The temporary disturbance of newts + other amphibians does not require a license, man. When I clean out a pond I house all creatures (and pond water) in a sectional pond along with plants etc. Once the cleaning is done, all life is returned with original water. No species is any more important than another to me - they all go back safe.
When I see volunteer groups, led by 'experts' going at it like demented morons, my heart sinks.
I'll try to upload the vid so you can have a look. As I pointed out, though, I am pretty inept with the camcorder (just bought it). The critter is obviously quite green, but the detail is poor. I did get it blowing a bubble, though. The ponds where I filmed this are half way down a cliff and have been made by fashioning rims from the clay. It's possible that the folks who made the ponds also brought in flora and fauna.
No. There is an Alpine Newt which is basically a european version of a great crested newt. It would be great if thats what it was. I would love to have them fellas in my ponds.
Great vid. What’s happened to them all? As kid newts were everywhere, nowadays you have to actively track them down. Is it just habitat lose, predation or what? Also I hear there’s a fungus attacking amphibians all over the world is that true? Thanks.
Most of the ones in the video were at a customers pond, around my polytunnel and in my garden.
I think habitat loss is the greatest killer as during the 1980's, the Common Agricultural Policy (from the European Union) was to drain swamps, remove dry stone walls and generally destroy suitable habitat in favour of large fields with fence dividers. We have gone the other way now but maybe it is too late for many populations.
There are fungal problems with frogs globally, yes.
The one problem with them is that the more you find, the longer it takes to clean out and maintain the pond, as they've all got to be saved and returned.
I hope you have a license to be handling those newts.
JustJD77 9 months ago
The temporary disturbance of newts + other amphibians does not require a license, man. When I clean out a pond I house all creatures (and pond water) in a sectional pond along with plants etc. Once the cleaning is done, all life is returned with original water. No species is any more important than another to me - they all go back safe.
When I see volunteer groups, led by 'experts' going at it like demented morons, my heart sinks.
I am a specialist, not an 'expert'.
Big difference.
pondguru 9 months ago 3
@JustJD77 license .....what a jobsworth twat
jackoalltheway 4 months ago
No sweat. Every time I try to do something new on a PC there's a hurdle to jump. I'll either figure it out or get a spod to sort it.
dklautari 9 months ago
hi there i was building my pond today and a newt came from no where i hope you can shed some light on my new guest.
ga222a 9 months ago
Just checked it out on your channel. Great crested newt - female. Excellent.
pondguru 9 months ago
@ga222a
there must be another pond within half a kilometre if you got a newt out the blue
ibwaheemi 9 months ago
I've edited the footage but I'm having trouble saving the file to CD so I can load it onto this PC. Hopefully, I'll figure out what to do.
dklautari 9 months ago
I'm hopeless with computers and a butcher when editing so I can't be of much help unfortunately...
pondguru 9 months ago
I'll try to upload the vid so you can have a look. As I pointed out, though, I am pretty inept with the camcorder (just bought it). The critter is obviously quite green, but the detail is poor. I did get it blowing a bubble, though. The ponds where I filmed this are half way down a cliff and have been made by fashioning rims from the clay. It's possible that the folks who made the ponds also brought in flora and fauna.
dklautari 9 months ago
If you do get a vid, send it to me - it'll be interesting to see what it is.
pondguru 9 months ago
As you can see, I'm just as clever with Youtube as I am with a camcorder. Sorry about the repeated post.
dklautari 9 months ago
Is there a British newt that is a brightish green colour? I filmed one yesterday (very badly).
dklautari 9 months ago
No. There is an Alpine Newt which is basically a european version of a great crested newt. It would be great if thats what it was. I would love to have them fellas in my ponds.
pondguru 9 months ago
Is there a British newt that is brightish green? I filmed one yesterday (very badly).
dklautari 9 months ago
Are there tadpoles the same as frog tadpoles
ratboy8z6 10 months ago
Tadpoles from a toad are similar but are much smaller and darker in appearance.
pondguru 10 months ago
The best time to clean out - or dredge a large pond - is mid-October when most of the newts have left for hibernation.
rosmarinusofficialis 10 months ago
Why are British aquatics always brown or grey?
Noodles37UK 1 year ago
Most have a base colour which is a neutral tone but some species have some really nice colour highlights.
pondguru 1 year ago
I love newts. We have a breeding colony of smooth newts in our backyard.
StewartBloor 1 year ago
Good to hear.
pondguru 1 year ago
Great vid. What’s happened to them all? As kid newts were everywhere, nowadays you have to actively track them down. Is it just habitat lose, predation or what? Also I hear there’s a fungus attacking amphibians all over the world is that true? Thanks.
Naturallyskeptic 1 year ago
Most of the ones in the video were at a customers pond, around my polytunnel and in my garden.
I think habitat loss is the greatest killer as during the 1980's, the Common Agricultural Policy (from the European Union) was to drain swamps, remove dry stone walls and generally destroy suitable habitat in favour of large fields with fence dividers. We have gone the other way now but maybe it is too late for many populations.
There are fungal problems with frogs globally, yes.
pondguru 1 year ago
I really want a newt but they are sold here =(
Kribensis007 1 year ago
Very informative...well done
howarth004 1 year ago
Very good video!!
animalmastermtd 1 year ago
cool vid! pretty cool lookin little guys arent they! *****
j0j0barz33 1 year ago
The one problem with them is that the more you find, the longer it takes to clean out and maintain the pond, as they've all got to be saved and returned.
pondguru 1 year ago