Reptile survey 2026

Last year was the first year of a systematic reptile survey on the site. It took place between March and October when reptiles are not hibernating, and weekly between April and September. Our surveys included carefully looking under 15 strategically placed “Refugia” (mats) and a quiet walk-over transect that takes in the various habitat types found across the reserve. Many thanks to all our volunteers who helped. As a result we now have good baseline data and ideas for potential improvement.

Observations

There were regular observations of Grass Snakes and Common Lizards. These included regular recordings of male and female Grass Snakes during the breeding season and recordings of juveniles. This suggests that the reserve supports a breeding population of Grass Snakes, which of course is very promising. There were also recordings of likely individual male, female and juvenile Common Lizard. The hot weather over the summer and our survey times may well mean that our Common Lizard population is higher than our records suggest. We also now have a better understanding of where the snakes and lizards are most likely to be found and have produced hot-spot maps to represent this.

Analysis

The table below indicates a set of criteria that can be used to convert survey counts into an indication of (relative) population size. It is important to note that whilst this approach works well for some animal groups, it is difficult to apply to reptiles because they are challenging to survey, their ecology is not fully understood, and weather plays a significant role in reptile surveys.

However, it is still interesting to apply this scoring to our records to see if our data meets the required criteria to be defined as a “Key Reptile Site” and to provide us with a benchmark for comparison going forward.

From the data for 2025, the Blewbury nature reserve is borderline in meeting any of the criteria. The one we are closest to is (1) “Supports three or more reptile species”. During the survey season Common Lizard and Grass Snake were often observed (often on the same day) and, in October, a dead Slow Worm was found at the top of the track near the reserve but not inside it.

This implies that Slow Worm are likely to be present, and therefore we meet three species criteria but as this was not found / observed during a survey it cannot be officially included. Whilst there were regular observations of Grass Snake and Common Lizard, at no one point were more than five individuals (let alone 10 or 20) identified which, according to this scoring criteria, suggests a “Low Population” for both species. Nor have we quite met the “Assemblage of species scoring at least 4” but we are close. It is surprising that we have not seen a Slow Worm on the site yet.

Recommendations

The much-appreciated hard work of our volunteers in 2025 has led to some great lessons learned and recommendations that will be acted upon in 2026. These include:

• The number of refugia this year will be increased from 15 to 20, placed more strategically around the site and further away from main paths.

• Stickers will be produced to explain to the public that the refugia are part of a wildlife

  survey and to politely ask them to be left alone.

• Nearly all the recordings were made in or around the “Clinker” section of the reserve and particularly under or near those refugia adjacent to the habitat edge thereby offering the security of easy escape. Refugia mats in this section will therefore be placed on the borders rather than in the open.

• Survey times will be moved according to time of year and to meet the ideal 10-20°C

  survey temperature band. In the summer months survey times will be moved to early mornings.

• More time will be spent on the transect section of the survey day, not just walking

  between refugia.

• As with 2025, co-ordination with any working parties will continue with key reptile breeding times and egg laying / hibernation habitats in mind.

• It was good to see cuttings left out in piles which represent good potential egg-laying sites.

• Surveys to find hatched eggshells will be made in future.

If you would like to join our monitoring team, contact the secretary and provide your phone number. She will pass your details on to me. Our visits are organised by Whatsapp. No previous experience is needed. I will train you!

James Morgan, Reptile Survey Organiser