Newts

[Madelinew]

Seeing as I'm among friends - AREN'T NEWTS BEAUTIFUL?!!!

I have so many in my ponds and over the last few days, my husband has been building a small damn in the nearby stream to deepen the shallow little pond that has formed there. The resulting pool has been colonised by more newts and, as there is less weed in there than in my wildlife ponds, there is more opportunity to sneak up and catch them basking on the bottom of the new pool. I think they are absolutely beautiful and when they swim with that lovely ripple in their tails and with their legs back, I could watch for hours. Just been watching a very heavily laden female who looks like she may just burst soon. The pool is about a metre square and has at least 10 newts already.

Had to share that with people who wouldn't think I was weird - well not too weird anyway! :-)

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Madelinew

Seeing as I'm among friends - AREN'T NEWTS BEAUTIFUL?!!!

Had to share that with people who wouldn't think I was weird - well not too weird anyway! :-)

Absolutely correct - newts ARE beautiful.

And you're not weird at all (but I do worry about all them others!).

thunder

[demicav]

They're great. I haven't seen any for years but can remember handling them as a child. Those same areas are now barron, it's such a shame but I'm determined to see them again one day.

[m1keanderson]

Originally Posted by Madelinew

my husband has been building a small damn in the nearby stream to deepen the shallow little pond that has formed there.

I don't mean to put a negative spin on this thread, but...generally you are responsible for keeping the bed and banks of the water course clear of any matter that could cause an obstruction and should consult the Environment Agency to see whether or not an impounding licence is required. Please also consider the environmental impact that has occured by altering the bankside habitat through flooding it (or if the dam failed). And we're not talking great crested newts here are we? Because that just opens up a whole new raft of licences, laws and bad karma.

Otherwise, yeah, newts are cool.

[Madelinew]

No they're not great crested (sadly) and the effect on the area is so minimal. We've not built a huge great pond, just slightly deepened (4 inches) a very small (a metre square) pool. Just don't tell the Environment Agency!!!!!! It really is small with a capital S! :-)

You could argue that cutting back and dividing the Arum Lilies (planted by someone else years ago) that are taking over upstream and blocking off (in danger of diverting) the water course is taking away the shade and cover for a lot of wildlife altho I'm sure the EA would have something to say either way.

[Wild-Woman]

Agreed. They are fascinating and beautiful amphibians. I hold them in high esteem.

[smartie]

I'm another enthusiast. We have them in our garden pond and I can sit and watch them for hours, basking in a bit of warm shallow water near the patio. I particularly like their little splayed feet.

[Rich]

Terrific aren't they. I have hundreds in my garden.

[richardkm]

Always been a favourite of mine . 50 years ago, as kids we had a favourite stream where we would go to collect newts and then would keep them in a goldfish bowl. Not something that would be looked on kindly today!

Anyway, here's a (not very good) picture of one:

[Madelinew]

Wow - lovely picture! My little pond is absolutely loaded with eggs now and there was another female in there yesterday hotly pursued by 2 males so I assume she was about to lay too. I check every day to see if they have hatched.