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RAUK - Archived Forum - Monitoring the Common Lizard

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Monitoring the Common Lizard:

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Andy
Member
Joined: 30 Jul 2003
No. of posts: 4


View other posts by Andy
Posted: 02 Aug 2003

Dear All.

I have started to keep records of the common lizards and slow worms sighted in my garden. I have noticed that members are posting sightings of various reptiles. Other postings I have noticed members ask if any research has been done in particular areas (e.g. slow worms on/under tins).

I am a science teacher, teach biology to Alevel and having completed a BSc and and MSc in Biological Sciences I so have a fair understanding of ecology and scientific research. So I was wondering if there is any useful research I could do, definitely over the next 4 weeks possibly over a longer period.

Immediate questions perhaps members may be able to help me with:

a) What is the basic useful information for a survey? (Currently I record, date, time, weather, location and am trying to map the locations of individuals over time). The population lives on a piece of overgrown land in my garaden (anout 2mx3m) this backs onto a much larger area of very overgrown grassland.

b) Currently I rarely disturb the lizards, I have handled one injured (caught by my cat  and a couple of "slow" juveniles), but record sightings backed up by digital photos when I can. What is a good way of estimating population size? Is it ok to catch and handle them? - is it necessary?

c) Any ideas of mini projects? (I have access to a variety of data loggers, digital light meters, temperature sensors etc).

Thanks in anticipation. PS I tried to add a picture of three of the lizard population but can't cut and paste, any advice on how to post images in the forum!

 


Andy Grevatt, Brighton, East Sussex UK
GemmaJF
Admin Group
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
No. of posts: 2090


View other posts by GemmaJF
Posted: 02 Aug 2003

Hi Andy, I'll leave the answers about surveys to those with more experience, but to post up a picture click on the tree icon  in the Post Reply box and add the URL address of the picture to the text prompt box that pops up and click OK. The pictures need to be mounted on a host website to have a URL. The picture should appear before you submit the posting to the forum, if it doesn't it wont appear in the posting.

If you don't have a website to host the pictures from, email me the pictures and i'll mount them on the RAUK site and post them in the appropriate thread.

administrator37835.5281944444
Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
Andy
Member
Joined: 30 Jul 2003
No. of posts: 4


View other posts by Andy
Posted: 06 Aug 2003

Thanks for the tip Gemma - I think I've done it.

This is actually a pic of a very lucky moment this morning. I usually have my camera in the garden with me, and heard a struggle in the border, to my surprise this common lizard had just caught a spider and I managed to get a pic of it!!!! Hope you like. 


Andy Grevatt, Brighton, East Sussex UK
GemmaJF
Admin Group
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
No. of posts: 2090


View other posts by GemmaJF
Posted: 06 Aug 2003

That's a great shot, haven't seen one before where a Common Lizard has just caught some prey, this is one I snapped today at a site in Kent we found earlier this year. I've just found out it is earmarked for development, which will be a real shame if it goes ahead as there is an extensive population of Common Lizards and I suspect some of my favourite snakes as well, though far too hot to see any today. I'll be putting something up about the site when I know more about the planning proposal and how much objection there is to it.


Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
Alan Hyde
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


View other posts by Alan Hyde
Posted: 08 Aug 2003
Great pics Andy and Gemma .

Alan
O-> O+>
calumma
Senior Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 351


View other posts by calumma
Posted: 10 Aug 2003
If you are recording animals in Kent, I hope all records will be passed on the the relevant local recorder
Lee Brady
Kent Herpetofauna Recorder | Independent Ecological Consultant

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Andy
Member
Joined: 30 Jul 2003
No. of posts: 4


View other posts by Andy
Posted: 10 Aug 2003
I live in Brighton, East Sussex. I had no idea there was a local recording officer or how to contact them. Any suggestions?
Andy Grevatt, Brighton, East Sussex UK
GemmaJF
Admin Group
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
No. of posts: 2090


View other posts by GemmaJF
Posted: 10 Aug 2003

Andy,

Sussex NO RECORDER previous details removed

(sorry misread Brighton as Bristol originally)

Froglife have this info page on recording that might be useful, there is a link giving a list of regional recorders

http://www.froglife.fsnet.co.uk/FAS/5.htm

Also check out the links page on RAUK for other groups who require records.

 

Lee, will do

administrator38468.4915162037
Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant

- Monitoring the Common Lizard

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