********, two of which support Sand lizard populations (not Iping...yet).

The statistics so far this year speak for themselves:

Tins_checked	Number_of_surveys	Sites_visited	Adder	Grass_snake	Smooth_snake	Slow_worm	Common_lizard	Sand_lizard	Total
3939	205	39	172	110	149	399	367	84	1281

These figures are amazing! - again this year, SARG will have generated more records for ARC than the entire national NARRS programme.
The site managers are using the distribution data to inform their management plans, and we are using to data to inform re-introductions of Smooth snake and Sand lizard, and of course we have generated amazing statistics which will make future survey more effective.

Very many thanks for all the hours of survey that you have put in. My gob has never been so smacked!

We will be running habitat management days with ARC at most of the rare reptile sites, so if you fancy a little winter exercise, just check the SARG diary. The first event has already happened, and there will be a couple per month until March.

Cheers for now,

Steve

SARG Reptile Survey Team Note - 28 July 2010

2010-07-27T16:33:00.001-07:00

SARG Reptile Survey Team Note - 28 July 2010

Folks,

You may know that there was a serious wildfire at Frensham Common on 11th July. There is a news link on the SARG homepage showing the fire damage.

Steve Webster, the Countryside Ranger for Frensham has asked SARG to help with a search and rescue for surviving reptiles, which are reported to be emerging from tree stumps and rabbit warrens, even after this amount of time. Steve is a 'good egg' and has been very supportive in the past, and its a worthwhile thing to do anyway.

I shall be conducting a search across the fire damaged area this Saturday (31st July), meeting outside the Ranger's hut by the Frensham Great Pond car park, at 09:00am. OSGB Grid ref: SU8447340567.

If any of you could spare an hour or two to help with the search, that would be great. If you can attend, please let me know to expect you, or if you're a bit late, just join us on the fire damaged area (we will be easy to spot!).

Many thanks,

Steve

SARG NEWS - 03 June 2010

2010-06-03T14:22:00.001-07:00

SARG NEWS - 03 June 2010

If you have a garden pond with tadpoles - watch out for froglets emerging over the next two weeks. If you have a lawn which is regularly mowed, it might be a good idea to keep the grass as short as possible over the next couple of months, otherwise the small froglets will seek cover in the long grass and may risk a nasty end when you do get the lawnmower out. Keeping the grass short will encourage them to seek shelter in hedgerows and flower borders.

On Sunday 6th June, SARG will be manning a stall at the Guildford Springwatch 'Wild day out' event in Shalford Park. As usual, we will have a collection of wild reptiles and amphibians, which will spend the day in vivaria, before being returned to the countryside at the end of the day. SARG experts will be fielding questions from the public, and providing advice to promote the conservation of the animals.

For more information visit The SWT Wild Day Out Website

SARG NEWS - 26 April 2010

2010-04-26T12:33:00.001-07:00

SARG NEWS - 26 April 2010

The animals are out!

All six native reptile species are now out of hibernation and this is the best time of year to observe them in the wild.
Surrey sand lizards and smooth snakes have emerged about a month later than usual, perhaps a consequence of the cold winter.

Newt activity is in full flow, again later than usual. Toad migration is now over, with the peak at the end of March, rather than the usual mid-March.
Frog and toad tadpoles have hatched, with the county's ponds teeming with new life.

One abnormality, again perhaps associated with the cold winter, is an unusually high number of juvenile animals of all species being reported. Perhaps the cold weather has allowed the animals a full and deep hibernation, which seems to have improved winter survival rates.

Events

Monday 3rd May 2010 - SARG are manning a stall at the Charter Fair at Haslemere. Come along to see a display of wild amphibians and reptiles, collected for the day, so you can get up close and personal with some of the county's best hidden animals.

Sunday 23rd May 2010 - SARG is planning a reptile photography day, where you can bring along a camera, and receive some expert guidance on how to find, approach and photograph reptiles, such as the rare sand lizard. Email Steve@surrey-arg.org.uk to book a free place.

Sunday 6th June 2010 - Springwatch is holding a 'breathing places' event at Guildford. SARG will be manning a display, including some of the county's rarest animals.

