Smooth Newts emerge from brumation

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slatera

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Peterborough
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Andrew
10th & 11th 2011
The first Smooth Newts have emerged from therir winter rest in the drystone wall in my garden in Peterborough, UK. 1 male, 1 female on 10th and 2 females this evening.

Anyone else seen any native species out and about yet?
 
Well Rob,
here they are taken about 10 minutes ago - flash photos not brilliant.

Total now 3 males and 4 females over last three nights (including tonight).


Trituris vulgaris female 12-02-2011.jpg

Trituris vulgaris male 12-02-2011.jpg
 
Agreed, on both accounts xD
L.vulgaris is a trully beautiful species, a little gem that is very unfairly overlooked.
 
Thanks for your comments guys and girls! I am quite happy out looking for native stuff and especially when it is living contentedly in the garden!
 
Yes just seen my first returners today, male palmate, male smooth and 3 alpines (2M 1F), and before anyone asks theres no photos!!
 
I have smooths and great cresteds back in my garden ponds but in MUCH smaller numbers than I would usualy have by now.
I dont know how much damage the severe weather we had a few months back will have done to newt numbers.
I do know that I after the thaw and finding dead floating frogs I searched through the 3 ponds with a net and fished out lots more.
29 dead frogs in total, not nice to see.
 
Well, I didn't have big numbers in my garden as breeding pond was not really suitable so tadpoles have not made it to morphs for last few years. Have got 7 of 9 former adults returned so not too dire in terms of losses. We had temps around minus 7 or minus 8 and not much snow, so got off lightly compared to some areas in UK.

I will build a bigger pond this spring with better breeding habitat (shallow end in the sun). In themeantime Smoothies wil have to make do with an old sink in outdoor enclosure...
 
i thound a dead male smooth newt on sunday:(
sam:happy:
 
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    I also asked this as an actual question in a thread in case anyone wants to answer it there instead of here
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    FragileCorpse: I also asked this as an actual question in a thread in case anyone wants to answer it there... +1
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