Hampshire is fortunate that the county covers a huge geographic area and a very diverse breadth of habitat including: the Isle of Wight, the New Forest National Park, the South Downs National Park, as well as many other unspoiled areas, including Woolmer Forest.
It is therefore unsurprising that we are host to 12 out of the 13 native amphibians and reptiles in UK, including rarities such as the Natterjack Toad, Sand Lizard and Smooth Snake, and wherever you live in the county there will be opportunities to survey and monitor an assemblage of amphibian and reptile species.
HIWARG is an newly affiliated independent ARG-UK group. The group focus is conservation of native UK species essentially around habitat management, surveying, public engagement, volunteer training & doing as much as possible to understand & protect the native species in the county.
All members are volunteers with a common interest.
If you have some spare time and would like to be involved with HIWARG, maybe you have taken a photo of a reptile or amphibian and would like it identified or maybe you have some other query, then please do get in contact info@hiwarg.org.uk
CONSERVATION THROUGH EMPATHY BY ENGAGEMENT
Edited by Sheila Dyason
Sorry for the long delay in sending out our latest newsletter. The survey season has been very busy with more than 40 survey transects now in place, so there is no excuse for not being able to survey a site near to you!
In April my daughter Cathy and I went to Millom, Cumbria to learn about surveying for Natterjack Toads. The course was run by ARC’s Yvette Martin and Ruth Popely. It was a fantastic and very enjoyable experience. We spent the afternoon indoors learning about Natterjack ecology, conservation and the law. Ruth had collected some toads so we could see them close-up...... (Subscribe to see more)
Meanwhile in Hampshire, Graeme Davis found these lizards near Brockenhurst and Pete West found this lovely Grass Snake at Fleet Pond...... (Subscribe to see more)
Pete West found a few Palmate Newts in a series of ponds on a local Hampshire Heath. He thinks it is amazing how any larva survive...... (Subscribe to see more)
......the Vanishing Viper conference was a really fantastic experience with some very interesting perspectives from European colleagues. It was great to catch up with so many people dedicated to finding solutions. (Subscribe to see more)
Gillian Pullinger took some photos from the Bioblitz event at Basing Wood. HIWARG had their stand there, showing the animals to members of the public and raising funds with exciting items for sale, and also helped with walks and pond-dipping activities.... (Subscribe to see more)
In September the saga of Wally the turtle began. Pete West tells the story....Apparently, the Egret became very interested in some ripples close to the water’s edge. As the ripples came closer to the shore my brother could see a small shape above the water and a creature emerged showing itself to be a turtle or terrapin.... (Subscribe to see more)
HIWARG members have attended village fetes and shows over the summer to give members of the public the opportunity to see herps close-up and to learn about their conservation needs. It is hoped that next year more members will volunteer to participate with these events.
Jon Cranfield gave a talk on American Bullfrogs and African Clawed Toads at the Invasive Non-native Species Workshop at Brockenhurst. It was a very good talk and well-received.
Adders on the brink – Britain’s Vanishing Viper - Josh Phangurha
It’s hard to describe in words the concoction of thoughts and feelings that adders resonate through me. Their admirable ability to emerge on chilly days in February (or sometimes earlier), even if there is snow on the ground and temperatures are near 0°C, give a true sense of extraordinary hardiness in the ectothermic animal kingdom. Their exquisite markings rival the intricacy of any British bird or butterfly, which is especially evident in the males who can boast bright silvery colouration with a highly contrasting, dorsal black zigzag that runs along the length of the body. As if that wasn’t dashing enough, their eyes are a piercing crimson red, giving them a somewhat falsely menacing appearance..... (Subscribe to see more)
Future events
* HIWARG Social and AGM Saturday November 23rd 1 – 4 pm at Twyford Village Hall
Please join us for the HIWARG 2019 Year-end social. TICKET BOOKINGS:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2019-year-end-social-agm-tickets-72908809211
The afternoon is certain to be a special networking event providing an update on the last year's activities as well as details on our plans for the 2020 season. Tea, coffee & cakes will be provided.
We also have special speakers presenting on some unusual & interesting topics:
- Steve Allain on his Midwife Toad Project
- Josh Phangurha on his trip to Mexico and encouraging new HIWARG members
Attendance is free, but we do ask that you register in order for us to plan & cater appropriately.
Ticket numbers are limited so please be sure to book your ticket soon via Eventbrite.
Habitat Management
Herp habitat management with a range of land managers at various sites. For more details see https://www.facebook.com/groups/455730808110700/
As always, our core communication methods remains via the HIWARG Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/455730808110700/ ) & the HIWARG website. I encourage you if you have not yet done so to please bookmark & visit both for the latest news & events information.
And if you have not yet don’t so, please subscribe to HIWARG as a member via this website. Your subscription donation helps us acquire much needed equipment for use during our planned activities and will help to broaden the range of activities & events we can offer.
Latest newsletter has been emailed to subscribed HIWARG members.