For more events; look at the SARG Diary on the website.

SARG NEWS - 20 March 2010

2010-03-20T06:30:00.001-07:00

SARG NEWS - 20 March 2010

Dear SARG member,

Your local toads, frogs and newts need your help!

Can you spare some time to help toads, frogs and newts cross roads to get to their breeding ponds this spring?

Every Spring, thousands of toads are accidentally killed as they undertake their night-time crossing of the roads across the United Kingdom. Toad crossing activity has started over the last 2 days, and is likely to continue until the end of March.

We need volunteers who can help out at toad crossings, transporting the animals across the road, saving them from being run over by traffic. Even if you can manage just a night or two, this would help the animals.

Recording the number of toads seen is a critical activity as this provides the evidence needed to determine population changes.

A full list of registered Toad Crossings, and what is involved can be found on the SARG website: www.surrey-arg.org.uk ('The Animals' menu,'Toad Crossings' icon).

If you can help and would like to know your nearest toad crossing then please contact myself, Danial Winchester on Home: 01252 794441 , Mobile: 07790 526991 or Email: danial@surrey-arg.org.uk

Many thanks

Danial

SARG NEWS - 03 March 2010

2010-03-03T15:13:00.001-08:00

SARG NEWS - 03 March 2010

Toad Crossings

Every spring, thousands of toads migrate from hibernation sites to breeding ponds across Surrey. In many areas this journey, sometimes over a kilometre, will involve crossing roads. SARG coordinates the 34 approved toad crossing sites in Surrey, helping to get these charismatic amphibians across our roads and safely into their ponds. This year, we expect the main migration to happen in the middle of March. If you would like to know more about Toad crossings, and how you could help, please take a look at our Toads on Roads webpage.

http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/SARG/02000-Activities/ToadCrossings/SARG2toadCrossings.shtml

NARRS Training

Each year, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (formerly the Herpetological Conservation Trust HCT and Froglife) organise the National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme (NARRS). This scheme relies upon members of the public to survey a 1km grid square close to their home. SARG trains these volunteers to find and record the animals. If you would like to become involved, please visit the NARRS website.

http://www.narrs.org.uk/

Adder Emergence

As the first spring-like days are upon us, now is the time for adders to emerge from hibernation (The first Surrey adder was reported on Tuesday 2nd March). The snakes won't travel far from their winter hibernation sites just yet, and it is possible to see several males basking together. If you see a group of adders in March, please let us know, as this is very likely to be an important hibernation site. We need to protect these sites from development, as adder hibernacula are vital for the species' survival, and can be used by many generations of the animals. Please let our reptiles officer know of any sightings:

Reptiles@surrey-arg.org.uk

SARG NEWS - 13 January 2010

2010-01-13T13:21:00.001-08:00

SARG NEWS - 13 January 2010

Do you have a pond in your garden?
Is it frozen, with a layer of ice on top?
What should you do to protect the life in your pond?...nothing (probably).

The old advice of punching a hole in the ice has been shown to be not terribly effective.
After all, ponds have been freezing in every cold winter since the last ice Age, about 10,000 years ago.
Pond life evolved to cope with severe winters long before we pesky humans came onto the scene.

Oxygen is produced under the ice by pond plants, even in these cold conditions. There is a good chance that you will have hibernating frogs at the bottom of your pond, that have slowed down their metabolism, and are extracting oxygen from the pond water through their skin.

If your pond is covered in snow, then this may block the sunlight which allows the plants to produce oxygen, so carefully clearing the snow away may help.

There are still a few winter habitat and pond tasks scheduled for the winter period, so if you fancy helping the wild reptiles and amphibians, why not check out the next habitat management date on the SARG diary?

Cheers,

SARG NEWS - 12 November 2009

2009-11-12T03:26:00.001-08:00

SARG NEWS - 12 November 2009

Winter Habitat Management Tasks

As winter draws on, it's often difficult to find the motivation to get out into the countryside. The option to sit in front of the 'goggle-box' on a soft sofa can be all too tempting. However; there is an alternative!

