Please note that the two April great crested newt training courses have been cancelled and re-scheduled to May due to the unseasonally cold and wet weather.  Go to the Events pages for the more information on the courses on the new dates of 11/12 and 18/19 May.  The location of the course may also change if the site is flooded.  If you have already paid or registered interest for either of the courses, Nicky Green will get get in contact with you directly to update you on the situation.

Dear DRAG friends and members,
 
Sunday 24th March – Reptile survey training day, East Devon, time and location tbc
Learn how to ID our widespread reptiles, where to find them and what to do with your sightings. The training will be for half a day and will include a classroom session plus field visit. It will particularly useful for friends/members hoping to take part in nature reserve monitoring this summer. Cost £10, to register interest please contact me on email address below. If there is enough demand a second session will be held in north Devon.
 
At present we have only four people interested in attending this training day. If you are interested in coming please let me know by the end of Friday 15th March. If we do not get at least 12 people the event will be cancelled.

Nicky Green CEnv MIEEM
DRAG Chair
nicky@green-ecology.co.uk

I am running the Plymouth Half Marathon on April 28th 2013 to raise money for Cancer Research in memory of a dear friend and colleague.
Please donate to this worthy cause by visiting www.justgiving.com/Nicky-Green4

Hi all,

Here is some information about some up and coming events – hope you can make them!! Mabel is very busy organising further events for later in the summer which we’ll let you know about asap. There will also be the opportunity to monitor nature reserves – contact me if you’re interested..... This may be ideal for students wanting to do a dissertation on reptiles and/or amphibians or just anyone who is very keen!

Note that some events, indicated, are for DRAG members only. If you want to join DRAG, (it's free!) please contact Kim Leaver, Database Manager, on membership-drag@hotmail.co.uk.

Events update:

• February – March – Toad Patrols
  Unfortunately we don’t have a patrol coordinator this year but there are several active patrols in Devon being co-ordinated by Froglife www.froglife.org.uk If you want to help out with a patrol or start your own please contact them. Please report any sightings of toads on roads to Froglife and Ellie at DBRC eknott@devonwildlifetrust.org
• Sunday 3rd March – ARG Regional Conference, Cornwall College, Newquay
  Your very last chance to book this – please contact Mark Nicholson nicholsonmark60@yahoo.com asap if you want to attend.
• Mid-March - Adder and nature reserve walk for DRAG members only.
• Sunday 24th March – Reptile survey training day, East Devon, time and location tbc
  Learn how to ID our widespread reptiles, where to find them and what to do with your sightings. The training will be for half a day and will include a classroom session plus field visit. It will particularly useful for members hoping to take part in nature reserve monitoring this summer. Cost £10, to register interest please contact me. If there is enough demand a second session will be held in north Devon.
• Sat/Sun 13th/14th April - GCN training course, Braunton Burrows
  Only 4 places left on this course – please book (with me) asap if you’re interested. Course joining information will be sent in early March. All profits donated to DRAG.
• Sat/Sun 20th/21st April - GCN training course, Braunton Burrows
  There are several places left on this course – as above please book asap.
• Early-May - Sand lizard walk and NARRS survey for DRAG members only.

Best wishes

Nicky Green
DRAG Chair

nicky@green-ecology.co.uk

Here's a bit of amphibian news below. Watch this space for 'slime' test results....

Cheers
Mabel

"RSPB welcomes public response to call for information on the appearance of strange “jelly-like” substance at its Ham Wall Nature reserve in Somerset
Following yesterday’s appeal for information about a strange jelly like substance that has appeared at its Ham Wall nature reserve in Somerset the RSPB has received a number of theories about its origin.

Tony Whitehead, spokesperson for the RSPB in the south west said; “We’ve been delighted by the number of people that have contacted us about the mystery slime.

Many pointed out the sighting of a strange meteor like object over the reserve last week [Note 1] captured on film by a local wildlife photographer. However, the majority of people suggested more earthly origins. Some identified it as a slime mould, but by far the commonest was that its appearance was related to amphibian activity.”

The RSPB was contacted by Peter Green a Devonshire vet who works with wildlife, who gave a particularly logical and simple explanation following his own researches.

Tony Whitehead explains: “At this time of year amphibians are spawning. The spawn is held in a substance known as glycoprotein which is stored in the female’s body.

“If the animal is attacked by a predator – herons for instance are fond of the occasional frog – it will quite naturally drop its spawn and the associated glycoprotein. This is designed to swell on contact with water, which gives the gelatinous mass we are all familiar with in frog spawn. However, if it’s unfertilized, it is just the empty glycoprotein that is dropped – which on contact with moist ground will swell and give a clear slime like substance.”

“While this is our favoured explanation for this appearance of slime, it’s also worth remembering that other things can give a similar appearance. Certain slime moulds can. So can the wonderfully named crystal brain fungus, but this only appears on wood. And as mentioned yesterday, certain algae, and blue-green algae can also appear as a clear slime”

Tony Whitehead, RSPB South West

Supporters of frogs, toads, newts, snakes and lizards will be gathering in Cornwall on Sunday 3rd March for a South West regional meeting of Britain’s Amphibian and Reptile Groups.

Staged at Cornwall College Newquay, the conference is being organised jointly by the Cornwall Reptile and Amphibian Group (CRAG) – a specialist group within Cornwall Wildlife Trust – and the College’s Student Invasive Non-Native Group (SINNG).

The programme promises a lively mix of presentations on local, national and global conservation issues. Topics include Cornwall’s rare sand lizards, latest results from SINNG’s studies of non-native amphibians in the county, and a report on the current status of adders in the UK.

Delegates will also draw inspiration and ideas from research as far afield as Spain and Tanzania to help conserve species closer to home. Practical guidance will be given on recording systems and on biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of diseases through fieldwork.

There will be lighter moments, including a session entitled ‘Adam, Eve and Hissing Sid’, as well as time for informal discussion.

“One of the best things about Amphibian and Reptile Group meetings, nationally and regionally, is that they give people a chance to encourage each other’s efforts and share information, says CRAG Co-ordinator Mark Nicholson.

“Most of those who attend will be members of the various county ARGs, which together make up ARG UK. We’re a close-knit community of specialists and we work very effectively together to make sure these creatures get their fair share of conservation effort.”

The event’s sponsors are environmental consultancy companies CGO Ecology Ltd and Herpetologic Ltd, as well as the College itself.

Anyone interested in attending is asked to contact Pete Mycock at newtpete@hotmail.co.uk for details.