Lucky Newt

[pressld2]

I was in Hurst Wood last Saturday checking for toadspawn as I'm hoping to photograph the developing tadpoles. No luck yet. While there I noticed there was quite a lot of litter so decided to have a bit of a tidy up and soon filled a carrier bag with old bottles, cans, sweet and crisp packets, etc. On the way back down to the car the bag split and I had to transfer the rubbish to another bag. While doing this I spotted a newt inside one of the old and very muddy crisp packets. Here he is in the tank set up ready for the toadspawn...



I've called him Isaac (after Isaac Newton - geddit? ) and he was very lucky not to end up on the municipal dump.

I'm saying "he" but I really have no idea of gender.

Dave P.

[Jaeviatrix]

The male smooth newt gets all spotted and crested in the breeding season which can only be a few weeks away so I should imagine Isaac is actually lady, assuming she's an adult. someone correct me if I'm wrong. \hope all is good, John

[Barjon]

That's a very motivational story. Makes me want to pick up litter in my own woods! How much did that tank set you back?

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Jaeviatrix

The male smooth newt gets all spotted and crested in the breeding season which can only be a few weeks away so I should imagine Isaac is actually lady, assuming she's an adult.

Thanks John, in which case I'll call her Olivia, for Olivia Newton John!

Originally Posted by Barjon

That's a very motivational story. Makes me want to pick up litter in my own woods! How much did that tank set you back?

It kind of worried me that maybe picking up litter wasn't such a great idea if things might be hiding or hibernating in it. But I hate seeing all the rubbish! There were at least three bread wrappers which made me think that people had brought bread along to feed the ducks on Hurst pond and when they'd finished just chucked the wrapper in too! If that's true it's a mentality that I simply cannot comprehend...

The tank is a very cheap starter aquarium aimed at small children and set me back about £15 I think. It came with rainbow coloured gravel which I haven't used and an internal filter which I also haven't used as I'm going to be using it specifically for photography so don't want the filter in shot. I have bought an external filter which, at a smidgen over £20 cost more than the tank!

Dave P.

[Barjon]

Indeed! Feed the ducks, then choke them! Great

Well that's reasonable. I was thinking of getting a tank a while back. Will you release the newt and toads when they've grown or try breeding them?

Nice name change by the way

[Dogghound]

I agree its a female Smooth newt, but its still terrestrial so possibly not to happy in water although it wont harm it. Are you planning on re-releasing it? If the litter was deep it may have even been overwintering in it, or at least getting some cover for the night. A good lesson to us all, always worth checking litter more closely I suppose.

[pressld2]

Yep, definitely going to release her back where I found her (minus the crisp packet! ) but I want to get some photos of her out of the water first. I've given her a gentle ramp so she can climb out of the water if she wants to but she seems fine where she is at the moment.

If I do manage to get some toadspawn and hatch and raise them successfully then they'll all be released back into the same location too.

Dave P.

[Dogghound]

Thats Great Dave, just thought I better ask . Also a great idea to put the ramp in. Incidentally im sure you know but the newt will feed on the tadpoles when they hatch. Great photo's too I particularly like the close up shot.

[pressld2]

Thanks Dogghound. She'll be long gone before I get any toadpoles - by next weekend at the latest.

Dave P.

[Wild-Woman]

Hello Horiz. Some really excellent shots that show great detail.