RAUK - Archived Forum - Targeted survey vs. accidental sighting

I was just wondering whether most people's herp (especially reptile)sightings happen when they are particularly looking for that species, or when they just happen across them...

I think the majority of mine are accidental, except when I visit sites that I already know support that species. Common lizards and slow-worms in particular- I feel that they live in such a wide variety of habitats that they could occur almost anywhere. And of course there are plenty of seemingly ideal sites where they don't occur!

Is it just that I'm not 'tuned in' to these species, or do other people have similar experiences?

In my case it's because I am actively looking for species that are supposed / do exist in the park or it's locale, though I would not call it a 'targeted' survey. We are 'targeting' Great Creasted as they had been reported for the park a few years ago but not seen since, Newts have been seen but not to identify yet, other than the size says they would not be Great Crested.

For me it is a mixture of both, I tend to always walk looking at my feet or the herbage just in case. Most of my reptile sightings I "hear" first.

If I find a good site and spot a few common species I sometimes use the more formal survey techniques such as putting down "tins". This revealed slow-worms at a site last year that I had visited many times and yet had never spotted them at all. I sometimes do small egg hunts when at newt ponds, just incase a formal GCN survey is warranted.

I do get a strong feel for a site sometimes these days, and will very often find things just where I would expect to. If I think amphibians are likely in an area then I'll carefully do a refuge search, it often amazes me what was there all along but simply overlooked. I can usually guess where adders and grass snakes will be at an unfamiliar site.

I hope this year to get involved in formal surveys, making my sightings a little more useful.

Quote: Originally posted by Gemma Fairchild on 31 March 2003

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I do get a strong feel for a site sometimes these days, and will very often find things just where I would expect to.

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I find I'm getting a better feel for sites with experience- I haven't got a great deal of past experience with adders for instance, so I notice that I'm getting better at finding them.

My point about common lizards and slow-worms though, is that I've seen them loads of times, but I don't think that I am really getting a feel for their habitat.