 © David Hardaker
Male Sand Lizard
In 2006 the Amphibian and Reptiles Group is concentrating on surveying Sand Lizards in North Merseyside.
The history of the Sand Lizard on the Sefton coast is well documented and there is plenty of evidence to suggest that it was once fairly common in our area. Past collecting and loss of habitat has however contributed to a significant fall in the population and recent estimates have placed the present population at between 250 and 300 animals. Recent constant effort monitoring of a small number of sites by the Merseyside ARG has shown some results which have demonstrated cause for optimism.  In close association with HCT and John Newton, Dave Hardaker and Mike Brown have recorded in excess of 80 adults and 27 yearlings up to the end of September 2006 In close association with HCT and John Newton, Dave Hardaker and Mike Brown have recorded in excess of 80 adults and 27 yearlings up to the end of September 2006.
It was decided to look closely at a few sites to attempt to establish as accurate as possible population estimates. It is likely that we are seeing not more than one in three animals at any one site as they can be surprisingly elusive. This gives and estimated population of approximately 250 adults in our study area alone. Given the size of the Sefton coast and the amount of suitable habitat we have not covered as well as the sites where Sand Lizards are known to exist, the recent pessimistic population estimates are likely to be significantly out.  It seems the Sand Lizard is still pretty well established in our area and the population is much more likely to be well in excess of 1000 adults across the dune systemIt seems the Sand Lizard is still pretty well established in our area and the population is much more likely to be well in excess of 1000 adults across the dune system.
Whilst this may be good news it still has to be remembered that this is still significantly down on past estimates as recently as the sixtiesit still has to be remembered that this is still significantly down on past estimates as recently as the sixties. Sand Lizards are fully protected under the wildlife protection act, but they are vulnerable to change and if anything we need to build upon this work and ensure that habitats are maintained and attempt to establish sustainable populations through sensible habitat maintenance and conservation.
It is hoped that the ARG will work closely with Merseyside BAP and continue with the monitoring work well into the future. All records and data are sent to HCT head office and all work is carried out using the appropriate English Nature licencing.
A more detailed account of this year's work will appear later in the year.
Dave Hardaker  © Mike Brown
Common Lizard
The so-called Common Lizard does not appear to be very common in North Merseyside. In fact, we've probably seen as many specimens of its larger relation, the Sand Lizard, during the past year. But how many Common Lizards live unseen by human eyes?.
Typical habitats for Common lizards are dry, sunny places with plenty of basking spots such as logs, fence posts and rocks, but with plenty of cover in the form of bushes, ivy, heather or brambles.
Common Lizards do appear to be reasonably plentiful in areas close to the sea North of LiverpoolCommon Lizards do appear to be reasonably plentiful in areas close to the sea North of Liverpool, and in some places they even co-exist with Sand Lizards. However, searches in apparently suitable areas of habitat inland have so far produced very few recordssearches in apparently suitable areas of habitat inland have so far produced very few records. We would be very grateful for any observations of this attractive animal. The adults are only about 15 cm. in length with full tails and they could be present in scrubland, heathland, road and railway banks or even in gardens. Spring and early Summer is a good time to look. In late Summer, females give birth to live young (hence the alternative name of Viviparous Lizard) and these are a very dark colour and only about 3 cm. long at first, but grow rapidly and are the last to disappear for the Winter.
Mike Brown  © Paul Bellis
Female Slow-worm
The third species of lizard which is native to Britain, the legless
slow-worm, is unfortunately rarely encountered in the wild within
Merseyside. In fact the only definitely wild specimens encoutered in recent
years have been on private railway sites in the Southport area. However,
slow-worms can be seen in parts of Lancashire not too far away from our
area, such as the Trough of Bowland.
Slow-worms have a very smooth, shiny appearance, making them look like they
are cast in silver or bronze. This is different from snakes, which seem more
scaly. Another distinguishing feature is that slow-worms have eye lids,
although it needs close inspection to notice this. They can reach a maximum
length of up to about a foot and a half (45mm.) but over half of this is
tail. They readily shed their tails in typical lizard manner, however, if
attacked by a predator or in fights between rival males, and many slow-worms
have a 'stumpy' appearance as a result. Female slow-worms are more
distinctly marked than males, although the males sometimes have spots which
can be blue in some populations.
It isn't often that slow-worms are seen in the open, as, unlike typical
lizards, they spend little time basking in the sun, except in early Spring.
They live in similar habitats however, and often lie underneath flat rocks,
pieces of wood, metal and other debris. Slow-worms also burrow readily in
soft ground, although whether this is in pursuit of one of their favourite
prey items, the earthworm, or for pure pleasure is not certain. They also
find the white slug highly delicious, and are a gardener's best friend.
Slow-worms often turn up in compost heaps as well.
Because of their rather subterranean existence, slow-worms are difficult
creatures to study. When picked up, they never bite, but care has to be
taken to avoid causing these beautiful creatures to shed their tails.
