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common lizard

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

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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 9th 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…

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What are our animals up to in January?

It is a pretty quiet month for our reptiles and amphibians with the odd frisky frog exception that may start spawning early. That said, the ever-increasingly erratic temperatures that come with climate change may influence how active they are as they do not hibernate as such, but ‘brumate’. Brumation is a period of dormancy like hibernation, but our wonderful species will take trips out of their hideaways to bask in the sun or have a quick snack in warmer weather.

This is an ideal time to think about how you can help these charismatic animals in the coming months and plan some habitat features in your garden. That area at the back of your garden with the extra garden waste you couldn’t fit in your compost heap could be added to or transformed into a log pile or Hibernaculum. That area you think that looks a mess with the long grass could be a winter home for some critters that need to be left alone for a little longer. Doing things like this saves you gardening in the cold, and you can always say it was an intentional creation of habitat for our deserving amphibians and reptiles.

So, on a warm day you may have a rare wintery glimpse of a common lizard basking or common frog topping up on their energy reserves. Happy spotting!

Always remember to record your amphibian and reptile sightings on our FREE Dragon Finder app. All the data collected is sent to the National Biodiversity Network Atlas. You can download the app here.

What our animals are doing this month …

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Springtime is a great time of year to try and spot a common lizard – so why not give it a go? Adult lizards emerge from their hibernation sites in early spring, with mating taking place around April/May. Females incubate their eggs inside their bodies and give birth to up to 11 live young later in the summer.

These fascinating reptiles are usually up to 15cm long and are often mistaken for newts (even though the common lizard has scaly skin rather than smooth skin). They are usually a brown colour, but they can be yellow, green or even black! Common lizards also have a pattern of spots or stripes down their back with males having a yellow or orange belly with black spots and females having a pale, unspotted belly.

This species is widespread throughout the UK, including Ireland, but can be quite hard to spot! They are agile and fast and will move away quickly if they have spotted you, so you will have to be extra quiet if you want to see one. Try looking further ahead rather than right in front of you. Download our ‘Surveying for Reptiles’ booklet for free from our website for more tips.

Where to spot them: The common lizard is mainly a ground dweller, but you can sometimes see them climbing. They like sunny, dry, exposed areas near dense cover so they can hide if they need to. Their favourite meals are worms, slugs, and insects – yum!

They also have the ability to lose their tails if being chased by a predator! How clever is that? They will be able to regrow their tail, but it is never as good as the original.

Living in Scotland and want to try and spot one? Flanders Moss near Stirling is a very good place to start!

Always remember to record your amphibian and reptile sightings on our FREE Dragon Finder app. All of the data collected is sent to the National Biodiversity Network Atlas. You can download the app here.

Reptiles in London

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Although London is a large urban landscape, it is home to a wide range of fauna and flora. One group of London wildlife that is often overlooked are the reptiles. London is home to four native reptile species: Adder, Grass Snake, Common Lizard and Slow-worm.  

If you are inspired to go out and look for London’s reptiles, here’s a couple of site suggestions for 3 of the most common species to find around the capital from courtesy of our London team.

Common Lizards:

  • Little Wormwood Scrubs, Kensington & Chelsea

Slow-worms:

  • Lesnes Abbey, Bexley

Grass Snakes:

  • WaterWorks Nature Reserve, Waltham Forest

Remember to report your reptile sightings (including juveniles and eggs) on our free Dragonfinder app. 

What our animals are up to this month… December 2020 Edition

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By December, our native reptiles and amphibians should be dormant and sheltering somewhere warm for the winter. Unlike other animals which hibernate through winter, amphibians and reptiles do not undergo true hibernation; instead they enter a state of reduced activity.

Common lizards are one of the opportunistic species that make the most of mild winter weather by coming out of dormancy for brief foraging bouts. They will use these warmer spells to hunt for invertebrates such as worms, spiders and slugs before returning to their overwintering site. This behaviour is becoming more common as we are experiencing warmer winters.

You can encourage common lizards to your own garden by creating piles of rocks or logs for them to shelter in. Growing a variety of plants or building an insect hotel nearby will also attract a range of insects for common lizards to feed on, and they will appreciate having this food source on hand to take advantage of during the warm spells!

Watch out for opportunistic common lizards foraging during brief periods of mild weather this winter and record sightings on the Dragon Finder app!

What our animals are doing this month… October 2020

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October is truly a season of change for our native flora and fauna. As the temperature drops, vegetation starts to die back and our days get shorter, our native amphibians and reptiles start to get ready to face the challenge of winter. 

Why is winter so challenging for our native Dragons?! Amphibians and reptiles are both ectotherms, meaning that they rely on external sources of body heat compared to endotherms, such as mammals, which are capable and dependent on internal generation of heat. This means that amphibians and reptiles have to find a way to navigate through the drop in external temperature, frozen watery homes, reduction in water oxygen levels and, often unforgiving, winter weather.

Each species has clever adaptions and behavioural changes that they go through each year between September and November for them to survive this wintery challenge.

It is a common misconsception that all amphibians and reptiles hibernate over winter, even though they will all be seeking hibernacula at a similar time, the type they need can differ from species to species as well as if they hibernate or overwinter.  For example, the common lizard will be spending October feeding on invertebrates in preparation for winter before hibernating, often in groups, amongst rocks or dead wood.

Common Lizard

Whereas, our newt species overwinter and go dormant under rocks or buried in mud, but take advantage of milder weather to forage.

Palmate Newt

For more info on what individual species do over winter have a look at our fatastic amphibian and reptile fact files! Click here!

By early October most of our reptile species will have entered their winter hibernation. The majority of the UKs reptile species will have favoured hibernating sites, such as the Adder who will return to their wintering sites that they use each year. With Adders often basking in the last of the autumnal sunshine until the end of October when they become dormant for the colder months.

Adder

Some species, particularly slow-worms, common lizards and grass snakes, will make use of piles of dead logs, leaves or compost for the winter. It is important that reptiles are not disturbed during their hibernation period since it takes them longer to recover if they have to become active.

An amazing way to help our fantastic amphibians and reptiles is to consider them when planning your wildlife garden. One of my favourite things to do is create a hibernaculum, an amazing space for all amphibians and reptiles to hunt, forage and of course over winter. They are so simple to do and can make such a difference! If you are short on space you could also make a ‘toad home’!

Would you like to create more overwintering ad hibernating homes for wildlife? Create new habitats for emerging amphibians and reptiles in Spring?

Download our FREE Wildlife Pond Visualizer App, learn what you can do for nature and try out the fantastic Augmented Reality Feature!

For more information click here. Download here

We would love to see pictures of all your hard work! Send in your before and after photos or gardening selifes to info@froglife.org