Please submit your records of amphibians and reptiles through our new on-line record submission system. All records will transfer to our records database and some of the more interesting records will feature on the Species Group page.
 Garden Newts
Rob Pearson photographed this Smooth Newt in his garden pond in Harpenden on 1 May 2012. He counted 16 in his pond on 13 May.
These hardy little amphibians are found throughout the county and are very common in garden ponds.
If you have newts in your pond you probably wiil not have frog tadpoles as they are a favourite food of newts.
 Snakes alive!
In the sunshine on 23 March 2011 up to 20 grass snakes were seen writhing in a 'mating ball' at Balls Wood Nature Reserve, Hertford Heath.
Herts and Middlesex reserve warden Andy Brown, who photographed them said
'It was an amazing sight. I estimated that there were at least 15 snakes in the brash – probably 20. in addition we saw a further five snakes within 10 metres.
 They were on and in one of the large piles of twigs next to one of the rides. They were of various sizes and very active.'
Grass snakes normally mate in April and May and the female layes up to 30 soft white eggs in June and July. the young hatch in August and September and fend for themselves straight away. They hibernate from October to March.
 More information on Grass Snakes can be found in Michael Clark's excellent book 'Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles of Hertfordshire', available direct from HNHS price £5 – more details here.
Slowworms
Andy also saw three Slowworms at Balls Wood on the same day.
This photograph of a Slowworm was taken last summer at Balls Wood by Steve Chilton
 Common Lizard
Adult Common Lizards, both males and females and a number of juveniles were seen on 17 April 2011 at the Alpine Meadows Nature Reserve at Berkhamsted.
Dave Willis reported that there were 'a range of life-stages seen basking mid-afternoon. The surface temperature was as high as 30°C. An excellent lizard site!'
The Alpine Meadow is managed by Herts & Middx Wildlife Trust and has open access, follow this link for details and directions.
The photo shows Lizards basking on a log at the meadow last October (courtesy HMWT).
Common Lizards are locally found throughout the county, prefering dry sandy soils. They can be seen basking on banks, walls and gate posts. Young and male lizards emerge from hibernation around March, ahead of the females. After mating in April the young are born in mid-summer.
Great Crested Newts
Dave Willis reported a colony from an old swimming pool in Cuffley.
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