Deb's Web

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I hope to find time to put some more of the many photographs which I have taken in the past year or so, in my garden in Gosport, Hampshire (UK). I particularly want of put some of the photographs of newts in my pond onto the web site.

Common Toads in my pond 28th March 2006

I am fortunate in having two ponds in my garden, a large pond and a smaller one. The large pond is naturally where most of the activity takes place, and I had always known it had many Common Frogs** (Rana temporia), Common Toads** (Bufo bufo) and Smooth Newts (Triturus vulgaris), although it was only in late March 2002 that I noticed Palmate Newts (Triturus helveticus), photographs below, were also there. Some of these remain in the pond more or less all the year round.

Common Frogs and spawn, my garden pond, 21 February 2007

Palmate Newt, 4th April 2006

Palmate Newt, 28th April 2006 Click here to see enlargement (1440 x 640 px).

The newts don't seem to mind which end of the pond they lay their eggs in, but do have a preference for utilising the 'alien' (and highly invasive) New Zealand Pygmyweed Crassula helmsii, which will overrun the pond given just half a chance. It did in fact overrun the small pond, but it has been (almost) cleared from both ponds now (2007). Note: almost wasn't good enough - it has now completely filled the small pond again. Last year (2006), in the absence of any Crassula in the large pond, the newts used Lemna minor, which after making an appearance last year has now completely covered the surface. The water below seems to be clear though! Click here to see pic** You can see the orange of the female Smooth Newts bellies as they manipulate the tiny Lemna leaves.

During the summer months I also get Damselflies and Darters using the pond, the most frequent being the dainty little Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans ), with the more robust Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) both being 'recorded' for the first time on 2nd Aug 2005, even though I have actually seen them in previous years. Sympetrum striolatum - adult male in my garden, 27 August 2007.

First toad spawn - 06th Feb 2007 <> First frog spawn - 12th Feb 2007.
First frog spawn - 26th Mar 2006 <> First toad spawn - 27th Mar 2006.

Click here to see Frogs in my pond: 07.53hrs  20 February 2007**

All records for my garden unless otherwise stated.
Pond = the large pond (for records in my garden).

2008 Notes

2007 Notes

All in the large pond: 07 Mar 12:03hrs, 2 free-swimming tadpoles seen (see above). 06 Mar Spawn looking more like tadpoles now (see right) Click here for enlargement. 23 Feb c.16:00hrs, now about 8 clumps of frog spawn. 21 Feb Now 4 clumps of frog spawn. 20 Feb 07:28hrs, 8+ adults seen. 17 Feb 23:40hrs, at least 23 adults including one mating pair 16 Feb c.21:40hrs, now 2 clumps of frog spawn, 14 (or more) adults seen, including 2 mating pairs. 12 Feb 13:47hrs, 1 clump of spawn in large pond noted (see right) Click here for enlargement. At 23:32hrs, at least 16 frogs, maybe more, mating. A 'bundle' of maybe 5 or 6+ frogs (& toads!) was seen, with an unfortunate female toad in the middle of it all. 6 Feb 08:10hrs. First strings of toad spawn.

2006 Notes

6 Jun 23.30hrs. 14 frogs, mostly small, with one adult toad.

29 Apr 10 frogs in pond at 21.40hrs

28 Apr 22.47hrs, (300?) toad tadpoles in pond.

27 Mar 16:49. toad spawn.

26 Mar 17:35. 2 clumps of frog spawn, one at each end of pond.

2005 Notes

08 Nov c.17.40hrs, one frog disturbed while mowing lawn

Autumn/winter The water in the pond has cleared!

12 Aug 23.05 hrs 4 frogs in large pond

August The water is still green and cloudy - Click here to see pic** (opens new window), but this does not seem to bother the frogs, toads and newts - although I cannot count them as easily as I used to be able to. Despite this, and the fact that all last years tadpoles died, there are more small 'froglets' to be seen both in and out of the pond than I have seen in previous years.

02 Apr 17:27hrs, georgeously warm day. One Common Frog tadpole in my pond wriggling to escape jelly of spawn

15 Mar 08.10hrs, two strings of toad spawn and one patch of frog spawn

2004 Notes

Unfortunately all the tadpoles suddenly died in the spring, and the cloudiness makes it difficult to see much.

Spring 2004, the liner is in place - but the water has turned cloudy with green algae; it is not very easy now to watch the frog, toads and newts, nor to take photos of them.

31st Mar 04 Smooth Newts, at least 25 in the pond, 22:30.

21st Feb 04 First Frog spawn of the year, in the pond this morning at 08:10 hrs.

5th Feb 04 Common Toads, 8 (incl. 2 mating pairs). Weather - occasional showers, with rain overnight.

31st Jan 04 Smooth Newts, 2; Common Frogs, 2; in the pond at 11:40. Weather c.10degC, wet, stormy, f4-5SW.

2003 Notes

26th Nov 03, 2 Frogs in the fold of new pond liner at 09:16hrs. Weather - raining, as it has been for last 2-3 days!

