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CRESTED NEWT (Triturus cristatus).
Now a protected species this newt seems to be in
decline. Records are few in recent years.
Mr Pettit records the newt at Great Baddow in
1981 and I have again seen it in the cellar of
a farmhouse at Abbess Roding where numerous
half grown newts can be seen on the damp brick
floor. They appear to get trapped in the cellar
and always seem unable to escape. There are
normally 12 or 15 seen on each visit but I have
never found an obvious breeding site nearby.
COMMON LIZARD (Lacerta vivipara).
Formerly common in Epping Forest this lizard
has declined here due to the more overgrown state
of the Forest. Records are more frequent from
the sea wall areas where the habitat is ideal.
John Dobson reports them in 1981 from Bradwell,
Rayleigh and Wickford. Colchester Museum
reported a Lizard at Alresford near Thorrington
Mill in April 1981. I recorded 2 adult lizards
on the sea wall at Peldon in May 1982. Road
verges were a source of records but the advent
of hydramowing must have had its affect. The
Trust reserves and sea wall areas of Essex are
the main habitats at present.
SLOW WORM (Anguis fragilis).
The Slow Worm is fairly widespread in Essex and
records often come from churchyards and garden
compost heaps where conditions are damper. The
reptile is common on the railway embankment at
Ongar and local cats often bring them home. John
Dobson reports 2 seen at Wickford in May 1981
and I saw 2 in a compost heap at Peldon in