New Forest Reptilery - 23rd August

A sunny morning. Highlights were Smooth Snake, Sand Lizard and Natterjack Toad.

5 of us met at the car park at the New Forest Reptilery. The gates had been opened early specially for us, so that we had a chance to see the reptiles before the public came along. We really needed a nice sunny morning to encourage them to come out and bask – and that is exactly what we got.
From the car park most people saw a good selection of woodland birds, Treecreeper, Nuthatch and various Tits. We were met by the keeper who showed us the ‘pods’ where the reptiles are housed. In the first pod were Natterjack Toad, Common Lizard and Slow worm. We saw a Natterjack first, but not a good view. However the Slow worms and Common Lizards were very much on show. Next the Adder pod. There were at least 3 Adders basking together in the sunshine and a Black one in another spot. The Smooth Snake pod was next and, as usual, no Smooth Snakes could be seen at all. A Grass Snake was out and about in the next pod and the far pod was the Sand Lizards. We saw a female Sand Lizard that had lost its tail sitting on top of some Heather. We had a look around for others. Then Mandy found a small snake in there and immediately recognised it as a Smooth Snake. What it was doing in the Sand Lizard pod we didn’t know, but it gave us great views and rare photo opportunities. As we went round the other pods it seemed to be Lyz who found the amphibians and reptiles, Common Toad, Common Frog, better views of Natterjack, a second Sand Lizard with its tail and finally a Green Frog.
After all this excitement we had a short walk across a heathy glade from the Reptilery to the Knightwood Oak. In a ditch we noted some unusual wetland flowers – Lesser Water Plantain, Marsh St. John’s wort and Marsh Pennywort. There was quite a lot of Chamomile on the grazed grassy area and lots of Autumn Hawkbit and Lesser Hawkbit.
Simon Curson