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   A friend of mine tells of a common frog that regularly basks on the tread of his rear doorstep prior to sunset and into the evening. Day or night, heat regulation of the aforementioned kind (under/on things etc) is to be expected in all amphibians one would assume. I just found this interesting because of the way each animal was stationed about the area, on top of its own little stone. It's not something i'd seen before, although i have seen newts roaming about at night on many occasions. I recorded the particulars at the time; the night was still and heavily overcast, 90% humidity and borderline cold at 8 degrees. One hour post sunset.

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Noodles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05 Dec 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 534	Post Options Post Reply Quote Noodles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 Oct 2012 at 9:30am
	A friend of mine tells of a common frog that regularly basks on the tread of his rear doorstep prior to sunset and into the evening. Day or night, heat regulation of the aforementioned kind (under/on things etc) is to be expected in all amphibians one would assume. I just found this interesting because of the way each animal was stationed about the area, on top of its own little stone. It's not something i'd seen before, although i have seen newts roaming about at night on many occasions. I recorded the particulars at the time; the night was still and heavily overcast, 90% humidity and borderline cold at 8 degrees. One hour post sunset.

Suzy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447	Post Options Post Reply Quote Suzy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 Oct 2012 at 12:24pm
	I have found toads, and occasionally frogs, basking under black plastic in the heat of summer (not this one!). They would certainly have got very hot.
	Suz

liamrussell Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Status: Offline Points: 100	Post Options Post Reply Quote liamrussell Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 Oct 2012 at 11:29am
	Most Pelophylax species will bask in direct sunlight, as will Hyla.

GemmaJF Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359	Post Options Post Reply Quote GemmaJF Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 Oct 2012 at 10:34am
	I've seen literally dozens of newts under onduline felts placed in shallows and also in a rotting newspaper in shallows in the past, both observations suggesting amphibians will seek artificial heat sources when they can. I think generally 'basking' or at least seeking external heat by native amphibians is rarely mentioned in the literature but they will do it when given the chance. Many years ago when I lived in Suffolk the top of our garden was a rough grassland area. In later summer early autumn one could find common frogs literally 'basking' in the weak sunlight. Torching for terrestrial newts on warmer damp evenings after dark at this time of year can be very productive.

Donny Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 May 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 70	Post Options Post Reply Quote Donny Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 Oct 2012 at 6:05am
	Interesting. I pulled some plastic sacking out of a pond on a sunny day in January and found 3 male Palmates inside - the sack had been in direct sunlight and the water inside was warmer.

Noodles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05 Dec 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 534	Post Options Post Reply Quote Noodles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Oct 2012 at 12:44pm
	This might be of interest to some; whilst out doing night work in upland mid Wales last night i came across a 3 ft high x 10 ft wide hummock of acid grassland in a valley mire, adjacent to a small stream. The hump was pocked with rabbit burrows and thinking i might find evidence of an otter holt i shone my torch about looking for spraints. Instead of spraints I counted 6 palmate newts of varying ages including two juveniles. Two newts were clearly emerging from one burrow and i'm certain the others's had also. The funny thing was that five of the six newts were sitting on small flat stones, presumably taking the heat. This was about one hour after sunset.