Hi
Iv'e just found a small newt in my equally small wildlife pond,I was told
that they are now an endangered species and that there is a number that I
can ring to notify of their appearance

Does anyone know if this is correct or is someone pulling my leg

TIA Chris

Common newts are quite common. If you have a great crested newt ( do a
google for more info) then you do have something special

AndyP

"Chris Rowe" wrote in message
...
Hi
Iv'e just found a small newt in my equally small wildlife pond,I was told
that they are now an endangered species and that there is a number that I
can ring to notify of their appearance

Does anyone know if this is correct or is someone pulling my leg

TIA Chris

In article , Chris
Rowe writes
Hi
Iv'e just found a small newt in my equally small wildlife pond,I was told
that they are now an endangered species and that there is a number that I
can ring to notify of their appearance

Does anyone know if this is correct or is someone pulling my leg

There are three species of newt in Britain, the smooth newt, another
newt, and the great crested. Only the great crested is endangered, and I
doubt whether yours is one of them. So look after it (since newst aren't
as common now as they were), but you don't need to tell anyone about it.

Male smooth newts have a crest down their back and tail at this time of
year - the difference between this and great crested is more subtle.

Try a google image search to get pictures of the three species, and see
if you can work out which yours is.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

In article , Kay Easton
writes
In article , Chris
Rowe writes
Hi
Iv'e just found a small newt in my equally small wildlife pond,I was told
that they are now an endangered species and that there is a number that I
can ring to notify of their appearance

Does anyone know if this is correct or is someone pulling my leg

There are three species of newt in Britain, the smooth newt, another
newt, and the great crested. Only the great crested is endangered, and I
doubt whether yours is one of them. So look after it (since newst aren't
as common now as they were), but you don't need to tell anyone about it.

Male smooth newts have a crest down their back and tail at this time of
year - the difference between this and great crested is more subtle.

Try a google image search to get pictures of the three species, and see
if you can work out which yours is.

For starters, have a look at: http://www.uksafari.com/amphibians.htm

--
Malcolm

"Malcolm" wrote in message
...

In article , Kay Easton
writes
In article , Chris
Rowe writes

There are three species of newt in Britain, the smooth newt, another
newt, and the great crested. Only the great crested is endangered, and I
doubt whether yours is one of them. So look after it (since newst aren't
as common now as they were), but you don't need to tell anyone about it.

I didnt know that. I have crested newts in my garden pond, along with a
colony of frogs and a few toads, slow worms and lizards on the bank at the
back of the garden ,
But then I also have a brown owl ( pair) somewhere around and a lot of bats
( but not in the house thankfully) .... and loads of sparrows , and a
breeding pair of thrushes , which are supposed to be getting rarer too
aren't they?

I am not sure I believe all the things these "experts" say.

Thanx Everybody
Iv'e checked and it's the common newt still, nice to see it in the pond
though
Chris
"Chris Rowe" wrote in message
...
Hi
Iv'e just found a small newt in my equally small wildlife pond,I was told
that they are now an endangered species and that there is a number that I
can ring to notify of their appearance

Does anyone know if this is correct or is someone pulling my leg

TIA Chris

In article , mick
writes


In article , Kay Easton
writes

There are three species of newt in Britain, the smooth newt, another
newt, and the great crested. Only the great crested is endangered, and I
doubt whether yours is one of them. So look after it (since newst aren't
as common now as they were), but you don't need to tell anyone about it.

I didnt know that. I have crested newts in my garden pond,

At this time of year, probably male smooth newts in breeding plumage!

along with a
colony of frogs and a few toads, slow worms

Lucky you! - used to have those at our last house.

and lizards on the bank at the
back of the garden ,
But then I also have a brown owl ( pair) somewhere around and a lot of bats
( but not in the house thankfully) .... and loads of sparrows , and a
breeding pair of thrushes , which are supposed to be getting rarer too
aren't they?

I am not sure I believe all the things these "experts" say.