SARG, in partnership with a variety of land-managers, supports habitat management tasks over the winter period. This work helps to preserve the habitat for reptiles and amphibians, whilst they safely hibernate. The management work includes heathland restoration, scrub clearance and pond management.

You can find a list of these activities on the SARG Diary (on the SARG website: 'About SARG'>'Diary'), or use this link:
http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/SARG/06000-Diary/SARG2Diary.asp

If you want to learn more about the type of activities that habitat management involves...there is a page describing what we do here:
http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/SARG/02000-Activities/SARG2habitatManagement.shtml

Winter tasks can be a great way to meet like-minded people, and an easy way to get a little winter exercise.
It's always wise to contact the organiser before the day of the task to check that it is still scheduled, as although the volunteers are a hardy lot, even they can be put off by the worst of winter weather.

Froglog posts news of new amphibian reserve in Colombia

2009-03-04T01:50:00.001-08:00

Froglog is the Newsletter of the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group.The latest edition contains fascinating reports about amphibian status in sites from regions as diverse as Colombia, the Amazon Rainforest and Nigeria. Problems associated with the Chytrid fungus and the trade in amphibian species are also discussed.

The latest edition can be downloaded from www.amphibians.org

The Frog Chorus

2009-03-03T15:50:00.000-08:00

Ponds and gardens across Surrey have been the scene of increased nocturnal activity with the arrival of warmer, wetter nights. Female common frogs (Rana temporaria) have been spawning in large numbers, accompanied by the croaking of solitary males looking for a mate.

If you have frog spawn in your Surrey garden, then please let me know! (don't forget to mention your postcode).

Email: steve@surrey-arg.org.uk

New Tins

2009-03-01T16:46:00.000-08:00

This weekend...I have been mostly...cutting tins.

Money raised by SARG has been used to buy corrugated iron, which is cut into tins and used for reptile survey. Reptiles (particularly snakes and slow worms) bask under refugia (tins), as they cannot see the sky and feel safe from their main predators (birds). The tins warm up in the sun and allow the reptiles to gain the warmth they need to regulate their body temperature.

Reptile survey can be as simple as lifting tins to see which reptiles are underneath.

These new tins will be used to survey 40 hectares of Frensham Common, for which we have very little idea of reptile distribution. Frensham is one of our key sites in Surrey, supporting all six species of native reptiles. This site will be used for an MSc study to determine how to improve reptile survey methods.

More Reptiles.

2009-02-24T12:50:00.000-08:00

And today a Smooth snake and Slow worm were seen together under the same tin. Lucky for the Slow worm that the Smooth snake was a juvenile, else he would have made a tempting spring meal!
(Photo: Danial Winchester)

2009 Reptile Season Has Started!

2009-02-24T05:36:00.000-08:00

With the welcome warmth of last weekend, some of Surrey's reptile species decided to make an appearance.

Both Common lizards and Adders were seen on the county's heathlands.

This small male adder is tightly coiled to prevent heat loss (photo: Mary Campling).

Toad Tunnel Video

2009-02-24T05:24:00.001-08:00

With the help of the Surrey Dormouse Group, SARG have placed a motion-detection camera inside one of the county's toad tunnels. These tunnels protect the amphibians where their annual migration paths to breeding ponds cross busy roads.

It turns out that it's not just toads which use the tunnel, but also rodents and even birds!

You can see some of the video clips here: YouTube Videos. Or click on the video below.

Reptile Path

2008-09-10T04:05:00.000-07:00

Pupils from six Poole schools paved the coastal cliff-top path in Pinecliff Gardens, Poole, with a donation of CEMEX Readypave block paving, making it accessible by wheelchair users.

Each school took a section of the 120m path and decorated with a design representing British reptiles.

The schools could select the colour of block paving they required to enhance their designs which were supplied through Keyline's Poole branch.

These included charcoal, red, wheatmeal, Autumn Hue and Burnt Ember to provide the backdrop to designs including 'snake amongst flowers' and 'lizards'.

