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Posts by Chris G-O: |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36  View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 16 May 2003
Topic: Cumbrian natterjacks
What were the sites & locations? Map refs or GPS coords would be useful. The HCT co-ordinates the national monitoring programme for natterjacks; a lot is done by volunteers and it's not always possible to keep track of every site all the time. We have a Cumbria Natterjack Officer (Bill Shaw 01229 588153) and all natterjack records are gathered nationally by our Amphibian Conservation Officer (John Buckley 01202 391319). We welcome any additional records that people can send in! Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 13 Aug 2003
Topic: Natterjack Toad
Hi all. Gemma alerted me to this thread. I'll check with John Buckley (HCT Amphibian CO) when he's back from SEH in St Petersburg, but i can't find any historical record for natterjack in Northumberland. Common toads are pretty common on sand dunes & other dry coastal habitats; i've also seen them in brackish rockpools. They're a bit of a nuisance at some natterjack sites (out-competing natterjack tadpoles), and common toad spawn has to be bucketed out to other locations. I suspect what you saw was a common toad, but it's worth reporting and checking these things. A useful avenue might be to ask local residents if they've ever been aware of noisy 'frog'/'toads'. cheers, Chris Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 20 Jun 2005
Topic: ALL SIX IN oNE MORNING
Hey hey glad you both enjoyed your recent days out & subsequent forays! There's loads of Surrey and NE Hants to survey, and i'm looking forward to us getting some of the blanks filled in. Keep up the good work! cheers, Chris Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 22 Sep 2003
Topic: Is Aesculapian snake still around?
Strictly speaking (!) you can't get a licence to release a non-native species into the wild! Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 22 Sep 2003
Topic: Wall lizards
I visited the Ventnor population in February 2003 and saw about 40 wall lizards, generally spread about on walls, gardens/cliffs, garage roofs etc in the steep old town of Ventnor. I also heard that the Gift to Nature people had 'rescued' them from a new multistorey car park development and moved them to the Botanic Garden at St Lawrence 2 miles west. Of course, the Ventnor wall lizards are pretty widespread and the car park didn't wipe them out. At the Botanic Garden i noticed a few along a crack in a wall west of the visitor centre against the car park. Unsurprisingly i didn't see any on the new 'wall lizard wall' they've built. It's incredible - a dry stone wall with no vegetation, about 5m long, stand-alone, and with wind whistling right through it! It looks like a demo of how to build a dry stone wall but it certainly isn't wall lizard habitat. The legitimacy of them moving wall lizards could also quite easily be questioned if anyone wanted to do so! Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 Oct 2003
Topic: Pheasants blamed for species shortage
I think most of us will have seen pheasant roadkill and probably that typically British winter scene of pheasants crossing fields of stubble and following hedgerows. They certainly don't need woodland. The comment from the game lobby about there being no conflict is clearly flawed: pheasants aren't restricted to woodland. I think the Radio 4 programme quoted that perhaps 50% don't get shot, another 10% get eaten by foxes, more are roadkilled, but the rest survive to breed in the wild. While i was checking tins at one of HCT's meadow & heathland sites this summer, i disturbed a female pheasant with 9 chicks in tow. Yes, 9 chicks. HCT have already been talking to the Game Conservancy Trust who are aware they need to do something. We hope to get some research up and running next year. The Radio 4 programme described a current pheasant radiotracking PhD, but we need something reptile-focussed. I favour a stomach content analysis. Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 Oct 2003
Topic: Wall lizards
No, i guess the translocation wasn't legal. It's an alien species and as such can't be released. You can't even legally pick up a marsh frog or an alpine newt and then put it down again in the UK! For that matter, the WCA 1981 and amendments don't make killing of wall lizards illegal. English Nature (Hants & IW team) are aware of the Ventnor to Botanic Gardens move but i doubt they would want to pursue it. I think there were wall lizards already at the Botanic Gardens before the 2002 rescue according to staff there anyway. On a similar subject, someone recently phoned me with an old record of P. sicula from Plymouth from 1940s-60s and i think he recently re-checked them and they were still there. Also, an old guy who visited the HCT office recently said he used to catch and keep wall lizards in Ventnor in the 1930s. They were already common then. Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 04 Nov 2003
Topic: Where to find adders in Dorset
I would suggest that it's not wise to say exactly where to go over the internet, besides which there are adders virtually everywhere in the Dorset heaths. It's a toss-up between them and smooth snakes being the most common snake there. As for seeing them, it's a case of getting up early in the morning on a spring day, March onwards is best, or any time on a brightish overcast day. Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 03 Dec 2003
Topic: unusual markings
I was once given a couple of pickled grass snakes by Colin Howes at Doncaster Museum. They had thin yellow stripes running their entire length and they were labelled "Italian form". I didn't think anything of it but last year somebody phoned HCT reporting stripy grass snakes in the Don Valley, S. Yorkshire, and i began to wonder if the pickled specimens had in fact come from the wild in S. Yorkshire. Then at last Saturday's BHS snakes meeting, somebody told me about stripy grass snakes somewhere else in the 'North Midlands', can't remember who/where. So I'd be fascinated to know if there are any other reports like this. I haven't checked the Leighton, Smith or Frazer books etc. Chris Gleed-Owen Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 03 Dec 2003
Topic: Help!
