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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 13, 2014 17:55:54 GMT
Thank you, 'Arry! (Suppose you're 'ere all week, are you???!!! ) i am indeed murph , whats cookin in your kitchen tonight Salmon again, H. Can't help bein' borin'!!! ![(zzz)](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/wrnV5qDaHBTC0CMbOVC1.gif) Where were you the other night when I did Penne all'Arrabbiata??? (Had it with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. Tff tff tff tff tff.........)
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 13, 2014 18:08:19 GMT
Coincidentally, I saw a newt in my pond this very afternoon - the first time I've ever seen a newt in there - I was thrilled to bits! I was watching all the tadpoles, thinking how enormous they are (never seen them THAT big - they're really huge) and then I spotted him. Obviously only a young one, as only about 2" long…. dark brown, with a little cream tummy…… so if there's one baby newt, there must be more - I hope!
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Post by slicko on Jun 13, 2014 18:10:20 GMT
Coincidentally, I saw a newt in my pond this very afternoon - the first time I've ever seen a newt in there - I was thrilled to bits! I was watching all the tadpoles, thinking how enormous they are (never seen them THAT big - they're really huge) and then I spotted him. Obviously only a young one, as only about 2" long…. dark brown, with a little cream tummy…… so if there's one baby newt, there must be more - I hope! Me too, first time...Friday 13th, the day of the newt
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2014 18:37:02 GMT
Newts eat tadpoles in abundance along with larvae maggots and other insects. It is important that you don't disturb the area around the pond and provide protection like a rockery or cover for them to over winter in. The more overgrown the pond the better. Mine over winter in the greenhouse under pots and plastic sheets . They are far more fascinating to watch than goldfish in my opinion.
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Post by harryburrows on Jun 13, 2014 18:47:53 GMT
i am indeed murph , whats cookin in your kitchen tonight Salmon again, H. Can't help bein' borin'!!! ![(zzz)](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/wrnV5qDaHBTC0CMbOVC1.gif) Where were you the other night when I did Penne all'Arrabbiata??? (Had it with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. Tff tff tff tff tff.........) youre supposed to have that little ensemble with brains sauteed or was it kidneys of a neighbour or adversary
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Post by localloser on Jun 13, 2014 18:53:49 GMT
We've had frogs for a good few years now but this year we came across a breeding pair of newts for the first time.. We didn't introduce them - must have found their own way to the pond. We've also found a great diving beetle larva in there - apparently they are vicious little buggers when they hatch. Dunno how that got into the pond either! Great Diving Beetles??? No - they're vicious BIG buggers - VERY BIG! ![B-|](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/GW5u7F6ZsL7YqNjCbXMk.gif) The sort-of ' scream and instantly do the four minute mile away from the pond and across to the other side of the garden' BIG…….. And I don't know how he got in there, either. That was six years ago, and I still have nightmares…… Oh shit!! We have hundreds of tadpoles right now and I was fearing a plague of frogs next year. But is this bastard going to scoff them all then? Or should I just tread on the beast and have done?
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 13, 2014 19:22:23 GMT
Salmon again, H. Can't help bein' borin'!!! ![(zzz)](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/wrnV5qDaHBTC0CMbOVC1.gif) Where were you the other night when I did Penne all'Arrabbiata??? (Had it with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. Tff tff tff tff tff.........) youre supposed to have that little ensemble with brains sauteed or was it kidneys of a neighbour or adversary It was LIVER, 'Arry! ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/kwfoKwtHI0jglJZ4qZf6.gif) But you were close!