Re: Tortoise survives being buried under 50 tons of rubbish

2008-08-28T13:26:00.001-07:00

Fred the tortoise was found in a landfill site 20-miles away from home after being

accidentally thrown out with the rubbish Photo: KENT NEWS & PICTURES

Fred, the 30-year-old family pet, was recovering after he sneaked into a bin liner looking for somewhere to hibernate.

His owner Jane Deslandes picked up the rubbish sack and left it out for binmen - sending Fred on a 20-mile journey in the back of a dust cart from the family home in Margate to the landfill site at Canterbury, Kent.

Mrs Deslandes, a mother-of-six, 55, said: "It was absolutely horrendous when we realised what had happened - I knew what had happened straight away because we put the bags out in the garden before collection day.

"And it's the time of year when he's looking for nice warm places to hibernate.

"But we panicked because we didn't know where the rubbish goes so we had to phone the council to find out."

Mrs Deslandes was then given special permission by her local council to trawl through waste at the landfill site - 20 miles away.

She was issued with a high-visibility jacket by workers and embarked on a painstaking three hour search - to no avail.

She said: "We were devastated - we tried for ages but just couldn't find him.

"Eventually we had to give up and go home - I cried all the way back."

But landfill site bosses, desperate to help Mrs Deslandes, who works as a carer, continued the hunt for the tiny creature.

Finally they found him underneath a stack of smelly household waste - just minutes before the day's rubbish was due to be BURIED.

Fred - who lives on a strict diet of lettuce leaves, tomatoes and vegetables - is now munching away on his favourite food in his back garden following his discovery on Wednesday last week.

Jane added: "We were overjoyed - words can't describe how happy we were.

"We arranged straight away to go and pick him up.

"He was a bit dishevelled looking and had a couple of chips on his shell.

"But otherwise he was okay.

"We took him to the vet and they gave him a vitamin injection - they said it was a miracle."

Tortoises traditionally begin hibernating in October but it is thought Fred sought shelter early because of this year's miserable English summer.

Sand lizard hatchlings are appearing

2008-08-28T02:44:00.000-07:00

The Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) is our rarest native lizard, and has disappeared from many of the Surrey heathlands due to unsuitable habitat management.

To help the species recover, the HCT co-ordinate a captive breeding programme, releasing hatchlings back into the wild at sites where habitat management has made the heath suitable, and will continue to be managed sympathetically.

These releases continue, annually, over a three year period. After this there should be sufficient mature animals to contine to breed naturally, with more maturing each year.

Last weekend, wild-born hatchlings were found at one of these release sites, confirming the success of this conservation approach. The hatchlings dig themselves out of sandy burrows at the end of August, after hatching from their leathery eggs. They are around two inches (2.5cm) from head to tail...and so cute!

World's Smallest Snake Discovered

2008-08-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

The world's smallest species of snake, as thin as a spaghetti noodle and small enough to rest comfortably on a U.S. quarter, has been identified on the Caribbean island of Barbados.

The species, with adults averaging just under four inches in length, was discovered by Blair Hedges, an evolutionary biologist at Penn State. They list the discovery in the journal Zootaxa.

Hedges found the new snake -- a type of threadsnake -- in a tiny forest fragment on the eastern side of Barbados. He believes the species is rare because most of its potential habitat has been replaced by buildings and farms. "Habitat destruction is a major threat to biodiversity throughout the world," he said. "The Caribbean is particularly vulnerable because it contains an unusually high percentage of endangered species and, because these animals live on islands, they have nowhere to go when they lose their habitat."

More Predation

2008-05-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 13th May

Pond Predators and Prey

It is quite extraordinary to see events in a garden pond that illustrate so clearly the pressures on survival of the fittest! Last week I watched a Blackbird, taking a drink at the pond edge, disturb a common newt. It promptly caught it and then proceeded to treat it as if it were an earthworm by pecking along its length. A tasty meal ensued.

Today it was the newts turn to be the predator. On the first occasion the newt tackled a freshly split final instar of the Southern Hawker Dragonfly and rapidly ate the still soft body. On the second occasion a common newt tackled the soft body of a mollusc tearing at it using 'crocodile rolls'.