Mike Brown  © Richard Burkmar/MEAS
Natterjack Toad
Members of the NMARG visited the spawning areas around Ainsdale regularly during the spring of 2006. The ponds were particularly full this year after a very wet springThe ponds were particularly full this year after a very wet spring and strong numbers of males were calling on many of the evenings when visits were made, particularly when it was warm. The first busy wave of spawning took place in the latter half of April, continuing into May. The worrying cold of the early spring was the main concern as often the spawn strings can be subject fungus and rot in certain conditionsThe worrying cold of the early spring was the main concern as often the spawn strings can be subject fungus and rot in certain conditions. However the bonus was the ponds stayed wet enough for metamorphosis to take place and in fact this year saw an excellent toadlet exodus into the surrounding vegetation which continued well into the summerin fact this year saw an excellent toadlet exodus into the surrounding vegetation which continued well into the summer. At some of the better ponds they were in the thousands.
Research has shown that natterjacks need only to breed successfully at any one site approximately one year in four to maintain a steady populationResearch has shown that natterjacks need only to breed successfully at any one site approximately one year in four to maintain a steady population. However given the dry winters the concern has been in recent years the water levels in spring and if the ponds can remain wet enough for long enough. The fact that the ponds dry up later is good for killing off predators but the timing of the drying up is critical.
Next spring the group will be organising a 'Natterjack Evening' to see and hear natterjacks in the field in mid/late April.
Dave Hardaker  © Peter Wakely/Natural England
Great Crested Newt
When NMARG was formed early in 2004, it was, in part, as a remedy for the paucity of records for any of our local amphibian and reptile wildlife. Such records that we were aware of were either apocryphal or historic and not always of sound provenance. We knew of nobody in the area holding a DEFRA licence. The problems needed to be addressed. Spring 2004 saw two of the group awarded licences and so the work began on Great Crested NewtsSpring 2004 saw two of the group awarded licences and so the work began on Great Crested Newts.
The first historical site, last record 1985, was found to be no longer extant. A licence holder had last surveyed the second, on an old railway siding, in 2000. Bottle trapping revealed that larvae and sub adults were present. Since that date site entry became quite problematic. A problem I am pleased to say has been remedied in the last 24 months. Several surveys using both egg search and dipping have not found any evidence of Great Crested Newt since then.
A third site, in parkland, had often been quoted as a good Great Crested Newt site. The site consists of two ponds with a ditch both between them and continuing to the nearby lake. When I first egg searched this area in 2004 both ponds showed that Great Crested Newts were present and breeding. 2005 confirmed that the site was still giving proof of a breeding colony. By 2006 the two ponds and the ditch both between them and continuing to the lake gave proof of breeding activityBy 2006 the two ponds and the ditch both between them and continuing to the lake gave proof of breeding activity. There is a proposal by a local secondary school, to conduct a population survey of this important site.
For the fourth site we must return to Halewood. One pond here has had authenticated records since 1999. I have surveyed it every season since 2004 and found it to be a good working breeding site to date. A nearby pond was surveyed in 1999 by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and claimed a Great Crested Newt colony. This particular pond did not show any evidence of being populated until 2006. When I dipped it this year I caught two gravid females. The site is being used again. Is this proof that metapopulations change sites or poor recording? Further monitoring may tell us the answersIs this proof that metapopulations change sites or poor recording? Further monitoring may tell us the answers.
Although the number of sites in South Merseyside is low they have, in the main, proved that they are sustainable. The monitoring will continue, and as always the search for additional sites.
In 2004/5 further monitoring was carried out for this species in a known stronghold on the Sefton coastIn 2004/5 further monitoring was carried out for this species in a known stronghold on the Sefton coast. Many of the ponds between Freshfield and Birkdale contained both adults and tadpoles of this species very often sharing habitat with Common Newt, Common Frog, Natterjack and Common Toad. This population appears reasonably stable and has been known to Dave Hardaker for at least twenty five years however little systematic monitoring appears to have been done until recently.
The methods included searching for adults and tadpoles by torchlight after dark as well as egg searching and dipping with netsThe methods included searching for adults and tadpoles by torchlight after dark as well as egg searching and dipping with nets. The best ponds appeared to be ones devoid of fish such as stickle-backsThe best ponds appeared to be ones devoid of fish such as stickle-backs. Animals were found in both large and often very small, quite shallow ponds and it was not unusual to see Crested Newt tadpoles and Natterjacks sharing the same water body, irrespective of size. The main hazards for these individuals seem to be early drying up of a pond and subsequent desiccation of young before metamorphosis. The benefits are fewer predators such as fish and the more aggressive beetle and dragonfly larvae die out. It was noticeable that the slightly larger ponds with fringe vegetation such as Juncus and Typha generally held more newt prey species such as Daphnia in the rotting pond base. As a result there were usually more tadpoles.
Many of the inner Birkdale dunes were systematically checked and surprisingly showed a zero return. This can be largely attributed to many of these ponds containing various fish species such as Goldfish, Roach and Sticklebacks which in smaller ponds find amphibian tadpoles easy prey. However many 'fishless' ponds did contain healthy populations of Common Newts and the surrounding habitat seems every bit as favourable as the near coastal areas. It may perhaps be that the busy coastal road has provided a barrier to the expansion of Great Crested Newt whilst Common Newts have possibly been longer established, probably before the road was built.
The Great Crested Newt has special status and is protected and licences are required to carry out research.
Dave Hardaker and Peter Tipping |