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Post by harryburrows on Jun 13, 2014 19:33:21 GMT
youre supposed to have that little ensemble with brains sauteed or was it kidneys of a neighbour or adversary It was LIVER, 'Arry! ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/kwfoKwtHI0jglJZ4qZf6.gif) But you were close! i was offal close wasnt i ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/kwfoKwtHI0jglJZ4qZf6.gif)
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 13, 2014 19:37:39 GMT
Great Diving Beetles??? No - they're vicious BIG buggers - VERY BIG! ![B-|](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/GW5u7F6ZsL7YqNjCbXMk.gif) The sort-of ' scream and instantly do the four minute mile away from the pond and across to the other side of the garden' BIG…….. And I don't know how he got in there, either. That was six years ago, and I still have nightmares…… Oh shit!!We have hundreds of tadpoles right now and I was fearing a plague of frogs next year. But is this bastard going to scoff them all then? Or should I just tread on the beast and have done? ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/kwfoKwtHI0jglJZ4qZf6.gif) Love it! I wish I could advise you, but I'm afraid I just don't know! However..... I'm sure it might be best to just leave him, as I think you usually find that nature will even itself out. As for the hundreds of tadpoles, don't worry - you won't be overrun with frogs next year - a large number of the baby frogs unfortunately don't survive - yes, you might well initially see loads and loads of tiny baby frogs hopping about all over the place when they first make it out of the pond, but I think many must be taken by predators, eg. magpies, rooks and crows, fairly early on, because you never see loads of fully-grown frogs everywhere. A bit of a pity, as I think they eat aphids and other real garden pests??? The above is what I have found with all the tadpoles/baby frogs in my garden every year, anyway!
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Post by slicko on Jun 13, 2014 19:43:39 GMT
Put a piranha in your pond. It will sort out your diving beetle problem.
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Post by localloser on Jun 13, 2014 20:23:34 GMT
Cheers Slicko! Thanks for the advice.... Know of any piranha stockists in East Yorkshire?
Murph: Thanks also, but it was you who put the shit up me with your everso slightly hyped response to my revelation of our GDB. Feel like stamping on the bugger! A heron has taken most of our (and our neighbour's) fish already so not much left in there. Bloody nature (smiley winky thing). Feel like getting a couple of tons of concrete....
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Post by slicko on Jun 13, 2014 20:41:19 GMT
Cheers Slicko! Thanks for the advice.... Know of any piranha stockists in East Yorkshire? Murph: Thanks also, but it was you who put the shit up me with your everso slightly hyped response to my revelation of our GDB. Feel like stamping on the bugger! A heron has taken most of our (and our neighbour's) fish already so not much left in there. Bloody nature (smiley winky thing). Feel like getting a couple of tons of concrete.... Try that Amazonian Delights number 0800 632564...ask for them to send round the biggest, darkest female.
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Post by localloser on Jun 13, 2014 21:11:20 GMT
Cheers Slicko! Thanks for the advice.... Know of any piranha stockists in East Yorkshire? Murph: Thanks also, but it was you who put the shit up me with your everso slightly hyped response to my revelation of our GDB. Feel like stamping on the bugger! A heron has taken most of our (and our neighbour's) fish already so not much left in there. Bloody nature (smiley winky thing). Feel like getting a couple of tons of concrete.... Try that Amazonian Delights number 0800 632564...ask for them to send round the biggest, darkest female. Tried them bud, but all I got was a black labrador. Not into bestiality and no good for great diving beetles. Ho hum....
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2014 21:41:25 GMT
I've had common / smooth newts in the garden and pond area. I have discovered more out of the pond resting under rocks where they like the dark damp conditions to rest during the day. They become active at night to look for food. Got any chocodiles too?.
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Post by lawrieleslie on Jun 13, 2014 21:59:24 GMT
We have loads of the Pistassa variety down here if that helps.
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Post by slicko on Jun 14, 2014 8:10:04 GMT
Woke up early this morning full of enthusiasm. Coffee in hand I scanned my pond for signs of newtish activity...nothing.
The moral of the story.
A fleeting sub-aquatic amphibian encounter is as rare as a Wilkinson goal.
They are there, it's just that it takes a rare set of circumstances to see one.
