Newts: The Next Generation

[iainjclark]

It had been a while since we'd seen any newts in our pond, having at one stage counted nine newts swimming around simultaneously. We'd more or less decided that the newts had left the pond, as newts are (so they tell me) wont to do.

Then, on the very day my wife declared that if we didn't see a newt she'd give up, we found the tiniest of tiny baby newts (okay, larvae). And then two more. These really are small: only just over a centimetre long, about the size of a 1p coin. They have little gills and four tiny legs. Awww.



I've no idea how many others there may be lurking in the depths of our small pond, or what the chances of them surviving are, but this is a very cool discovery.

Comments

[fba.livejournal.com]

We apparently have 14 frogs in our pond. I'm not sure how many we will be in the pond when they come to breed as it appears that next door's cat is a hunter. I have seen it sitting on the pond cover then desperately trying to get its paws underneath - presumably to catch the frogs. I have also caught this cat pawing at the window where Niall's cage is currently living. So far I am not endeared to this kitty and I'm hoping there won't be trouble when Gracie is allowed out in a few weeks.

[iainjclark.livejournal.com]

I occasionally catch our cats chasing after frogs, which emit a high pitched squealing noise that has to be heard to be believed. Either because this is so off-putting, or because our cats are dimwitted and poor hunters generally, they don't seem to know what to do with a frog. We've had no fatalities so far.

As for other cats, they do frequently have banshee-style stand-offs with them, but so far all parties have emerged unscathed. Our little three-legged cat Pixie is the fiercest, but generally seems to believe she's scared off cats single-handedly when in fact it was me or Janet appearing in the doorway that caused her opponent to turn and run. This may have given her a false belief in her own indomitability. I do worry one day she'll charge off aftter a retreating cat and have one of those "Han Solo" moments when it stops and turns round.