Toad patrols are currently in full swing. The recent warm weather has woken the herps earlier than usual and the wet weather has many of them heading towards their breeding ponds, putting toads & newts in harms way as they try to cross busy roads during peak traffic periods.
There are many toad patrols looking for additional volunteers.
Currently we have people active in the New Forest, Eastleigh & Basingstoke areas.
Please see our Facebook group for more details.
We are holding a HARG committee meeting at the Golden Lion in Winchester (http://www.thegoldenlionwinchester.co.uk) at 1:00pm on Saturday 3rd June.
We will meet over lunch, and sort out the business end of the committee until 3:00 pm. This will be followed by a walk on the Butterfly Conservation reserve at Magdalen Hill Down (http://butterfly-
All are welcome, but please do contact us on info@arguk.org if you wish to come so that we can book a big enough space for us all.
Great news - our SE Amphibian and Reptile Groups meeting on 12th January 2019 (10.00 - 16.00) at Marwell Zoo, is now open for bookings.
We have space for just 109 delegates so if you wish to come, get signed up as soon as you can. We have a fantastic programme with all of the local ARGs contributing as well as some special guests! We'll be hearing about all our native herps from smooth snakes and adders to frogs and common toads, and it will be a great opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues.
And best of all, thanks to the generosity of Marwell Wildlife and SARG, we've been able to keep ticket prices as low as possible (just £10 full price and £6 for the unwaged) so all our wonderful volunteers can come. Book now - and we'll see you there!!
Book here:
Details will be posted on the members calendar
Help Amphibian & Reptile Conservation's Field Team with a heathland management task on the disused Burley railway embankment, New Forest.
Dates: Tuesday 15th January and 16th January 2019.
Meeting point: Burbush car park, Pound Lane (south west of Burley) at grid reference SU 202 018.
Meet up time in car park 10 am - phone in advance or just turn up on either day! All volunteers will then be taken to the site together. If you get delayed or just want to attend for the afternoon, please phone one of the ARC Field Team on arrival.
ARC contact numbers: Nick Moulton (07810 184507) or Rick Sharp (07810 770565), although note that reception may be poor for some networks. This area supports all six reptile species and is also very important for invertebrates.
Management will include tree and scrub clearance mostly using hand tools - any chainsaw work will be done by the ARC Field Team in a separate area.
The ARC field team usually work until 3 - 4 pm, although volunteers can stay as long as they wish on either or both days!
Bring warm (old) clothes, good walking boots, gloves, waterproofs, lunch and drinks.
Some hand tools will be available for HIWARG volunteers to use, but do bring your own bow saws or bill hooks if you have them.
NB: if the weather is very poor on either day volunteers should re-consider attending as the embankment has a steep slope in places that becomes slippery when wet.
IF ABLE TO HELP, PLEASE CONTACT ME & I WILL FORWARD TERESA'S DETAILS.
She rescued 1254 toads last year which is really good with so few volunteers! She really would appreciate some support and extra volunteers.
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"Re the toads crossing!
They will start to cross anytime now if the temperature reaches 6 degrees upwards and wind chill the same.
We only do it when the temperature is 6 degrees upwards, we start at dusk, that’s when the toads start to cross, we do it in a car with a driver and a helper as the road is a mile long plus the toads are more visible in head lights.
We all wear fluorescent jackets and a sign in the back saying “toad patrol”.
We do it every night if the temperatures are right.
Most patrollers sign up for one night a week but only go if it’s 6 degrees upwards. I hope this information is useful!
Also all our patrollers are aware that the toads play a very important part of the Eco System!
Thank you very very much for your help in finding volunteers. Kind regards Teresa "
Details will be posted on the members calendar. Will confirm whether Sat or Sun.
Scrub Clearance work task. Excellent chance to make life a little better for the herps emerging in sping.
Full details on the HIWARG Facebook group.
Joint Scrub Clearance task on FC Heath Warren, near Eversley alongside the Forestry Commission, RSPB and Thames Basin Heaths Partnership. This site is of particular interest as it features a population, albeit non-native, of Pool Frogs.
Full details on the HIWARG Facebook group.
Event link & details: https://www.arc-trust.org/Event/hwm2019
Details will be posted on the members calendar. Will confirm whether Sat or Sun.
Herp Identification - downloadable colour charts
Amphibian Identification - downloadable colour cards
Newt Eggs & Larvae - downloadable colour cards
Reptile Identification - downloadable colour cards
Dogs & Adders - downloadable advice sheet.
Improving Herp habitat
Creating Garden Ponds - downloadable booklet
Herp diseases - recognise & report
Snake Fungal Disease
Toad fly (Lucilia bufonivora)
Amphibian Chytridiomycosis
Ranavirus Disease
Reptile Slough Genebank - collection & submission of found sloughs
Other
Useful glossary of terms often used within the herpetological field. (Credit due - unknown)
Kids stuff - Educational items for the young ones
Pond pack Animal fact sheets Animal colouring sheets
If you would like more information about HIWARG or have something to share with us, please get in touch via the link to our social media presence.
Upcoming events will be listed here.
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