In article , bigjon
writes
We were cleaning out the pumps on our pond this week and came across this -
http://www.topqualityfreeware.com/lizzie.html
It was about three inches long, nose to tip of tail, and played dead until
released into the water. We are presuming it's a common newty type thing,

Yep - it's a common newty type thing!
Without looking it up, I think it's the common (smooth) newt, and I
think the spots and orange tum make it a male.

Nice things to have in a pond!

but as we've only had the pond a couple of years we are wondering...
We now know there are a couple of these above at least, maybe more along
with a shedfull of frogs and countless tadpoles!

You've set up the pond nicely, to get things moving in that quick :-)

Try looking with a torch tonight - you may find you have a lot more than
you think! They tend to hide away in the weed during the day, and are a
lot easier to see at night.

Later in the summer look out for newt tadpoles (which are slimline
things, without the big head of the frog tadpoles) and baby newts about
an inch long and much lighter colour; also this years froglets about 1
cm long, and last year's, about an inch or so.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"