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intresting - common lizard: |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466  View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 17 Nov 2006 http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/forum/post_message_form.asp?FI D=21 see kinmen bay well i go there,i was there a while ago and will be going again next year.last time there on the front it was sandy and long grass,i said i bet theres lizards but my family didnt think so,obviosly i was right,but its just grass and sand so were will they be,if i go were should i luck,and do you think threy will still be there from 1988,ovbvious not the same ones,as a few years ago it flooded so might of gone now. http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466 View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 20 Nov 2006 bump http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466 View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 25 Nov 2006 bump http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
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arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445  View other posts by arvensis |
Posted: 25 Nov 2006 The solution is to have a look next time you are there. Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group. |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466 View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 03 Dec 2006 ok,were exactly do i look,its mainly busy up there lots of perple and dogs,theres sand and grass ,would they be on the walls as like i say theyd soon be suisturbed,will they be out in the sand. http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
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arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445 View other posts by arvensis |
Posted: 03 Dec 2006 The answer would be to look where you think they are most likely to be, places where there is adequate cover for lizards to escape to. That's all part of the fun of herping, thats how you learn more about them. I can't be more specific because I've never been to where you mention. Mark Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group. |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466 View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 03 Dec 2006 but will i see them in the grass or on the sand etc? http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
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Peter Vaughan Senior Member Joined: 21 Mar 2005 No. of posts: 170 View other posts by Peter Vaughan |
Posted: 03 Dec 2006 Like a lot of British wildlife (and maybe wildlife worldwide) reptiles are not easy to find unless you know where, when and how to look for them. Books and other written instructions can tell you which sites to visit but, in my experience, cannot really teach you how to find the animals once you get there. Although I've been interested in natural history since the 1960s it is only in the past couple of years I've started to pick-up the relevant skills and knowledge. Now I spot more and more of the things I'd have missed in the past - and I now know where to look for some things which hardly ever venture out of cover. What has helped me has been: 1. Accidently finding a Grass Snake basking site. 2. Some patient guidance from a couple of experts. Four tips I'd pass on: - If you've seen a reptile in a particular spot, and it is frieghtend away, there is a very good chance it will return to the same spot a few minutes later and/or it will be there or nearby the next day. - In the spring reptiles like to bask in the same conditions in which butterflies are flying i.e. warm, sunny weather without strong wind. - The middle of a hot day in summer is not a good time to look (as most things will no longer be basking), myself and other novices have nearly all wasted time tramping over hot heaths in the mid-day sun looking in vain for snakes and lizards. - They always bask in the sun, sheltered from the wind and with cover (vegetation or perhaps a woodpile) no more than half a meter away (and usually much less than that). But I've twice seen Grass Snakes moving swiftly accross broad open paths. Peter Peter Vaughan |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466 View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 03 Dec 2006 ok thanks,were do i look for them im going to wales,do i look in the mountains or what?where do you look then i know im a pain. were can i accidently find a grass snake basking site? http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
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Peter Vaughan Senior Member Joined: 21 Mar 2005 No. of posts: 170 View other posts by Peter Vaughan |
Posted: 03 Dec 2006 Well OK it's not easy... I accidently find things by going out to nature reserves etc. i.e. spending time "in the field". Do this enough and wildlife will literally fall at/ slither past your feet. But really what you need to do is to find someone local who knows about reptiles - nature reserve wardens and/or information centres are a place to start. Guided walks organised by your local wildlife trust (most of them publish this stuff on the web) are also worthwhile - you may not see any reptiles but you'll probably meet someone who can point you in the right directions. I cannot help on where to look in Wales. Good luck. Peter Vaughan |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466 View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 04 Dec 2006 ok why were are you? http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466 View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 04 Dec 2006 p.s on the website that has maps of were they are,theres one in the grounds of the caravan site i stay at,its just were about,its very green,and there is a small pond,what would they eat amphibians.also may there be grass snakes there. http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
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arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445 View other posts by arvensis |
Posted: 06 Dec 2006 As mentioned before, specific site info is generally not given out on where exactly to find reptiles and amphibians. You're going to have to do some of the hard work yourself and look when you are there. I'm going to be blunt and say if you're that interested in our native herpetofauna, then be willing to put in the time to try and find them. It appears that there's not many people familiar so it's down to you to do the searching. That may also answer your question if grassies are there, by putting in the time to check out places. Mark Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group. |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466 View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 06 Dec 2006 ok but we have to all start first,its were to look wales is a huge place,are they in open fields,if so were do they bask? http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
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Suzi Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 860 View other posts by Suzi |
Posted: 06 Dec 2006 James, I'm sure we all want to help you but Mark is right when he says you've got to put the time in yourself. If you manage to get hold of any of the books that Gemma recommended that will help with the sort of places to look. Also the Identification page on this website says where they're likely to be found. Have you tried doing searches on the Internet? There are other herp websites and they can help. Going back to this website there are lots of forums on various subjects and if you look through them you'll find areas described that have different reptiles. Generally speaking rougher areas like moors and heaths are good for reptiles - but so are woodland edges. Very agricultural areas are not so good usually. Coastal rough strips can be good for adders but less so for grass snakes. They are usually not far from ponds. If you knew the exact spot to find them wouldn't that take some of the fun out of it? I don't know if it's been suggested (probably) but maybe best to join a reptile and amphibian group to go out in the field and get a feel for the sort of territory that they might be found in. Or volunteer to do some sort of reserve management e.g. RSPB. You'll find from chatting to people where likely spots are.
Suz |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466 View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 06 Dec 2006 well in my site theres ponds and the sea,im very excited and intrested but i still doubt i will see one,my mums friend seen a adder were im going but she said only that it moved id of sen it camoflaged was fantastic.i would spend days looking but my mum wouldnt spend forever.for crimbo i will be getting some books on the adder. http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
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arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445 View other posts by arvensis |
Posted: 07 Dec 2006 Well if there's Adders at the site, then it might be worth asking your mum's friend where exactly she saw it. This would give you an idea on one of the habitats where they might occur. Theres a North West Wales Amphibian and Reptile Group. Google it and it should come up with a page and contact details. It may be worth contacting them to see if they give you pointers on where to look. Mark Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group. |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466 View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 07 Dec 2006 yes shes going to ask her, and ill email,but i doubt ill get a response. http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
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reptilelover1 Member Joined: 24 Oct 2006 No. of posts: 26  View other posts by reptilelover1 |
Posted: 01 Jan 2007 Hi grassie i genrally find on pond edges and lizards on wood piles and rocks I cant wait till summer so i can go study and look for reptiles try in the morning round about 10 - 11 because they will be basking and you will have more of a chance .... good luck and i hoped i have helped you
jordan jordie g |
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james4 Senior Member Joined: 13 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 466 View other posts by james4 |
Posted: 01 Jan 2007 great good tips.ill be doing that next year. http://ukreptiles.proboards55.com |
- intresting - common lizard |