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Amphibian and Reptile notes for 1999
DAVID SCOTT
Court Hill, Church Lane, Little Leighs, Chelmsford CM3 1PG
This year has produced a good variety of records. Great Crested Newts Triturus cristatus have
been noted at Bells Hill, Vange; Danbury Common; and numerous records from Roxwell, where
three specimens were found as road casualties. Common Newt T. vulgaris records were plentiful,
but mere were no reports of Palmate Newt T helveticus. Common Frog Rana temporaria and
Toad Bufo bufo were abundant, and an interesting report of a colony of Edible Frogs Rana esculenta
came from the Lee Valley Country Park South Section, along with a record for the now-familiar
Red-eared Terrapin Trachemys scripta.
The reptile scene included four records of Grass Snake Natrix natrix and seventeen of Slow Worm
Anguis fragilis. Ten records of Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara included two colonies at Vange,
where a fine colony of Adders Vipera berus was also located.
I must thank all the observers for sending in their records - please keep up the good work. It is most
unfortunate to receive reports of road casualties, but these are valuable as they often lead to the
discovery of new breeding records.
Freshwater Invertebrate Report 1998/2000
TONY WALENTOWICZ
Chelmsford Museums Service, The Old Cemetery Lodge, 1 Writtle. Road, Chelmsford, CM1 3BL
Hatfield Forest
I have received an aquatic invertebrate survey from Hatfield Forest NNR carried out by the Dept, of
Environmental Sciences at the University of Herts. Sweep net samples were taken from Old Woman's
Weaver pond and its drainage stream, the Shermore Brook (TL536210). Samples were collected in
April, May and August 1998 and 39 invertebrates were identified.
Fourteen beetles and nine bugs, a good total, were identified. Two of the beetles are nationally
scarce, with no known sites near Hatfield. Only four species of Odonata were found in the pond
though it was thought that other species would be present. Smooth Newts were plentiful but no frogs
or toads were detected. Snails, flatworms, midges, crane flics and water mites were also collected
but could not be determined to species level.
This preliminary sampling programme has produced a good list, particularly beetles and bugs. It is
thought that this list could easily be increased particularly if other aquatic habitats are sampled.
Further survey work was planned for 1999 and I look forward to the results. Many thanks to Stuart
Warrington for these records. I would be grateful if anyone has or knows of other records and
surveys from Hatfield Forest.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)