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breeding season night time excursions

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Liz Heard View Drop Down
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    Posted: 23 Mar 2011 at 6:55pm
hi RAUKERS,

as usual i had a good look around the ponds last night and as i did, i eyeballed these two male smooths at the edge of my smaller pool;

sorry, pic is poor - its honest in situ tho!




is such breeding season terrestrial activity likely to be in pursuit of food (it wasnt a damp night) or are these wandering males seeking other waterbodies hoping to find mates?
they could have come from my other pond.

thoughts anyone?

ben
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2011 at 12:58am

ben didn't you know 'newt diving' is an Olympic event? They are just getting in some practice!

Newts are pretty active at night throughout the breeding season, they often forage on land and wander about to different ponds.

 

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Liz Heard View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Liz Heard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2011 at 4:40pm


i expect they put in a good showing in the Synchronised Swimming event too!

thanks Gemma.

so its primarily food-seeking then. i often see them out and about.
hopefully observe one with prey soon!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sussexecology Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2011 at 7:39pm

Did my first torching survey last night and actually lost count on the number of smooth newts. I know we had about 15 females in one pond!

I didn't get any pics because, as usual, I didn't have my camera with me!  It was such a mild night though.

Gemma, we had to be a bit careful at one point because we had a number of toads foraging on the ground! Bless their little souls! No squashed ones though, I'm pleased to report.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2011 at 11:41pm
Tuddies can be out for other reasons too, the males will
often just sit in open areas waiting for the females, some
nights before the bulk of the females turn up I find more
males around a pond than in it. Not smart behaviour though
if the open area is a road.   
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