Anglesey Slow Worms

I have made a few trips to Anglesey, N. Wales over the last couple of years, hoping to catch sight of the adders there. I have still had no luck with berus on the island, but so far lots of common lizards and slow worms.

Talacre

Last weekend I visited Talacre in North Wales, in the hoping of spotting more sand lizards. The dunes here are also home to a population of natterjack toad. It was a family day out and so only casual herping was possible over a limited area, and I had to content myself with several common lizards.

Lacerta agilis, Sefton

The Sefton coast is one of my a favourite spots for a family day out, not least due to the chance of spotting a sand lizard - not an easy task with two noisy children around. I have managed to get the occasional glimpse though, and recently one even hung around long enough for a photo!

A stunning male sand lizard in breeding dress.

Lissotriton vulgaris

Adult male Smooth Newt (L. vulgaris) in breeding dress.

First Adder of the Year

Yesterday I made my first trip of the season to Cannock Chase. Unfortunately the weather was rather mixed and I only spotted a single adder before the rain set in. I managed a quick in-situ shot before he darted off.

Natrix natrix "persa" Staffordshire UK

Yesterday I visited a site in Staffordshire which is known to contain many striped individuals - believed by some to be feral Balkan grass snakes (N.n.persa). I found three specimens in total - one of which displayed typical persa traits, one typical British helvetica, and one possible intermediate form.

Two males photographed in situ. One typical N.n.helvetica and one possible helvetica/persa hybrid?

Typical British form (N.n.helvetica)

Persa phenotype.

Common Toad Breeding Season 2016

Lots of male Common Toads (B.bufo) out and looking for mates in Lancashire today. A few females around too, mostly with males in amplexus.

First Reptile of 2016

The sun was shining here is Cheshire today and I saw my first wild reptile of the year - Zootoca vivipara on the Sandstone Trail.

Captive Bred Natterjacks

I originally planned to keep this blog solely for wild herptiles, but have recently re-awakened an old interest of mine - keeping reptiles and amphibians in captivity. For many years since childhood I kept a wide range of exotics. Now my interests lies closer to home, with native British and European herps. I thought I would add a few photos of these animals that I now share my home and garden with.

I was very fortunate to acquire a young, captive bred group of Natterjack Toads (Epidalea calamita). Being heavily protected in the wild, this is a species that I have so far been unable to see in the wild. These animals are produced from captive bred stock with their origins in Germany.