Scottish Newt Hunt

[liam]

Hi everyone, this is my first post here. Myself and Newtboyuk from the caudata forums went on a newt hunt this afternoon. We didn't really expect to find anything - just a good excuse for a walk and a chat. Lo and behold, we stumbled across 10 juvenile triturus helveticus, and an adult male going into breeding condition!!! They were fantastic - it's the first time i've ever seen wild newts in Scotland - ever actually. Truly a day to remember! (if only i'd had a camera

)

Liam.

 

[mark]

Indeed it was a fine day! I'd been searching since my childhood and had only ever seen one!

 

[morg]

Good on you both.
I wish there were places near Doncaster that I could observe newts, but I know of none.
There's always my back garden for me though, where the latest return is a fully crested male Triturus vulgaris.

 

[mark]

You're very lucky to have them in your garden! I get common frogs and the extremely occasional toad, which i suppose is better than nothing!

 

[liam]

Hi there, we went out again today to the same location armed with a camera. Took care not to disturb the same newts we saw the other day though - went to a different part of the same area. We found a total of 9 juveniles - t's quite incredible how many there seem to be around here. Anyway, here are some photos i took while we were out (it was quite dark at the time unfortunately):

 

[mark]

Great pics!! Pity we didn't bump into to any adults though. Probably still is a tad early!

 

[paul]

what area did you find them in?
i live in edinburgh during the week and fife at weekends

 

[caleb]

Yes, I'd be interested in knowing roughly whereabouts in Scotland you were- amphibians on the west coast generally come out quite a bit earlier than on the east coast.

No sign of any amphibians here in Durham yet.

 

[damian]

There are Palmate Newts and Common Frogs currently in my brothers garden pond which is in Cleveland (UK) and not that far from you Caleb, keep looking!
Damian

 

[mark]

Newts are strange in this country - there's many areas of seemingly suitable habitat that have thriving amphibian populations yet no newts. They seem to be highly localised and do not appear keen on populating new areas.

The newts were found in the glasgow area.

Caleb: The frogs in glasgow are also out very early compared to those in my hometown of lanark only 30ish miles away where they don't come out until well into march!