Julia

<<...>>

SARG success story

2008-04-11T01:44:00.000-07:00

Friday 11th April 2008

GCN breed in recently created pond

When the historic woodland pond dried out due to lowering of the water table SARG members undertook the creation of a new pond 100m from the original site. After an anxious wait to see if we were in time adult GCN were observed in Kiosk pond, Merstham late the following summer.

A quick visit this week to this woodland margin pond has confirmed the presence of eggs of both GCN and Common newt in the folded leaves of Water forget-me-not.

<<...>> <<...>>

Toad predation

2008-04-03T00:39:00.001-07:00

Thursday, April 3rd 2008

Toad migration hazzards

Every year toads risk life and limb as they migrate to their breeding ponds. But it is not only the traffic they have to contend with as this remarkable picture from Derek Washington shows. This Crow was having a feast by Earlswood Lakes, Redhill last weekend.

Other toad predators include herons, mink, gulls and terns.

Julia

<<...>>

A sign of approaching spring

2008-03-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

The first European Water [green] frogs have emerged from hibernation today. Although not calling yet, they may be seen on south-facing banks of ponds and lakes as they begin the all-important task of absorbing the heat of the sun. These early frogs often appear quite dark and are well camouflaged but brighten and become greener as the season advances.

Julia
<<...>>

Amphibians are spawning

2008-03-22T20:23:00.000-07:00

Frogs and toads across Surrey are spawning in ponds and lakes. Frog spawn is found in clumps; and toad spawn is laid in strings, winding around vegetation.

Toads are on the move!

2008-02-25T01:35:00.000-08:00

Amphibians across Surrey have started their spring migration from their terrestrial hibernation sites, back to their breeding ponds. The move was triggered by an increase in night-time temperatures, and a little rain.

SARG coordinates the thirty four registered toad-crossing sites within the county.

Find out more by clicking this link: Toads

Not all toads are content to walk their migration path...

Update from Ralph (26 Feb 2008):
I was out on Sunday evening at Speynes Mere. We collected 70+ toads, 22 frogs and 12 newts. More will follow at this very active crossing [last year 500+].

SARG Honour

2008-02-15T01:47:00.000-08:00

Dr. Julia Trea Margaret Wycherley was invested as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 New Year's honours list, for services to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.

Congratulations Julia !

Julia has now handed over the SARG chair to Gareth Matthes, and has accepted the SARG post of Honourary president.

Slow-worms derail stations

2007-10-19T03:06:00.000-07:00

A new rail link being constructed in Wales may not open in time, as two of the sites upon which stations are to be built have been discovered to home Slow-worms, which are protected by law.

As many of the Slow-worms as is possible will have to be relocated from the site, in order to comply with ecological conditions of the planning permission.

How nice to see such care ! the full story can be read here: link.

Common Toad found at more than 300ft underwater!

2007-10-15T04:56:00.000-07:00

A common Toad has been found swimming at the astonishing depth of 324 ft (98 m) below the surface of Loch Ness.
The full BBC story can be read here: Link

New Aesculapian Snake Colony !

2007-08-23T16:12:00.000-07:00

On Friday 17th August, following a lead, SARG member Richard Bazely searched the canal banks by London Zoo in search of a rumored second UK colony of the harmless (but bitey!) Aesculapian snake.

There is a well known colony of these snakes around the Welsh Mountain Zoo at Colwyn, following the escape of a gravid female snake, over thirty years ago. Rumors of a second UK colony were fuelled by the recent reporting of a 'strange grass snake' found close by London Zoo.

We can now confirm that there is very probably a breeding colony of this pretty snake in the centre of London ! The picture below is of a sub-adult found at the site. This snake was only 2 feet long; adults can grow in excess of six feet, and are strongly arboreal in nature.

Pond Success !

2007-05-29T05:53:00.000-07:00

As part of our Species Recovery Plan, and in part mitigation, SARG created a new pond in Winter 2005/6 at East Surrey Hospital adjacent to an ancient Great Crested Newt (GCN) pond where a few of these rare animals were just about hanging on from year to year.

