Spring 2017

Spring is in the air! The local frogs have spawned and my own captive bred garden occupants are all emerging from their slumber. Here are some of my photos thus far...

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.