23rd Nov 03, 40mm of rain today, pond nearly full.

Sun 16th Nov 03, finally fitted new liner into pond. Plenty of rain fell in the following week.

25th Oct 03, a frog came from the vegetation in the pond while clearing it to re-line.

October 2003, my concrete pond has a rather large crack, which allows the water to leak out. I am about to clear it out and line it with a butyl pond liner.

14th Sep 03, 1 Frog seen in the stream at Alver Wood, Rowner (by Dormy Way).

25th Aug 03 Disturbed a frog from the vegetation at 14:30 while preparing to re-line the pond, which has developed a very large crack.

11th Aug 03, 1 Toad seen at 22:00hrs.

15th Mar 03, first strands of Toad Spawn of the year.

6th Mar 03, 7 Toads (incl. a mating pair); a pair of mating Frogs; 3 Smooth Newts, 1 male and 2 female; and 2 Palmate Newts - all in the pond at 02:10hrs. Weather cold and damp, with rain earlier on.

4th Mar 03, more Frog spawn, 2 clumps now.

3rd Mar 03, first (single) clump of Frog spawn seen in the middle of the pond (house end); 6 Toads, 2 on path and 4 in the pond (incl. a mating pair); 5 Smooth Newts, 3 male breeding colours and 2 female; and 3 Palmate Newts, 1 male and 2 female, - all at 23:30hrs. Weather cold, with fine light rain.

28th Feb 03, 10 Toads (2 on the path, 8 in the pond): and in the pond -a pair of mating Frogs on the side of the pond (female chestnut red): 1 Smooth Newt - all at about 22:45hrs . Weather cold and damp with occasional showers.

2002 Notes

12th Jun 02, the newts are still fairly active, and I am still seeing frogs or toads occasionally.

4th May 02, 16:00hrs - 9 Palmate and 12 Smooth Newts in the pond, and one lone frog watching quietly from the shelter of the rushes.

27th Mar 02, 23:40hrs - 9 newts (in pond). A very cold night after a clear, warm and sunny day.

26th Mar 02, 19:00hrs - 1 toads, new frog spawn one small batch, and 5 newts (all in the pond).

25th Mar 02, 23:50hrs - 1 toad (in pond - calling), 2 frogs and 30 newts, (8 Palmate, 11 Common, and 11 undetermined, all in the pond).

25th Mar 02, 23:50hrs - 2 toads (in pond), 1 frogs and 7 newts (4 in pond). It is not easy to identify the newt species, as the females are laying eggs and could not be disturbed.

23rd Mar 02, 22:40hrs - 3 toads (in pond) + 1 calling in the garden, 2 frogs and 15 newts (Smooth & Palmate, in pond).

22nd Mar 02, 21:30hrs - 9 newts in pond, 5 Smooth and 4 Palmate (Triturus helveticus), male and female. I have been puzzled by some newts for the past few days, trying to decide whether they were male or female; or perhaps juveniles. Closer inspection revealed them to be Palmate Newts, which are smaller and have webbed feet and a tail which ends abruptly and has a short filament at the end. This is the first time I have seen this species in my pond.

21st Mar 02, 23:45hrs - 2 toads (in pond & calling), 3 frogs and 19 newts (in pond).

20th Mar 02, 23:30:hrs - 3 toads (in pond, 1 calling), 4 frogs and 5 newts (in pond).
A strange cat has been prowling round the pond tonight.

19th Mar 02, 20:20hrs - 10 toads (6 in pond, 1 calling, 4 on the path), 6 frogs and 25 newts - very active (in pond).

18th Mar 02, 22:50hrs - 3 toads (in pond), 2 frogs and 9(+) newts (in pond).

17th Mar 02, 12:30 - 14:30hrs - 20+ newts - active (in pond).
Noted yesterday that the toad spawn looks white and undeveloped.

16th Mar 02, 10:30hrs - frog tadpoles seen, near end of pond, and 3 newts at far end.
23:50hrs - 6 toads (in pond), 3 frogs and 23 very busy newts (in pond).

14th Mar 02, 23:55hrs - 3 frogs and 6 newts (1 male) (in pond).
Much of the frog spawn looks almost ready to 'hatch', with tadpoles clearly discernible.

10-13th Mar 02, no count made.

9th Mar 02, 11:45hrs - 2 toads (in pond), and 4 newts (in pond).
Some of the frog spawn is showing signs of development with with heads and tails becoming discernible. Image © P. Dukes, 2002

8th Mar 02, 21:20hrs - 5 toads (4 in pond, 1 on path), and 5 newts (in pond).

7th Mar 02, 21:40hrs - 13 toads (in pond), 4 frogs and 2 newts (in pond).

6th Mar 02, 19:25hrs - 12 toads (in pond), 1 frog and 2 newts (in pond).

5th Mar 02, 23:50hrs - 4 toads (in pond), 2 frogs and 2 newts (in pond).

