Romney marsh frogs

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by captain nodge

This snake was photographed in the same pond,any ideas as to what it may be, and how long do they live?

It's a Grass Snake, which are partial to eating amphibia.

Mortality is high for youngsters, but they can live for around 15 years.

[captain nodge]

Thanks,
A commonall garden grass snake,pretty fella, like the way hes spotted the camera.
presume he or her wont go hungry in that pond,gonna have to google to find out more, as i could keep asking questions all day long, guess also that would knock the chances of the GCN even more, Its a harsh world out there, for the little fellas

[animartco]

About what can stall development. I have heard nothing about palmate newts for ages. Are they now extinct perhaps? I always thought they were a lot rarer than crested. Also I heard that crested are not really rare because they have a wide distribution across Europe, whereas palmate newts don't. Perhaps I am wrong here? It annoys me that certain species get singled out for preferential treatment, usually because of a more striking appearance, while rarer but less attractive animals get completely forgotten.
animartco.

[captain nodge]

Good point, What do these Palmate newts look like, could you perhaps post a piccy?
if not il scroll wab for em later,i suppose its allways going to be a ongoing problem, trying to save a speices,

[Reco]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Its highly unlikely that you get water voles in salt water they are restricted to freshwater. Saline conditions dont offer prefered habitat or food. Brown rats and water voles co-exist (they tend not to compete for the same food)in many areas although rats will predate young voles if they have the chance.

Hi all -new here but would like to point out that Water vole are not restricted to fresh water.
I've found them in tidal river stretches in essex, and relatively frequent to brackish ditches typically to back of sea walls. They like the cover and food provided by common reed in both habitats

Reco

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Reco

Hi all -new here but would like to point out that Water vole are not restricted to fresh water.
I've found them in tidal river stretches in essex, and relatively frequent to brackish ditches typically to back of sea walls. They like the cover and food provided by common reed in both habitats

Reco

I was implying you dont get them in the sea. Brackish water does hold them as you say, I should have pointed that out in my post.

Regarding palmate newts this species is relatively common, but is found in heath, woodland pools, tyre tracks, ditches etc. They are often found in clear, shaded acidic water here on the moors.

Palmates are found across Europe and are not rarer that great crested they have not seen large population changes either like crested. Palmates are more common in Northern england and Wales and Scotland due to more prefered habitat.

[animartco]

Originally Posted by captain nodge

Good point, What do these Palmate newts look like, could you perhaps post a piccy?
if not il scroll wab for em later,i suppose its allways going to be a ongoing problem, trying to save a speices,

smaller than smooth with all four feet webbed as far as I can remember. I have only seen them once, in a dew pond in Staffordshire I think it was.

[captain nodge]

Roll on warmer weather, went there today very quite, plenty rabbits as usual,

[Dogghound]

Just as a matter of interest what sort of habitat is this pond in? Rough grassland? woodland? wasteland? urban? Does it have much dense vegetation, dead wood? stones etc around?

[captain nodge]

Its basically surrounded one end and one side by reeds, one end very near to quite a busy road,a lot of heavy haulage traffic,separated by light bushes and a rail fence, the one side with the reeds has a sewer treatment works behind it, but completly separate, divided by heavy bramble,being an old ballast supply yard ie the stoney aggregate that goes into making concrete, the whole of the area is covered in this beach which has been dredged and washed,the pond itself is very clean so no pollution issues,there is a wharf about 300mtrs frm the pond, it is at present all unused, all machinery conveyers ect have been removed