A couple of adult GCN and a few common newts were recorded in this newly created pond in late Spring 2006.

This week we have seen a large number of GCN eggs around most of the new pond perimeter! This bodes well for the future of this population.

Great Crested Newt egg, picture by Tanja Kessels.

Oi Ref...he bit me !

2007-05-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

Faul; a word used as a charm against the bite of an adder:-Sume án word wið nædran bíte lǽraþ to cweðenne, ðæt is, Faul some teach us against bite of adder to speak one word, that is, Faul, L. M. 1, 45; Lchdm. ii. 114, 2.

AngloSaxon dictionary - Submitted by Julia

Dorset Trip

2007-05-12T04:46:00.000-07:00

I've recently returned from a short break away in Dorset. Part of the goal for this trip was to see and photograph some of the introduced species of reptile that breed wild in this beautiful county.

The Island of Portland is famous for its lighthouse at Portland Bill. Less well known is that the island supports two colonies of the introduced Common wall lizard. The quarry at Cheyne Weare car poark located at the south east of the island is jam-packed full of the brown-backed form, and we were fortunate to witness territorial displays between males.

Moving further along the coast towards Bournemouth, we stopped off at Boscombe, near the Portman Ravine. This area also supports wall lizards (green-backed form), but also the largr Green lizard, the only UK site where this animal is known to breed in the wild.

Green lizards are much larger than our native common lizards as can be seen in the following comparison picture:

Biggest Cane Toad Yet ... !

2007-03-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

Environmentalists dedicated to wiping out a toxic toad species that has killed countless Australian animals have captured a specimen the size of a small dog.

The volunteer-run organisation, Frogwatch, picked up the 15in-long cane toad during a raid on a pond outside the northern city of Darwin.

With a body the size of a football and weighing nearly 2lbs, the "monster toad'' is among the largest specimens ever captured in Australia, according to Frogwatch coordinator Graeme Sawyer.

"It's huge, to put it mildly,'' he said. "The biggest toads are usually females but this one was a rampant male... I would hate to meet his big sister.''

Cane toads were imported from South America during the 1930s in a failed attempt to control beetles on Australia's northern sugar cane plantations.

The poisonous toads have proved fatal to Australia's delicate ecosystems, killing millions of native animals from snakes to the small crocodiles that eat them.

As part of its so-called "Toad Buster'' project, Frogwatch conducts regular raids on local water holes, blinding the toads with bright lights then scooping them up by the dozen.

"We kill them with carbon dioxide gas, stockpile them in a big freezer and then put them through a liquid fertiliser process'' that renders the toads nontoxic, Sawyer said.

"It turns out to be sensational fertiliser.''The volunteer-run organisation, Frogwatch, picked up the 15in-long cane toad during a raid on a pond outside the northern city of Darwin.

With a body the size of a football and weighing nearly 2lbs, the "monster toad'' is among the largest specimens ever captured in Australia, according to Frogwatch coordinator Graeme Sawyer.

"It's huge, to put it mildly,'' he said. "The biggest toads are usually females but this one was a rampant male... I would hate to meet his big sister.''

Cane toads were imported from South America during the 1930s in a failed attempt to control beetles on Australia's northern sugar cane plantations.

The poisonous toads have proved fatal to Australia's delicate ecosystems, killing millions of native animals from snakes to the small crocodiles that eat them.

As part of its so-called "Toad Buster'' project, Frogwatch conducts regular raids on local water holes, blinding the toads with bright lights then scooping them up by the dozen.

"We kill them with carbon dioxide gas, stockpile them in a big freezer and then put them through a liquid fertiliser process'' that renders the toads nontoxic, Sawyer said.

"It turns out to be sensational fertiliser.''

Amphibian Training Available - THIS SATURDAY !

2007-03-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

Hants-Surrey Border amphibian training day
for participants in NARRS: The National Amphibian Survey

A one-day training event for volunteers signed up to take part in the above amphibian survey for the National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme (NARRS). Training in amphibian identification, habitat assessment, survey methods, survey protocols, recording, health & safety, licensing, and landowner permissions. Bring stout footwear, wellies and waterproofs.

