G C newts habitat

[tigertom]

In and around runcorn is a good few sites with G.C newts all ones that I no of are small weedy ponds but have been told that a large lake about four acres upto 30ft deep and full of fish is home to large nos of these newts I would not of thought this would be a suitable habitat for them. am I wrong
MIKE

[King Edward]

It might well have adult newts, but it doesn't sound as if they'd be very successful breeding there. Adult numbers at the site could perhaps be sustained by breeding elsewhere.

[N0z]

Is runcorn a place ?

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by N0z

Is runcorn a place ?

There's a Runcorn near Manchester.

I think there's a Runcorn in Kent, I'm sure this is where I did my skydive







We have a local pond I discovered the other day, only small, but it says they have a good population of GCNewt. I went there yesterday for the first time but couldn't see any

Nige

[~T~]

Originally Posted by htcdude

There's a Runcorn near Manchester.

I think there's a Runcorn in Kent, I'm sure this is where I did my skydive







We have a local pond I discovered the other day, only small, but it says they have a good population of GCNewt. I went there yesterday for the first time but couldn't see any

Nige

Wouldn't they all be hiding in thick undergrowth at this time of year?

[Dogghound]

You may still get GCN in ponds into August, but the bulk of the population will now be terrestrial. It is often best to look for them at night rather than in the day, they often remain quite inactive through the day holding up in bankside vegetation or pond weeds. You will almost definitely get efts and larvae in the pond at this time of year but again night with a torch would be more productive. They are very pelagic are are often seen just floating in the water column much more so that the smaller newt species.

I agree with KE in respect to the original post, if you have a large population locally you often get individuals radiating from this which either will attempt to breed in "unsuitable" water bodies or just go into them to feed. They would go into a large lake in this situation, especially if the margins contain large amounts of weed.

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by ~T~

Wouldn't they all be hiding in thick undergrowth at this time of year?

No idea! I don't have a clue about their lifecycle, I'll tkae your word for it

Nige

[tigertom]

Just for record RUNCORN is in cheshire next to river mersey with WIDNES on other side of river nearest city LIVERPOOL and not far from WARRINGTON
MIKE
Thanks for your replys King Edward and Dogghound GCN may have been seen on this lake then but been working by there today not great deal of weed in this lake from what can see and it is deep.
MIKE

[Shawit]

The only site I knew of as a youngster that contained GCNs ( in very large numbers ) was a large quarry pit that had very little visible vegetation and always had very green water. Most of the shallower sections were 3 to 6 foot deep. The deepest sections could be dived into from surrounding ledges that were about 20 foot high. However, I very much doubt that there were any fish in this 'pond' of approx. 2 acres.Unfortunately, the whole lot was filled in during 1988 to stop youngsters diving and swimming in it.

[Billabong Karen]

That's Health and Safety for you... Could just have posted notices warning of dangers, but no...