Going to Scotland!

[jewett]

So my sisters, Mom and I have finally planned (sort of) and booked our long discussed trip to Scotland. We will be on a walking tour of the Perthshire Highlands this June (over my birthday!), and I am hoping to see some caudate activity. What is a good resource/field guide I can look into to consult while I am there, and what are some of the more common species I can hope to spot? Thanks,
Heather

 

[herpvet]

Hi Heather,

You might want to have a look at www.herpetofauna.co.uk , if you haven't already - they have forums there as well as info on the British species.

Hope this helps,

Bruce.

 

[Mark]

I’ve not looked for newts in Scotland but I’ve done quite a bit of hiking in the highlands. You should see some frogs. If you come across a Rana temporaria breeding pond the moorland nearby is often crawling with them, even in June.

June is the midge season in the highlands. They look quite harmless but believe me they’ll eat you alive. Scottish midges are particularly ferocious and their persistence will amaze you. Pray for windy weather and pack plenty of DEET (or a flame thrower).

Enjoy your holiday! The scenery up there is wonderful.

 

[John]

Regarding the DEET, Mark, please, you need to come to Texas in the summer after it rains. There really is no comparison with the British Isles, though I will grant you that a cloud of midge can be quite intimidating.

Re: RAUK - that's a new one on me. Interesting site.

 

[Kaysie]

Bah! Texas has NOTHING on the bogs in the Boreal Forest.

 

[jewett]

Thanks Bruce and Mark, very helpful. And really thanks for the warning on midges - I just told my mom and she seems less than pleased that we may be eaten alive by flying bugs. Ah, adventure!

 

[oceanblue]

Midge nets over a hat work as well. The good news is that July and August is worse and the West of Scotland is usually a lot more midge infested than Perthshire.