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Wither the frogs?
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Here at ARC, we often answer enquiries about frogs… especially, of course, in Spring – because that’s when they turn up in our ponds to meet mates and spawn. Afterwards, they’re often pretty tired and hungry and leave the ponds to forage for slugs and insects, to build up their energy reserves ready for hibernation and next year’s breeding! But this year, there was a very rainy period, then cold and windy, followed by hot and dry weather and it has made some of them change behaviour.
Here in deepest Shropshire, at least, I’ve literally never seen so many frogs of all ages and sizes in and around my small ponds at this time of year. The reason seems to be that their normal, terrestrial foraging behaviour would at the moment mean they risk drying out – so it’s much more sensible for them to stay in and around the pond where they can take a cool swim whenever they need to rehydrate… and this is probably exacerbated by the reaction of many insects to the recent weather patterns: there has been a lack of caterpillars and other insects whose lifecycles have been delayed. So, the frogs gain an extra benefit from hanging around ponds for longer – a buffet of hoverflies and other tasty bugs dropping in to feed from the flowers of the aquatic plants that are just coming into bloom!
Photo: Frogs on John’s pond bank amongst the grass and water forget-me-not © JWW. Have you noticed a change in behaviour in and around your garden pond? We would be very interested to hear about it through our Garden Dragon Watch survey www.arc-trust.org/gardendragon-watch. Your contribution will help us to map garden reptiles and amphibians and we will report back on what people are finding.
Monitoring dragons: from St. David’s to Monmouth!
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation’s new Monitoring Dragons project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, aims to establish a network of long term monitoring sites across southern Wales.
A key element of this project is the training and mentoring of new and existing citizen scientists in herpetofauna survey techniques, and facilitating the use of their newfound skills, including how to use innovative new recording technologies (mobile data collection). Volunteers will be trained in specific survey techniques for the species of interest to them, be it visual searches for reptiles, or searching for great crested newts under torchlight.
Evidence suggests that herpetofauna populations are declining worldwide, with habitat loss and fragmentation being key drivers. Amphibians and reptiles in Wales face the same threats, but these can be very difficult to assess due to a lack of longterm monitoring data – which the new project aims to address. The project will include all species of herpetofauna found in southern Wales, but will focus on three priority species, the adder, common toad and great crested newt. We have identified a wide range of target survey sites in all local authority areas in south Wales, from national parks to post-industrial brownfield sites.
"Volunteers will be matched to Welsh monitoring sites in our pilot network and supported with the tools and skills required by our field officers, beyond the initial survey, so it’s a great way for people to find out about their local area and develop their ecological skills.” Said ARC project officer George Mee:
“Monitoring sites established during this project will be used for years to come, providing invaluable data to researchers, NGOs and Statutory Nature Conservation organisations, building a brighter future for amphibians and reptiles in Wales.”
Helping hand for Hurtwood sand lizards
By Bryony Davison - Weald Field Officer & Volunteer Coordinator
In mid-May, ARC volunteers joined me to release sixteen sand lizards as part of ARC’s sand lizard captive breeding and reintroduction program (which is carried out under licence from Natural England).
ARC maintains a captive breeding population of native Surrey Weald race sand lizards which have been reintroduced to areas where suitable habitat has been created, and appropriate surveys have been carried out over successive years to ensure the site meets the requirements for a licenced reintroduction.
This site falls within the historical range of the sand lizard and they were present in the area until relatively recently, but due to habitat degradation the population has dwindled. ARC has worked hard to return the habitat to an optimal sand lizard environment and now we are in a position to release young lizards here to ensure the continued survival of the population.
The lizards released were bred in 2020 and they have been given a head start being larger than their wild compatriots would be at the same age. They did not hibernate over the winter but were kept active and have had six months more feeding time than the wild juveniles have. Being larger than regular yearlings, they will be able to take bigger prey items which gives them more feeding options. This also means they are less likely to be a snack for smaller predators. Their chance of survival in the big wide heathland ecosystem is promising.
This is the first of a three year release program which, based on the evidence of many years of sand lizard translocations carried out by ARC, will ensure that the sand lizard population has the best possible chance of success.
If you are interested in volunteering for ARC in the Weald please contact Bryony Davison bryony.davison@arc-trust.org or phone 07388 948868. We have some great news from our colleagues at Dorset Council! A female sand lizard has been spotted at Black Heath near Dorchester, meaning this site is now home to all six UK reptile species. It is believed this individual has naturally colonised from an adjacent site where ARC and partners have recently completed a programme of sand lizard reintroductions. Find out more about our work to conserve sand lizards at
www.arc-trust.org/saving-sand-lizard
Female spotted on site © Daisy Meadowcroft.
What’s new with the ARC crew?
By Angela Reynolds - Editor
ARC continues to grow as we leap in to the second half of the year.
We welcome Fiona Hayes as she replaces Ralph Connolly to become part of the Wealden Field Team as Field Officer. Fiona has worked previously for Surrey Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation.
George Mee has taken up the role of Monitoring Dragons Project Officer on a short term contract in South Wales. George will be joining the Connecting the Dragons team once the project ends, job sharing with Mark Barber, who has just started working part-time as Biodiversity Officer at Swansea Council.
We have three new staff to introduce in Norfolk, currently working their socks off with the new Pool Frog Recovery Project. Dr John Baker leads the team as Pool Frog Recovery Project Manager alongside Ben King as Project Officer and Emily Jordan as Project Assistant. You can read all about what they have been getting up to on page 10.
Rachael Maddison is our newest recruit and will be working alongside Dr Andrew Buxton and the Newt Conservation Partnership team to deliver compensation habitat for the great crested newt District Licensing scheme.
And finally, it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our Gems in the Dunes duo as the project comes to its end. Farewell Fiona Sunners and Andrew Hampson. We are so sad to be losing you. We hope we can work alongside you again in the future.
