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RAUK - Archived Forum - First sand lizard

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First sand lizard:

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Robs adders
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Joined: 15 Mar 2008
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Posted: 01 Apr 2008
Went to arn nature reserve this weekend and found my fist sand lizard walked all day to find this one Robs adders39539.8176736111
Robs adders
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Joined: 15 Mar 2008
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Posted: 01 Apr 2008

AGILIS
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Joined: 27 Feb 2007
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Posted: 02 Apr 2008
great   pic Robs it has not quite greened up after winter yet what was the  weather like keith
   LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
Robs adders
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Joined: 15 Mar 2008
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Posted: 02 Apr 2008

Hi Keith

It was a warm day on sunday a light wind plenty of sunshine,found this one at about 4pm  it was the only one i got a pic of i think i saw one other but unfortunatley it saw me first and was gone befor i got a good look!! but i will be back down there soon!

regards rob


Suzi
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Joined: 06 Apr 2005
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Posted: 02 Apr 2008

You are lucky. I've never seen a sand lizard as we don't seem to have any here in Devon (secret releases strongly suspected though).

I went to Studland last year and spent a day searching known haunts but no luck! Not seen a smooth snake either so I've plenty to wish for!


Suz
AGILIS
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Joined: 27 Feb 2007
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Posted: 02 Apr 2008
hi SUZI I NEVER REALISED YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN A SAND LIZARD HOPE YOU SEE ONE THIS YEAR  I AM SURE YOU WILL  GET THE SAME FEELING I DID ON SEEING MY FIRST ONE HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO IT STILL FEELS THE SAME TODAY. BUT EVEN I HAVE HAD KNOWN SITES FOR YEARS AND HAVE  HAD BLANK DAYS AS TO NOT SEEING THEM SO ITS NOT THAT EASY WITH  YEARS OF EXPERIENCE  KEITH
AGILIS39541.4724768519
   LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
Suzi
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Joined: 06 Apr 2005
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Posted: 02 Apr 2008
Thanks Keith. Maybe this will be the year! I'm hoping to go to Studland again soon.
Suz
AGILIS
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Joined: 27 Feb 2007
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Posted: 03 Apr 2008
HI SUZI your choice of Studland is good for first time la spotting,also you could look at some  other good  la sites on the isle of Purbeck such as Stoborough heath and Wogret heath near Wareham.I believe Wogret is a herp trust site,first time I went there I was greeted by la sitting on a stile.Also la can be found in the dunes an heath right up to the Sandbanks ferry but holiday makers and gay nudists  seem to occupy the sunspots once frequented only by la and adders and over the years  have made sitings harder but lots of adders still abound the area, ca more likley to be  seen nearer the little sea area plent of grass snakes .I have put a few good areas on a old os map with yellow marks where I have seen them might be of help Keith           
AGILIS39541.4190162037
   LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
Caleb
Forum Coordinator
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 448


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Posted: 03 Apr 2008
[QUOTE=Suzi]

I've never seen a sand lizard as we don't seem to have any here in Devon (secret releases strongly suspected though).

[/QUOTE]

Have there not been official reintroductions recently at Braunton Burrows? I have a feeling Natterjacks were reintroduced here as well.

Caleb.
SteveA
Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
No. of posts: 15


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Posted: 03 Apr 2008

Suzi, if you live in the south of the county Dawlish Warren has an introduced popn of Sand Lizards which despite recent fires and erosion is not doing to badly.

Interested to hear about introduced Natterjacks at Braunton, Caleb, recently or historical?


Caleb
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Joined: 17 Feb 2003
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Posted: 03 Apr 2008
Natterjacks at Braunton were introduced within the last decade as far as I know. I think the stock used was from the NW, rather than the SE, like the Dorset introductions.


David Bird
Forum Specialist
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
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Posted: 03 Apr 2008
Back in the late 1970's there was a very dodgy Reptile and Amphibian dealer living at Braunton who went under various company names and lived in Devon & Dorset advertising in the Exchange and Mart and was often made bankrupt. I was told in the early 80's by the warden of Braunton Burrows that this chap had released a batch of Natterjacks on the dunes, they probably originated from Iberia rather than the U.K. but were mostly very poor specimens that he could not sell 3 limbs etc. They were not seen after a few years.
I know that this is not what you were looking for but is of historical interest.

David
British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker.
arvensis
Senior Member
Joined: 15 Mar 2006
No. of posts: 445


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Posted: 04 Apr 2008
One from Tuesday at one of the Woolmer sites:

Mark

Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group.
SteveA
Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
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Posted: 07 Apr 2008

Thanks David,

yes a tale about an eccentric Victorian naturalist would have had rather more romance than someone dumping shop rejects!


- First sand lizard

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