The worry about sparrows is that they are declining rapidly from being
incredibly common - they are still common, but if they continue crashing
at this rate, they may not be common in, say, 30 years. And it also
seems to be patchy - lots of people on urg say they have none, whereas,
like you, I have loads. The BTO is currently running a nationwide survey
to try to get an idea of their distribution (btw - if anyone in
Aireborough is reading this and wants to take over my survey square, I'd
be hugely grateful - I've had to back out through illness)

Similarly, song thrushes, while not so common as sparrows, were still
quite common, so it's not at all remarkable to have some in your garden.
I have a pair of mistle thrushes who visit my garden - really smart
birds!

Bats - there are at least 15 different species in the UK. Some are very
rare, others, like the pipistrelle, are common, although they need to be
cherished because their roosting habitats are disappearing (a similar
thing is thought perhaps to be behind the decline of house sparrows - we
are all keeping our roofs in much better order, and blocking up the
holes they might have nested in! Sparrows apparently like to nest
communally, and CJ Birdfoods (IIRC) do a sparrow nest box, which is a
bit wider than the standard, so there's room for several nests side by
side)

So it's not so much a question of whether you believe what the experts
say, more a matter of looking at what they actually *did* say (and the
newspapers aren't always good in this respect), and remembering that a
species may be in danger because it's headed on a path to extinction
over the next 50 years, and not because it as at the moment rare.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

Kay Easton wrote:

In article , mick
writes


In article , Kay Easton
writes

There are three species of newt in Britain, the smooth newt, another
newt,

palmate newt (the smallest)

and the great crested. Only the great crested is endangered, and I
doubt whether yours is one of them. So look after it (since newst aren't
as common now as they were), but you don't need to tell anyone about it.

I didnt know that. I have crested newts in my garden pond,

At this time of year, probably male smooth newts in breeding plumage!



Its unlikely but not unreasonable that he actually has great crested newts!
They tend to prefer larger ponds and are therefore unlikly to be found in
garden ponds but we have a pair in a pond only 5m x 3 x 1.5 m depth.
"prefer" is the key word. Anyway, in case of doubt, it is possible to tell
them apart. The great crested newt is darker, and the males have a silver
streak along the tail and a seperate dorsal and tail crest , while smooth
newts are paler, and have a continuous crest along their back and tail. BTW
all the newts only have a crest in the breeding season. They are much more
difficult to tell apart in the terrestrial phase, although the larger size
and rougher skin of the great crested usually distinguishes them.
Anita

"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , mick
writes

At this time of year, probably male smooth newts in breeding plumage!

They are definately crested newts . I have the others too! g

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"A.Malhotra" wrote in message
...


Its unlikely but not unreasonable that he actually has great crested
newts!
They tend to prefer larger ponds and are therefore unlikly to be found in
garden ponds but we have a pair in a pond only 5m x 3 x 1.5 m depth.
"prefer" is the key word.

Thankyou for even taking the possiblity into account. I have two ponds ( I
live in a rural area and have a large garden) . I do have crested newts and
I can tell the difference. Funnily enough they occupy the small pond near
the house.

Its also a case that I have a pretty *wild* garden - or rather uncultivated
garden. I am trying to do it up in sections and the pond area is not a high
priority right now.
The kitchen garden and the greenhouses being priority.

In article , mick
writes

"A.Malhotra" wrote in message
...


Its unlikely but not unreasonable that he actually has great crested
newts!
They tend to prefer larger ponds and are therefore unlikly to be found in
garden ponds but we have a pair in a pond only 5m x 3 x 1.5 m depth.
"prefer" is the key word.

Thankyou for even taking the possiblity into account. I have two ponds ( I
live in a rural area and have a large garden) . I do have crested newts and
I can tell the difference.

OK - my apologies!

--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

In article , mick
writes

"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , mick
writes

At this time of year, probably male smooth newts in breeding plumage!

They are definately crested newts . I have the others too! g

How I envy you!


--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm