42
POND DIPPING FOR AMPHIBIANS, AUBREY BUXTON
RESERVE, STANSTED, 14th April 1985
Eighteen members met at the Reserve at 10.30 a.m.
on a somewhat cool, dull morning with a north-
westerly breeze. The party started by visiting
the pond near the Warden's hut, where a small
amount of hatched Frog spawn was seen. In the
next pond more Frog spawn was seen along the
eastern edge and this was more plentiful, as was
Toad spawn, which was also seen. The third
pond produced a male Great Crested Newt and many
Common Toads were found under logs and debris
in this area.
After a break for lunch, dipping continued in
two small ponds in the centre of the Reserve,
the second of which produced one male and two
female Great Crested Newts. These Newts are
a protected species and. it was good to find
them on the Reserve. The gravel ponds on the
eastern side of the Reserve were found to contain
large numbers of Common Newts. The Palmate
Newt, so common in Epping Forest, was absent.
Apart from amphibians a Chiffchaff was heard,
Common Flycatchers seen, and also two Rabbits
and two Grey Squirrels observed.
DAVID SCOTT
REQUEST FOR AMPHIBIAN/REPTILE RECORDS
I should be grateful for records of amphibians
and their breeding this spring. Any record,
however, small, is welcome. Even newts found
dead in the road could be sent by post or any
records of Frog spawn in garden ponds. Reptile
records also, please.