Saturday 24 March 2007, 14.30-20.00
Bentley village, just off the A31 between Alton and Farnham

Meet at the Memorial Hall at the crossroads (SU 783 439),
the hall is on the NW corner

Contact (GCN expert!) Ros Hughes (RAPHughes@aol.com) to book a place. Make sure you are also registered to take part in NARRS (sign up at www.narrs.org.uk).

PROGRAMME
1430-1445 Arrive (tea/coffee)
1445-1645 Amphibian classroom session
1645-1700 Break (bring own snack)
1700-1800 Amphibian field session
1800-1900 Break (pub, Indian cuisine/meal)
1900-2000 Amphibian torchlight field session

Toads & Grassies

2007-03-18T04:12:00.000-07:00

1st of season!
SARG member Simon Elson reported sighting of grass snake in tussucky grass adjacent to Spynes Mere nature reserve on 15th March.

Simon also wardens the Bletchingley Road toad crossing where toads have been intermittantly migrating towards Spynes Mere since February 22nd! Last year [2006] over 1600 toads were rescued and so far this year 919 toads have been helped. Over 20 volunteers have participated during this prolonged period.

Toad migrations appear to be very variable and intermittant across the County this year. Let us have your update!

That's at least one sighting of all reptile species native to Surrey this year already. Overall slightly earlier than last year. Its certainly worth a wander around your local piece of countryside !

2007 Smooth snakes

2007-03-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

The Smooth snakes have now emerged from hibernation. Surrey is fortunate to be one of only three counties with native populations of this beautiful snake.

Slow-worms were also out this week, just leaving Grass snakes to emerge for the 'full set'.

Some pictures below, taken today, of an adult male Surrey Smooth snake. (Like Adders, the males emerge from hibernation before the reproductive females).

Pond Works

2007-03-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

Ralph and Julia Wycherley joined a group at Hevers pond, Bletchingley last Saturday 10th March. The aim was to tidy the pond surrounds from the general dumping that had accumulated. We did not disturb the pond itself as we counted over 100 toads frantic in breeding activities - plus around 30 frogs and 14 clumps of spawn.

Sand Lizards and Adders

2007-03-03T07:50:00.000-08:00

The reptile season has well and truely started, with both Adders and Sand lizards out today, at Crooksbury Common in Surrey.

Two Adders were out today, lying up by their hibernaculum:

Even better that early emergent Adders, was the chance sighting of my first Sand lizard of the season: This individual lizard was also the first sand lizard seen last year on 19th March 2006, so he's 2.5 weeks early this year !

Just Grass & Smooth snakes and Slow worms need to emerge, before we have the full set !

Reptiles are beginning to emerge

2007-03-02T10:02:00.000-08:00

The beginning of March heralded my first reptile sightings of the year on the Surrey/Hants border today. Both animals were adult male common lizards, and both were fairly lethargic, easily caught and a 'bag of bones'. If this sunshine lasts a few more days they'll be fattening up and hopefully other reptiles will also emerge.

Article in the 'Farnham Diary' local paper

2007-02-26T01:41:00.000-08:00

In Today's issue of the Farnham Diary, there is a short piece outlining the potted history of the Farnham Castle colony of Wall lizards.

The aim of the article is to contact local people who have first hand experience of seeing the colony, and determining its exact location (to the nearest wall). Hopefully we will either determine that the colony still exists, or we will be able to put an approximate date to its decline.

Click on the image below to read the article.

GCN

2007-02-21T13:24:00.001-08:00

Great Crested Newts were observed egg-laying in my garden pond on 21 2 07. Evening temperatures 11C

Toad migration 2007

2007-02-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

Toad migration. Toads have moved after dusk at Speynes Mere , Bletchingley Road for the last 2 nights. Some helped across but sadly also a number of squashes. Last year over 1600 toads were helped at this site.

Toad

2007-02-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

The first Toad of the season to be found in my garden emerged today! (Farnham, Surrey), he was sat under his usual refugia after a winter's hibernation. I'd have thought he'd be heading off to a pond by now ! - Steve