Hertfordshire's common lizards (Zootoca vivipara) have been out in force this month enjoying the late summer sun. No Man's Land common, grassland sites in Hitchin and King's Meads nature reserve are among a few where large numbers of adults and youngsters have been seen. They are growing and eating as much as they can before the  winter. Late March-Early April will see them emerge again to take up basking positions on logs and branches close to cover in sunny locations. 

During the period of effective lockdown, HertsARG has effectively suspended all group activities. This means, of course, that the bulk of the survey season for 2020 has been missed. However. as we move into autumn and the season of winter tasks, we will be adhering to the following advice from ARG UK:

• Reduced numbers of persons on tasks/events or training sessions (following national guidelines - each country may differ).
• Maintain 2 metre distance between volunteers and also with members of the public you may encounter.
• Avoid crowded beauty spots.
• Stay outside as much as possible (wearing face masks if inside).
• Travel separately or with your residential bubble or family unit, take extra care with public transport (wear a face mask).
• Plan tasks carefully with volunteers bringing own food/refreshments.
• Organise meetings online wherever possible

Groups visiting sites will be limited. If you would like to get involved, but are concerned regarding the current situation, please do not hesitate to contact to discuss.

Many people now use the App "WhatsApp" - a free downloadable resource - in order to keep in touch. HertsARG  now has a group which we use to share dates of upcoming visits and work we are doing. If you would like to be kept abreast and share information/ask questions, please send us your mobile telephone number and we will add this to the group.

Every year we are contacted by people looking to acquire references for their Great Crested Newt Licence. This is not a problem, but we require the following;

• Undertake surveyor training. We run courses every year which give participants the basic skills required to identify Hertfordshire's resident amphibians and reptiles. Coming along to one of these would be a good start! They are held at Bayfordbury Field Centre and give you the opportunity to ask questions and meet other members.
• Participation in HertsARG activities for a season. From spring to autumn, we are busy conducting surveys and other conservation work. If you are prepared to come along regularly and get involved in surveying, we will be able to assess your identification skills and, importantly, how well you look after the animals. We are a voluntary organisation and rely on people helping out. Even if you can just give one year of assistance, that would be great - although wee hope you stay longer.
• Exam. Dr Chantal Helm (university of Hertfordshire) has put together a written exam for the end of the season which gives you a chance to show off your knowledge of all things newt. Pass this, and we will provide a reference.

Any questions about this, please do not hesitate to get in touch!

Rob Ward, from Kent University, joined us this week to tell us about his work with the Grass Snakes of Jersey. It was interesting to hear about the amount of survey effort that has gone into collecting his data, invloving many volunteers from the island. Of particular interest was his account of the radio tracking of snakes, which showed just how far some individual animals could travel in a relatively short space of time.

Grass Snakes are Hertfordshire's only snake species, and are totally harmless. They will be a target species for the distribution data being collated, and Rob has offered his help and advice in surveying these and other reptile species over the coming years.