4th Mar 02, 23:53hrs - 3 toads (in pond), 2 frogs and 10 newts (in pond).  
4 newts were noted at about 10:00hrs (3 males around a lone female).

3rd Mar 02, 23:50hrs - 5 toads (in pond), 5 frogs and 5 newts (in pond). All very quiet.

2nd Mar 02, no count made.

1st Mar 02, 00:15hrs - 3 toads (in pond), 2 frogs and 11 newts (in pond).

28th Feb 02, 10:30hrs 2 newts (in pond).  20:20hrs 1 newt (in pond).
Approx. 12 clumps of frog spawn in the near end of the pond now.

27th Feb 02, 23:50hrs - 2 toads ( in pond), and 2 newts (in pond).

26th Feb 02, 23:57hrs - 11 toads (in pond), 4 frogs and 1 newt (in pond).

25th Feb 02, 21:00hrs - 21toads (10 in pond, 11 on path), 1 frog and 4 newts (in pond). Wet and windy. Frog 'chorus' as I approached, but only one to be counted! Toads also making some noise.

25th Feb 02, 23:30hrs - 6 toads (5 in pond, 1 on path), 2 frogs and 1 newt (in pond). Still very quiet.

23rd Feb 02, 23:00hrs - 3 frogs only, (in pond).
Frogs were very noisy around 2-3am, with the first 'Croakers Chorus' heard, despite the small number seen.

22nd Feb 02, 21:30hrs - 4 toads (in pond), 4 frogs (in pond, as one 'heap').

21st Feb 02, 09:00hrs - 7 patches of frog spawn (3 large and 1 small in the near end of the pond; 2 large and 1 small in the far end, after a wild and stormy night.
22:15hrs - 8 toads (7 in pond, 1 on path), 3 frogs and 1 newt (in pond). Very quiet despite the dampness

20th Feb 02, 20:02hrs -25 toads (in pond), 3 frogs (in pond). Cold and dry, rained early evening though.

19th Feb 02, 09:20hrs - a 3rd (small) string of toad spawn; 3 toads, 2 newts, (in the pond).
23:50hrs - Rain, gales, not too cold though - 22 toads (14 in pond, 8 on path), 3 frogs (in pond), 3 newts (in pond). Frog and toad heard.

18th Feb 02, 21:00hrs - 17 toads, 2 frogs, 2 newts, (all in the pond).
The pond has been very quiet since the weather turned cold.

17th Feb 02, 20:20hrs - 10 toads, 1 frog, 1 newt, (all in the pond).

16th Feb 02, 10:15hrs - 5 toads, 2 frogs, and first small patch of frog spawn, far end of pond (c.4cm across), being eaten by a newt.

15th Feb 02, 21:30hrs - 11 toads, 1 frog and 3 newts (all in pond). Dry and cold.

14th Feb 02, 21:00hrs - 10 toads, 2 frogs and 3 newts (all in pond). Dry and very cold, with overnight frost.

13th Feb 02, 23:30hrs - 29 toads (27 in pond, 2 on path), 2 frogs and 3 newts (in pond). There was a second string of toad spawn in the other (near) end of the pond early this morning.

12th Feb 02, 21:00hrs - 44 toads (38 in pond, 6 on path), 1 frog and 4 newts in pond. Toad spawn seen at midnight, far end of pond.
11th Feb 02, 21.30 hrs rained earlier - 36 toads (29 in pond, 6 on path), 1 frog and 9 newts in pond.

10th Feb 02, 20.15 hrs - 21 toads (17 in pond, 3 on path, 1 in small pond), 3 frogs and 5 newts in pond.

9th Feb 02, 11.00 hrs - 18 toads in the pond.

8th Feb 02, midnight, very damp night - 21 toads (18 in the pond, 3 on the path), (5 as 'pairs'), 2 frogs in the pond.

7th Feb 02, 23.20hrs - 16 toads, with 14 in the pond and 2 on the path nearby. 4 newts and 2 frogs also in the pond.

6th Feb 02, 23.50hrs - 7 toads in the pond.

4th Feb 02, 22.20hrs - 1 frog, 1 toad, 6 newts, all in the pond.

2002 high counts:

Frogs - 6 (19/03/02)

Toads - 44 (12/02/02)

Newts - 25 (19/03/02)

2001 Notes

September 01 - Have disturbed a few frogs lurking below stones and vegetation while working in the garden over the past week or so, the newts seem to have hidden themselves well though.
August 01 - Still finding the odd frog or toad around the garden, and a few in the pond as well, no newts seen lately though.
25th June 01 - toads seem to have disappeared; frogs are just lazing around, but 5 came out of the pond during the day when I sprayed the hose near the pond; newts just seem to be quietly going about their daily business.
14th April - 20+ newts were seen loitering in a sunny, shallow area of the pond during the week.
The frogs and toads are a little quieter now that they have done their bit towards maintaining population numbers.

2001 high counts were:

Frogs - 7

Toads - 18

Newts - 20(+)

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