the online meeting place for all who love our amphibians and reptiles |
|
2006 is comino to life! |
Post Reply | Page 123 11> |
Author | |
Mick
Member Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 184 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: 19 Jan 2006 at 4:34pm |
For anyone who might be interested in simply divulging the latest on their gardens herp' activities & how 2006 is gradually getting underway for them in different parts of Britain. It suddenly occured to me last night we're already into the third week of january & so i'd best get outside with my torch (which has an amber lens on that doesn't startle anything to hide from) & see whatever might be going on. I live on a housing estate in the north-west part of Banbury, north Oxfordshire, & here, although we're shortly due a chilly spell, it's lately been rather mild & damp. As i stepped outside last night it was around 9c, damp & calm,..so, fairly ideal for some early in the year amphibian activity. As amphibians get all over the place in my garden i always need to tread very carefully, & sure enough, halfway up the garden path, there was an adult male Smooth newt taking a breather. Nearby, on a weedy, vast sprawling, rocky mound (dug out years ago for a bigger pond i've still not made) i spotted at least half a dozen adult newts along with about half a dozen youngsters. (They seemed all Smooths, but i've got long introduced Palmates about as well.) They all appeared to be out for a bite to eat, although i suppose one or two of the adults might've actually been gradually meandering their way with reaching the pond more in mind. Anyway, i spotted a couple more adults in places before i reached the pond, situated at the top end of my almost 80f't garden. First newts into my pond (only 5'x3',x2'deep) always seem to be Palmates & this year was to be no different as i found several already in there, along with at least a handful of Smooths. I usually get at least one, or two, Cresteds as well, but there didn't seem any yet, although it's usually difficult to clearly see what might be lurking deeper, especially with there also being bits of pond weed impeding my scrutiny. Any frogs or toads are rarely out'n'about on land in my garden before march but in the pond there's nearly always several alert eyed male frogs (which will have hibernated in there) surfaced around the reeds in the corner, as was the case last night. Without fail, newts are always the ones to get the show started in my garden, well in advance of any amorous frog & toad activity. There'll be lots more newts (peaking at possibly 100 adults) to arrive into my pond yet between further cold snaps & practically all adult newts will be back & long re-established in the pond by the time toads & land based frogs get on the march to it. So anyway, that's me & what's already going on in my neck of the woods,..what about elsewhere in the country, guys'n'gals?
|
|
Suzi
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1025 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Keep meaning to go look at my pond with a torch so I did tonight at 10pm but nothing stirring. It is only 4 months old but I am fairly certain there is at least one frog hibernating in there but no sign of any newts or anything tonight. It is very mild. I'm in East Devon btw.
|
|
Suz
|
|
administrator
Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Hi Mick, I caught today's temperature and weather on the radio this morning.. needless to say we'll be doing our first spawn spotting around the local ponds today and the garden pond will be torched tonight.. I let you know if we get anything |
|
Alan Hyde
Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1437 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Ah, this is such good news . My S.A.D get progressively worse with each winter, and the first sighting of frogs in my pond is a sign that things are looking up
I have tried my best to fight off the gloom by getting involved in Bird Photography but, this just doesn't touch the spot for me. |
|
O-> O+>
|
|
administrator
Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
They are fantastic Al, you know I had plans to hide in our shed this winter and get some shots of the bird table... guess what S.A.D beat me and I've done practically nothing since I stopped working in November Still springs here now (OK I KNOW it isn't official, but one newt or a frog will do it for me!! ) |
|
Alan Hyde
Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1437 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Morning Gemma ! Thanks!
I bought a bird hide and put it up in our garden near the feeders, it's just a shame that we don't get more bird variety where we are. I've seen Blackcaps, Long tailed tits, Blue and Great tits, A jay , Starlings ,Blackbirds, Robins and one Great Woodpecker. I've given up Smoking so we can afford to go away to the sun every Christmas . I swore that I'd never spend another one here and quitting my ú70 a week habit will certainly help towards getting there . It was funny as, I just didn't know what to do with myself so i'd spend hours just sitting in this hide looking through the lens and chewing gum franticly I thought you'd be feeling the gloom too It's nice to know we're not alone. And Aside from the bird photos i've been the same as you doing very little but sitting inside my own bubble of thought .I'm Supposed to be decorating but can't find the motivation , and have also been doing just the very basic housework that needs to be done. Here's to Spring and the happy rays that the sun brings Edited by Alan Hyde |
|
O-> O+>
|
|
Alan Hyde
Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1437 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Also, keeping to the Topic , my sister tells me that she has a pair of toads (seperate) in her garden pond this morning . She lives in Somerset.
Edited by Alan Hyde |
|
O-> O+>
|
|
administrator
Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Hey, congrats on kicking the habit, Merv gave up after a dose of flu at Christmas, today is my big day strangely enough, 2 packs left, at the end of that no more chain smoking!! Hey I better get outside and see if I can find some herps, else I'll be here all day nattering |
|
Alan Hyde
Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1437 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Oh Wow, well done Merv!! And good Luck Gemma , I hope you manage to crack it too
|
|
O-> O+>
|
|
Mick
Member Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 184 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Don't forget more precise locations, guys'n'gals...I know this isn't a majorly serious topic but i just thought it would be interesting to hear about what herptile life is gradually starting to get back underway around the country. Alan, i feel your pain about yearning for spring to hurry up & properly get hear,..i'm no winter person either. And as for smokin',..well,...frustratingly, i definately also feel yours & Gemma's pain there! But hey!, gotta agree with Gemma about them pic's. I might not be much of a tweeter but those really are crackin' shots! And even in Somerset, Alan, i would have thought that's still early for a couple of toads to yet be out'n'about...Interestin'. Suzi. Early days for a pond that young, i suppose, but i'm sure things will very quickly pick up over the next few years. My present pond's about 12-13y'rs old & i was lucky it seemed to get occupied pretty well in just it's first 2-3y'rs. These days amphibian activity in my pond each spring is just mental & i love it! Keep optomistic about everything though, Suzi, as i remember that when i built my pond, although i expected frogs & newts to move in fairly soon, i read that a pond as small (about 5'x3', 2'deep) & newly built as mine might be unlikely to ever attract any toads, & yet in my ponds first year i had at least a couple of toads as well....Now i get plenty of everything & i'm desperate to finish building a much bigger pond i excavated the space for years ago. Hmmmm,..maybe this year.. All good things come to those who wait, Suzi, & it'll be worth it. Keep 'em peeled, guys'n'gals! |
|
Post Reply | Page 123 11> |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |