Wildlife never ceases to surprise us, and it turns out our resident newts are no exception. Of all the things you could say about a newt, being speedy on land was not something we would have expected. But look at this tiny palmate newt go, we struggled to keep the camera on it.
We only filmed for 60 seconds, then stepped back and watched it safely to the garden shrub border. We found it wandering at the far end of the garden, a few meters from the boggy area. This is typical behavior, as once the larvae have absorbed their gills, they can leave the water, usually around August time.
This little fella will now feed on invertebrates before finding shelter for the winter, such as under stones, the compost heap, or other sheltered refuge. Another reason why disturbance is best kept to a minimum during winter (or any season really).
DC:02.09.2024
Wildlife Garden 