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Croaking Science: 2023 so far- what have we learned from the Dragon Finder App?

February 27, 2023 by Will Johanson

As we fast approach the spring and our amphibians and reptiles begin to stir after their winter period of relative dormancy (known as brumation) we can expect sightings to increase in frequency. Whilst the occasional pioneering common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) or adder (Vipera berus) will emerge from their hibernacula to bask in winter sun, it’s the UK’s amphibians that bring the most herptile activity to this time of the year. This is reflected in the sightings that have been reported to Froglife’s Dragon Finder App so far in 2023.

At the time of writing (mid-February 2023), we’ve verified 42 reports submitted to the App; 24 sightings of common frogs (Rana temporaria), 6 encounters with common toads (Bufo bufo), 8 palmate newt sightings (Lissotriton helveticus), 2 smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) sightings and 1 sighting of a great-crested newt (Triturus cristatus) and an alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris) respectively.

All this amphibian action heralds the commencement of their breeding season. Common frogs lead the charge; the earliest report of frogspawn this year came to us from the Isles of Scilly, 45km south-west of mainland Cornwall, reported to us on the 9^th January yet seen on Christmas Eve! UK common frogs spawn earliest here due to the archipelago’s unique climate – the moderating oceanic influence on which means that winters are warmer there than anywhere else in the UK and consequently snow and frost (potentially detrimental to spawn) are rare. We’ve received a total of 11 frogspawn reports so far in 2023, with the majority of these coming from Devon & Cornwall, reflecting the relatively warm winters experienced by the southwest more broadly. We’re now looking forward to witnessing reports of frogspawn slowly popping up in increasingly northerly and easterly locations as we pass through February and into March and April.

We’ve received 6 reports of common toads, but only one of common toad spawn, reported from Devon. Interestingly, the Dragon Finder App user that made this sighting was also able to spot a number of instances of a frog and toad engaged with one-another in ‘amplexus’, the act of the male using rough nuptial or ‘thumb’ pads to clasp onto the female whilst she deposits spawn. Common toads often begin to migrate to their ancestral breeding ponds from February, waiting for a comparatively warm and wet evening to do so.

Therefore, be sure to keep a keen eye out for reptiles and amphibians as the winter draws to a close and make sure to report your sightings through our free Dragon Finder App – the data we receive provides a wonderful insight into what our species are up to, as well as when and where this activity is occurring. Happy spotting!

What our animals are doing this month…

August 30, 2022 by admin

In the UK we have three native species of snake: the adder, grass snake and smooth snake.

Adders can be up to 80cm in length and have a rather ‘stocky’ body. They are very distinct and can be identified by their zigzag pattern down the centre of their back and either a ’V’ or ’X’ marking on their head. They also have a vertical pupil and red iris. Grass snakes on the other hand, can be up to 150cm long! They are a grey-green colour with a yellow and black collar and dark bars along the side of their body. Grass snake’s eyes also have a circular pupil.

Adders have a very distinctive ‘X’ or ‘Y’ shape on the tops of their heads

Grass snakes are the UK’s only egg-laying snake (grass snakes are not often found in Scotland and are mainly further south in Dumfries and Galloway), and they will have already laid their eggs in June/July with the eggs hatching in late August/early September. From September onwards as we head into Autumn, grass snakes will be preparing for winter, hunting for amphibians or fish in ponds, canals, and reservoirs. However, the adder will be giving birth to live young in August/September. Litters can range from three to twenty and the young will stay with their mother for a few days before fending for themselves. Adders like to spend their time in undisturbed habitats such as moorland, heathland, and woodland.

The smooth snake is the UK’s rarest reptile and is only found on the heathlands of Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex. Their name comes from the fact the scales are smooth and flat, unlike the Grass Snake’s and Adder’s scales which have a ridge down the middle. They are a shy, secretive snake.

Female smooth snakes incubate their eggs internally and ‘give birth’ to 4-15 live young around September. The rest of the year is spent hunting for lizards, rodents and sometimes invertebrates; prey is subdued by constriction. Smooth snakes tend to bask entwined in heather, where they are well camouflaged, or under other objects.

Have you seen a snake near you? Are you able to identify it using the identification features above (we would be particularly interested in any sightings of grass snakes in Scotland)?

Make sure to record it on our Dragon Finder App, available for free on Android and Apple devices. You can download it here. All of the data collected is shared with the National Biodiversity Network and is available to view on their atlas here.

Adder Safety

February 28, 2022 by admin

It’s the time of year again when the weather is getting warmer, days are getting longer and its time to start exploring the outdoors again! Walks in the countryside are fantastic for our mental wellbeing and physical fitness, it is also the time when reptiles are active again too.

Few people realise that the UK is home to several species of snake, one particular species the adder is commonly spotted in North Yorkshire, but as they are our only native venomous snake they aren’t loved by everybody.

