Blagdon Lake Birds

Annotated Site Amphibian & Reptile List [2022 Revision]

Here is a 'Herptile' list for the site based on my own observations. All records are my own unless stated, so any inaccuracy is entirely down to me. If anyone has records they'd like to include, please contact me and I will insert and acknowledge them accordingly.

I have recorded newt nymphs in fair numbers migrating away from the lake over many years, but rarely found any adults. I have not been able to identify the little orange nymphs to species, but assume their parents must be present in good numbers at the appropriate time of year.

A species that might be present at the lakeside, that I have yet to record, is the Common Lizard. I was told of one being seen at Top End on a bridge parapet, many years ago, but don't think the record was ever officially submitted. It's not on the NBN Atlas.

During a WeBS count, that I was not present at, observers noted a turtle or terrapin hauled out of the water on the dam wall. They were not able to identify it, but based on the number of records we've made of the alien Red-eared Terrapin at Chew Valley Lake after the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle' craze of the 1980's, I would think it highly likely to be another one that had been released into the wild when it outgrew its aquarium.

Class Amphibia

Order Anura (Frogs & Toads)

Family Bufonidae

• Common Toad Bufo bufo Linnaeus, 1758. Common.

Family Ranidae

• Common Frog Rana temporaria Linnaeus, 1758. Common.

Order Caudata (Salamanders, Sirens & Newts.)

Family Salamandridae

• Palmate Newt Lissotriton helveticus (Razoumovsky, 1789). Extremely rare.

Class Reptilia

Order Squamata (Snakes & Lizards)

Family Anguidae

• Slow-worm Anguis fragilis Linnaeus, 1758. Extremely rare.

Family Colubridae

• Grass Snake Natrix helvetica (Lacépède, 1789). Fairly common.

Key to abundance:

Extremely rare - five or less records

Very rare - twenty or less records

Rare - less than annual; many years between records

Very scarce - less than annual; typically every 2 or 3 years

Scarce - very small numbers virtually every year

Uncommon - recorded in low numbers each year

Fairly common - occurs in reasonable numbers

Common - regularly occurs in good numbers

Abundant - occurs in large numbers

Bibliography (sources of information)