3
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES IN ESSEX
At the end of another year I would like to thank those mem-
bers who haue sent in records of amphibians and reptiles
seen in the county. I would also like to exhort others to
send in records no matter how trivial they may seem. All
will help to assess the position of a group of animals which
are coming under increasing pressure from a changing environ-
ment. The following notes include recent records and may help
people in the field to recognise suitable habitats.
The Common Frog (Rana temporaria)
The frog is still widespread in Essex but has withdrawn to
reserves and gardens where it is often encouraged. In more
rural areas it has disappeared due to land drainage, plough-
ing up of old pastures, ponds being filled in or made too
deep. The average garden pond is ideal being shallow for
spawning and if it has the right algal flora the tadpoles
will thrive. The other requirement is immediate cover for the
young frog on leaving the water. A bog garden will provide
this as would an area of uncut grass. Frog records have
come recently from Witham, Braintree, Thaxted and several
from the Chelmsford area all in suburban sites. One from
Hornchurch mentions Toad spawn in 1977 and frog spawn for
the first time in 1979. One town site I visit each spring
is in Harlow New Town where houses on an old meadow site
have many frogs still arriving to spawn in the garden ponds.