• Home
  • About Us
  • What we do
    • Ecological Assessment
    • Ecology Surveys >
      • Great Crested Newt Surveys
      • Reptile Surveys
  • Case studies
    • Housing and Residential Development
    • Renewable Energy
  • Contact us
  • Ecological Ramblings: the Huckle Ecology Blog
  • Huckle Ecology Image Gallery
Huckle Ecology
  • Home
  • About Us
  • What we do
    • Ecological Assessment
    • Ecology Surveys >
      • Great Crested Newt Surveys
      • Reptile Surveys
  • Case studies
    • Housing and Residential Development
    • Renewable Energy
  • Contact us
  • Ecological Ramblings: the Huckle Ecology Blog
  • Huckle Ecology Image Gallery

Ecological ramblings -The Huckle Ecology Blog

Reptile Surveys - Stealthy and steady is the key....

4/10/2018

0 Comments

 
The last couple of months have seen a flurry of reptile surveys on proposed development sites across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.
These surveys have included the use of artificial refuges (a mixture of roofing felt, roofing sheet and carpet tiles) deployed around potential development sites.  These are then visited on repeat occasions and inspected for reptiles basking on the top of the refugia or sheltering underneath them.  The key to these surveys is to be slow and stealthy in approaching them, as reptiles can vanish in a flash at the slightest movement or swish of clothing.
Ironically, I have seen more reptiles recently on proposed sites where I have been undertaking habitat survey, and recorded reptiles as incidental records.  These have included a couple of glimpses of common lizard (perhaps quickest to scamper away) and a few sightings of grass snakes, which although relatively common are my favourite of our common reptile species. 
Call us for more info about reptile surveys in Norfolk, Suffolk or East AngliaGrass snake, basking on tall herbaceous vegetation
Reptile surveys are often required on potential development site as all reptiles in the UK benefit from legal protection. For the four common species (grass snake, adder, common lizard and slow worm) it is an offence to kill reptiles under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.  Where a site supports a population, a reptile mitigation strategy can be developed to ensure that reasonable measures are put in place to prevent harm to reptiles and reduce the risk of an offence being committed.
Such mitigation can include the implementation or reasonable avoidance measures (or RAMs) or potentially the translocation of reptiles to a receptor site.
If you would like to know more about when surveys are required, feel free to get in touch via our Contacts page, or email Jon on jon@huckleecology.com

0 Comments

Birds, newts, bats and reptiles..... ecology survey season is in full swing!

11/5/2018

0 Comments

 
PictureGrass snake recorded during reptile survey in Norfolk, May 2018
It is nearly the middle of May already and like all good ecologists, much of my time is spent out 'in the field' undertaking surveys of sites for projects.
​This week has seen a particularly varied selection of surveys including:
  • ​eDNA survey of a pond on a site in Norfolk to test for the presence of great crested newts - this pond is heavily shaded and relatively isolated and scores below average using the Habitat Suitability Index - in this case, a negative result will provide confidence that gcn are not present.
  • Reptile survey - checking refugia at a site in Norfolk that were placed a few weeks ago.  This survey revealed a lovely grass snake under one 'tin' (see photo)
  • Bat survey - a Tree Preliminary Roost Assessment of a site in Suffolk - assessing the potential of trees adjacent to a housing development site to enable a planning condition to be discharged
  • Breeding Bird Survey - up at dawn to survey a large site in South Essex
  • Great Crested Newt Survey - update of a Habitat Suitability Assessment of a cluster of ponds in Suffolk, and then a torch survey after dark -newts aplenty with both gcn and smooth newts in abundance.
​All in a weeks work!

0 Comments

    Jon Huckle

    This is intended to host my articles on ecology, news about what I am up to, and general musings or ramblings about things that concern me....
    Please feel to comment and share as you see fit!

    Archives

    February 2023
    March 2020
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All
    Breeding Bird Survey
    Ecology Survey
    Newt
    Protected Species
    Reptile

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Huckle Ecology is a professional ecological consultancy based on the Norfolk Suffolk border, providing expert advice on ecology and biodiversity throughout East Anglia, England and the UK. We undertake surveys for habitats and protected species, as well as providing ecological appraisals and impact assessments to inform planning applications. 
​
Huckle Ecology Ltd is registered in England and Wales: Company Number 10017144
​Copyright Huckle Ecology Ltd 2020
  • Home
  • About Us
  • What we do
    • Ecological Assessment
    • Ecology Surveys >
      • Great Crested Newt Surveys
      • Reptile Surveys
  • Case studies
    • Housing and Residential Development
    • Renewable Energy
  • Contact us
  • Ecological Ramblings: the Huckle Ecology Blog
  • Huckle Ecology Image Gallery