Kerry1968
Active member
- Joined
- May 16, 2008
- Messages
- 888
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- Location
- Bristol, England
- Country
- United Kingdom
I have just come back from a short break in Southern England, Dorset to be precise and a had a wonderful experience with some Palmate newts.
I know this probably doesn't compare with all you guys in the US with your salamander experiences, nothing quite so exotic, but for me it was something I will never forget.
The local area was conifer forests and open heathland, there were lots of boggy areas and some small pools of still water. I wasn't really expecting to see anything, but had a look in the first pool I found by the side of a busy cycle track/footpath. I was so excited when I saw a newt there! There wasn't time at this stage to stop for long so I made a date with myself to return and spend some time there, I figured if there was one there had to be more.
So later on in the same day I went back and settled myself down to watch for newts. I was sat about half an hour before I saw any (the path by me was busy, must've kept the newts wary). I took some photos but they were rubbish, too much glare on the surface of the water. I bided my time though and was rewarded with a female floating near the suface snapping at a bubble. I took lots of photos, much better this time! By this time I was sat on the bank with my feet in the water!
I noticed a male newt chasing after a female (at this point I didn't know which were males and which were females). He swam in front of her and started fanning his tail, then I knew which was the male! He was displaying to her for ages, I took photos and video'd it too (though the quality of my filming leaves a lot to be desired!) I was so happy to see this intimate glimpse into a wild newts life and I thought, well you can't top that!
But you can and I did!
As I was sat just watching the newts doing their thing, I felt something tickling my toes. A female newts had come over to check me out! She tried biting my toenails, then climbed on my foot. She was walking over my feet and nibbling my toes for about half an hour! I was just grinning all over my face! It's a good job that by then the footpath was quieter, people would think me insane!
So of course I returned to that pool again and again over the 3 days I was staying nearby. I also found many more pools and ditches with Palmate newts in, but the first one was the best. It was easy to see the newts, a comfortable viewing spot and with an unforgettable experience too!
This morning I made my final trip to the pool to say goodbye to 'my' newts. I was sat for about half an hour and in that short space of time I saw 8 newts and a female laying an egg on a plant.
So, that was my weekend, what a wonderful time I had, I hope I can visit this area again soon.
I hope you enjoyed my little tale.
I know this probably doesn't compare with all you guys in the US with your salamander experiences, nothing quite so exotic, but for me it was something I will never forget.
The local area was conifer forests and open heathland, there were lots of boggy areas and some small pools of still water. I wasn't really expecting to see anything, but had a look in the first pool I found by the side of a busy cycle track/footpath. I was so excited when I saw a newt there! There wasn't time at this stage to stop for long so I made a date with myself to return and spend some time there, I figured if there was one there had to be more.
So later on in the same day I went back and settled myself down to watch for newts. I was sat about half an hour before I saw any (the path by me was busy, must've kept the newts wary). I took some photos but they were rubbish, too much glare on the surface of the water. I bided my time though and was rewarded with a female floating near the suface snapping at a bubble. I took lots of photos, much better this time! By this time I was sat on the bank with my feet in the water!
I noticed a male newt chasing after a female (at this point I didn't know which were males and which were females). He swam in front of her and started fanning his tail, then I knew which was the male! He was displaying to her for ages, I took photos and video'd it too (though the quality of my filming leaves a lot to be desired!) I was so happy to see this intimate glimpse into a wild newts life and I thought, well you can't top that!
But you can and I did!
As I was sat just watching the newts doing their thing, I felt something tickling my toes. A female newts had come over to check me out! She tried biting my toenails, then climbed on my foot. She was walking over my feet and nibbling my toes for about half an hour! I was just grinning all over my face! It's a good job that by then the footpath was quieter, people would think me insane!
So of course I returned to that pool again and again over the 3 days I was staying nearby. I also found many more pools and ditches with Palmate newts in, but the first one was the best. It was easy to see the newts, a comfortable viewing spot and with an unforgettable experience too!
This morning I made my final trip to the pool to say goodbye to 'my' newts. I was sat for about half an hour and in that short space of time I saw 8 newts and a female laying an egg on a plant.
So, that was my weekend, what a wonderful time I had, I hope I can visit this area again soon.
I hope you enjoyed my little tale.
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