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noisy amphibian: |
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GuyAndMarg Member Joined: 28 Apr 2010 No. of posts: 1  View other posts by GuyAndMarg |
Posted: 28 Apr 2010 We recently moved to Capel in Surrey, never lived somewhere with so many ponds and ditches. Tonight, we investigated the calls from the village pond, they were so loud. A very rapid "raok, raok, raok." As we approached they dived into the water and went quiet of course. Any ideas what they are? PS My girlfriend is from the north and never seen a slow worm before. Now she's seen two in a week! I was quite surprised, thought they were fairly common all over the UK. |
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will Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 No. of posts: 330 View other posts by will |
Posted: 29 Apr 2010 Hi They'll be some kind of marsh and/or edible frog population, which are spreading in the UK, following various escapes and introductions. They're your classic continental frog, with a pair of 'bubblegum' vocal sacs, that enable them to produce a racket. It is said that the French Revolution was caused in part by the peasants revolting against the duty of thrashing the water of local ponds with brooms, to stop the frogs calling at night and hence disturbing the sleep of the aristocracy. They'll keep calling throughout the spring and sporadically through the summer too, I'm afraid. You'll find more about them in the ID section here or go to the Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group website too. Cheers Will |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369  View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 29 Jun 2010 None of the reptiles can be considered as 'common' even down here in the south they can be numerous in places but the majority of the UK does not have reptiles. In Manchester I know that ARGSL has been looking for slowworms as they are much rarer than down south like J Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 29 Jun 2010 Though keep an ear out for any deep sounding calls - like a cow's moo - as there are potentially bullfrogs around! j Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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Caleb Forum Coordinator Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 448 View other posts by Caleb |
Posted: 30 Jun 2010 [QUOTE=herpetologic2] the majority of the UK does not have reptiles.[/QUOTE] Not sure exactly what you mean by this- slow-worms, common lizard and adder are present in pretty much every county of mainland Britain. And yes, they're all numerous in certain hotspots in the north, just like in the south. |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 30 Jun 2010 Okay maybe this would be a better phrase The majority of the UK countryside does not have reptiles - i.e. the majority of the land is unsuitable for reptiles - only a very small proportion of the land is suitable and is utilised by reptiles An observation made way back in 1911 or 1913 - in relation to the common lizard being not found in the majority of the Countryside - this was quoted in Beebee & Griffiths 2000 J Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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will Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 No. of posts: 330 View other posts by will |
Posted: 30 Jun 2010 How about using the phrase 'widespread and locally common' for reptiles like slowworms? might even still apply to adders (at least in some coastal areas etc) though sadly less so than previously. |
- noisy amphibian |