In fact, historically, adders have been heavily persecuted and remain in decline across 90% of their range. Though Yorkshire remains a stronghold for the species, with favourite habitats such as heathland and wooded valleys found in the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. Conservation efforts by Froglife in the area help raise awareness and educate people that adders need a bit of love, but a lot of respect too.

Only around 50 people are bitten by adders each year, usually because they provoked the adder while trying to get a better view. The vast majority of cases. If you do find an adder, it is great to get excited but give the adder some space while you take your photo and move on (upload it to Dragon Finder after of course!). Adders are in fact a greater threat towards dogs that enjoy playing in long grass where adders may be resting, with 100 dogs bitten each year by adders. Froglife recommends keeping your dog on a lead if adders could be present. If the worst does happen, adder bites can be treated with antihistamines and pain killers but prevention is better than cure.

Everybody enjoys spending time outdoors, dogs included but wildlife also needs to be respected. So enjoy the Yorkshire countryside this Spring and send your reptile records to us as well so we can better protect them!

What our animals are doing this month…

February 28, 2022 by admin

This month we’re talking about one of our native reptile species. Adults are usually 60-80cm in length and have a stocky body. Females are generally a light brown with dark brown markings, whilst males are generally grey with black markings. This species has a zigzag pattern down the centre of the back and a ‘V’ or ‘X’ shaped marking on their head. Have you guessed what it is yet? Yes, it is the Adder!

This fascinating species is the UK’s only venomous snake, and they are found throughout the UK, even in the far north of Scotland – although they are not found in Ireland. You might struggle to spot Adders due to their camouflaged markings; they can certainly go unnoticed.

Adders emerge from hibernation in March/April and then mating will take place in April/May. The male Adder is territorial and to compete for females, males will often ‘dance’ a duel!

In March as they emerge, they will be hungry so have to start hunting for food. Adders are mostly active in the day, and this is when hunting takes place. They will hunt small mammals, amphibians, insects and even birds. The Adder will kill its prey with its venomous bite and then swallow the prey whole!

Discovering Reptiles with Citizen Science

January 27, 2022 by Mirran Trimble

Reptile conservation within the UK is currently facing a big challenge; the lack of data. To develop targeted and effective conservation strategies, it is essential to have sufficient data on the species you want to conserve. This presents a real problem for UK reptiles, as there is very little public data available. However, we can remedy this if more people are aware of our wonderful native reptiles, any and all sightings are recorded, and survey effort is increased across the UK.

Every single reptile sighting, whether it is a one-off chance encounter or a planned survey, provides a valuable data point. So, how can you turn your wildlife encounter into useable data? Well, we’ve made it quick and easy for you with our free Froglife Dragon Finder App! Whenever you spot a reptile (or amphibian!), simply record your sighting on the app there and then.

If you are not sure you can ID the animal in front of you, not to worry. The app is full of information and ID tips to help. You can also select ‘Identify Species’ on the home page and you will be led through a series of questions to a final species ID. Download the app today for free, or find out more about it here! If you’re still unsure, try to take a photo or make a note of the animal’s appearance, and send this to mirran.trimble@froglife.org. Mirran is the Discovering Reptiles Project Officer, and she can help you identify any reptile sightings.

Citizen science is a key tool for collecting data and building the scientific knowledge needed to develop conservation strategies. For reptiles, citizen science has huge potential to make a real difference moving forward. If you know there are species in your garden, allotment or local green space, go find them and record your sightings! If you’d like to go a step further, we desperately need more people undertaking reptile surveys across the UK. These are straightforward to do and you can commit as much or little time as you have. To learn more about how to survey for reptiles, see our handy online guide here.

We can all do our bit to protect the UK’s native reptiles, and the Dragon Finder App has made it easier than ever to contribute! All sightings recorded on the Dragon Finder App will help us to build a more accurate picture of reptiles in the UK and develop appropriate conservation priorities. All recordings uploaded onto our app are also sent to the National Biodiversity Network and are publicly available.

What our animals are doing this month….

March 25, 2021 by Mirran Trimble

Adders emerge from brumation in March and April and begin breeding shortly after. Rival males compete for females by performing a dance-like duel where they rise up and wrestle each other to the ground. Although this is an aggressive behaviour between two males, it can look very elegant and is sometimes mistaken for a courtship ritual.

Females incubate eggs internally and ‘give birth’ to live young. They will sometimes mate with multiple males in a breeding season, and some years will not breed at all if conditions are not right.

Adders are venomous, but their bites are rare and generally not serious. They are shy and will only bite as a last resort if threatened. Saying that, adder bites are most common at this time of year. This is because they can be particularly sluggish as they emerge from brumation, and if they are approached by a person or animal and unable to escape quickly enough, they may resort to biting. This can be avoided, however, if we don’t try to approach or handle them.

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