Well, 2013 has been a quiet one for me on the herping front. This in part being due to a rather drastic career change which will see me occupied with teacher training from September. A recent trip to Santorini and Ios in the Cyclades didn’t result in any significant findings worth reporting on here since I was there on holiday with a group of friends and I virtually never ventured out to search in all honesty. Although I have only done one field trip abroad this year I certainly hope to do more in 2014, and I already have some vague plans for a big Greek island trip.

Closer to home I haven’t been out searching much either. A visit to the Merseyside coast on Tuesday resulted in not a single Sand lizard being found, although I did see some Viviparous lizards (Zootoca vivipara), mostly newborns and some Common frogs (Rana temporaria), Common toads (Bufo bufo) and Smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris).  In addition at some other locations visited with Carl we found several Grass snakes (Natrix natrix) and two male Adders (Vipera berus).

Grass snake (Natrix natrix) (C) Matt Wilson

Grass snake (Natrix natrix) (C) Matt Wilson

Young Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) (C) Matt Wilson

Smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) (C) Matt Wilson

Common frog (Rana temporaria) and Smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) (C) Matt Wilson

Green lestes (Lestes sponsa) (C) Matt Wilson

Golden ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) (C) Matt Wilson