It wouldn't be impossible for someone to have released sand lizards on Cumbrae, but i suspect like the others, that you saw a green common lizard. Size would be the absolute giveaway if you found an adult sand lizard with total length of 7 inches/18cm or more. And the bolder markings: large light blobs with dark centres. The habitat would need to be marram dunes for sand lizard too - very unlikely you'd get sand lizards that far north in any other habitat. Common lizards on the other hand inhabit a variety of grassy, herbaceous & scrub edge habitats. Green common lizards are not uncommon, but they're usually dark green. As a result, it's one of the most common enquiries we get in the HCT office: "i think i've seen a sand lizard". If it's W. Yorkshire we're pretty certain it's not sand lizard, but if for example it's a Welsh coastal dune location then it does make us wonder. I'd still encourage people to submit records like this - you never know - but it's difficult to do anything without a photograph (and description of habitat). cheers, Chris Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 17 Jan 2004
Topic: European pond tortoise Emys orbicularis
European pond terrapins have been seen in the last 10 years or so on the Norfolk Broads, sightings came from RSPB staff i think. I think there were intros there about 100 yrs ago. Out of interest, i saw a red-eared terrapin on the 5th Jan 2004 in an ornamental pond in Venice. It wasn't exactly warm (c.11 degrees), but there didn't seem to be anywhere for it to hibernate really. cheers, Chris Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 17 Jan 2004
Topic: Wall lizards
It's been quite a mild January so far and that suits the wall lizards on Bournemouth cliffs. I hear they were out last weekend, and i saw one green male today (17th Jan 2004). See pictures below. cheers, Chris  Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 25 Jan 2004
Topic: Just sharing some pictures
My first common lizards of 2004 on Bournemouth clifftops today. A few wall lizards have been out on and off throughout the winter. Photo of male common lizard from today below. cheers, Chris  Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 23 Jul 2004
Topic: Smooth snakes in N. Wiltshire
Hi Lee, My email is chris.go@herpconstrust.org.uk Tel 01202 391319 Remind me by email and i'll search out the Wilts records you asked about. Bear in mind that i do not get chance to look at this site all that often - no offence to Gemma who does an excellent job or anyone using it - it's just that we are generally up to our eyeballs with work. So, if anybody needs to speak to one of us at HCT, please email us or phone us, don't wait for us to go to RAUK. cheers Chris Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 23 Jul 2004
Topic: Smooth Snake Research and Monitoring
Hi Liz, We do indeed have a smooth snake survey going on in the New Forest, and one in Ringwood Forest at the moment. You are welcome to join in the fun (although i can't promise it always will be on those bad tin days!). We have about 30 volunteer surveyors signed up in the New Forest and we're turning up great sightings. I hear that someone on RAUK said they found one of our tins. Sadly i haven#'t got time to check every single thread so PLEASE someone write to me if you want to know anything about HCT surveys etc. Liz - if you can email your postal address, email & tel number please we can arrange to put you on our licence and sort out a training session/maps etc. chris.go@herpconstrust.org.uk cheers chris Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 23 Jul 2004
Topic: Smooth Snake
Please please get a photo or tell us the details. God knows how many times i get people writing/phoning in with excited records from unlikely places - i write back asking for details or photo and never hear anything again. If this is a heavily marked slow-worm (we have all-over 'pin-striped' ones here!) it would be nice to know so no-one goes up there on a wild goose chase. If it may still be a smooth snake, we really ought to know. Does anyone know how to contact Martin Slade??? cheers Chris Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 27 Sep 2004
Topic: Herp Poo !
To add to that, i would suggest that you're far more likely finding the actual animals than you are their faeces. Good luck anyway! Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 27 Sep 2004
Topic: Smooth snakes
Hello all,
Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 08 Jan 2005
Topic: Common Lizard Identification & Sightings
An early sighting of an adult female common lizard today on Boscombe (Bournemouth) clifftops....and a baby wall lizard with it....photo to follow if i can work out how to do it; system seems to have changed. Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
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Chris G-O Member Joined: 14 May 2003 No. of posts: 36 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 03 May 2005
Topic: Pool Frog reintroduction
I fully concur with Janne's comments. It is absolutely true that all our northern species range limits are partly the result of fragmentation through climatic deterioration. The UK was (like Sweden/Denmark), 2-3 degrees warmer than today a few thousand years ago, and even in Medieval times was 1 degree warmer for much of the time. We had Emys in the UK, Denmark and Sweden c.5-7,000 yrs ago; we had R. lessonae, R. dalmatina and R. arvalis in E. England c.1000 yrs ago; and Bombina sp in Sweden (Scania) a few thousand yrs ago (not accurately dated). Reiterating Janne's points: what on earth would have stopped additional amphibian and reptile reaching the UK and Scandinavia before the land-bridges were drowned 7 or 8,000 yrs ago? - the Ice Age was long gone. Chris Gleed-Owen, Research & Monitoring Officer, The HCT & BHS Research Committee Chair |
- Posts by Chris G-O |
