Monday 14 May 2012

Amphibians and reptiles in Pearson Park

I wasn't expecting to find any reptiles in the park today. We have found the occasional snake skin and the park wardens have told us there have been snakes reported - probably released or escaped exotics -, and we knew there were terrapins a few years back, but we assumed they had been captured when the pond was drained. Not so, apparently. We came across this Red Ear Terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans) enjoying the morning sun by the pond. This species has been widely introduced in the countryside. Although it appears not to be able to breed in this country, the species has become invasive in many other countries.
In the wildlife garden the tadpoles are now quite big
Speckled Wood in the new wet woodland area
A fairly new Moorhen chick. Brave enough to chase a fully grown mallard out of the island
An occasional visitor to the park, a Lesser Black Backed gull.

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