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 14, 2014 12:19:17 GMT
Cheers Slicko! Thanks for the advice.... Know of any piranha stockists in East Yorkshire? Murph: Thanks also, but it was you who put the shit up me with your everso slightly hyped response to my revelation of our GDB. Feel like stamping on the bugger! A heron has taken most of our (and our neighbour's) fish already so not much left in there. Bloody nature (smiley winky thing). Feel like getting a couple of tons of concrete.... YOU DIDN'T SEE THE SIZE OF IT, MATE! ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/kwfoKwtHI0jglJZ4qZf6.gif) I repeat: ![B-|](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/GW5u7F6ZsL7YqNjCbXMk.gif) Re. the heron problem: The moral of the tale is…… please net all fishponds over. Construct some sort of support structure all round the pond, net it completely and secure the net so that it can't get blown off - if you don't, you're wasting your time putting fish into a garden pond as herons will take the lot. Nets will also stop a load of leaves falling into the pond and rotting. As wildlife ponds don't need to be netted they're perhaps an easier option than fishponds, but having a fishpond in the garden is a lovely feature and simply netting it over is a small measure to have to take to keep the fish safe - there's no way I'd ever do without one for my little lot. And we know you're only kidding about the concrete!
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 14, 2014 12:22:44 GMT
Woke up early this morning full of enthusiasm. Coffee in hand I scanned my pond for signs of newtish activity...nothing. The moral of the story. A fleeting sub-aquatic amphibian encounter is as rare as a Wilkinson goal. They are there, it's just that it takes a rare set of circumstances to see one. No - a Wilkinson goal is rarer! ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/kwfoKwtHI0jglJZ4qZf6.gif)
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 14, 2014 13:51:54 GMT
I've had common / smooth newts in the garden and pond area. I have discovered more out of the pond resting under rocks where they like the dark damp conditions to rest during the day. They become active at night to look for food. Yes, they do - my fishpond existed for about four or five years before I put any fish in, but I did plant Flag Irises(*) and some watermint at one side of it, plus there was masses of Elodea oxygenating pondweed in there - anyway, in no time at all I was thrilled to find that the pond was full - and I mean FULL - of newts of all sorts, some light brown, some dark brown, some black, etc., some with plain cream underbits and some spotted. Never saw too many of them during the day, but as the pond was lit all around I could go out at night and watch them, and late-night was when they really came out in force. I used to try to count the tiny baby newts, only about an inch long, but always gave up when the count got to about 60 - they used to park themselves all over the Elodea that was sticking up out of the water and just rest there while the adult newts enjoyed a leisurely swim in and out of all the pond plants. It was absolutely magical to watch them all. Then…. I bought four goldfish and put them in the pond, and the newts all vanished, apparently because fish will eat newt eggs, so newts will not lay eggs in a fishpond. (I didn't realise that. You live and learn.) That was about 18-20 years ago, and I've never seen any newts in the garden since, despite having had a separate wildlife pond put in nine years ago, primarily and hopefully for the benefit of newts - hence the amazement and delight to actually see - at long last - the youngish one in there yesterday. (*) Incidentally, if anyone's thinking of making/planting up a pond, unless it's at least 30 feet in diameter don't plant Yellow Flag Irises (Iris Pseudacorus) - they look lovely, especially when they're flowering, but they're much too big, hefty and vigorous. They spread rapidly, to the point of being invasive, and will soon occupy the whole pond. When I eventually admitted defeat with them and had them removed from both ponds it took two lorryloads to transfer them to a local huge lake, where they've got enough room to spread to their hearts' content. And now it's time to go outside to see if I can spot little Arnie again……..
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Post by slicko on May 11, 2015 19:16:18 GMT
They're back!
Three smooth or common newts just seen cavorting in my Newcastle pond.
Best time to see them is dusk.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2015 19:46:20 GMT
Not a newt story i know, but there was a bucket behind mum/dads shed two years ago which was nearly full of water but had old paint brushes and paint etc in it, it had been there for a while... i went to move it and there was movement in the water, i tipped out some of the was to reveal 4 frogs covered in paint but they seemed to be alive and well..god knows how. my dad and i took them down to the local river to release them, but how the hell they were alive i do not know?? one month later 4 more frogs were in the bucket and i'm sure they were the same ones, but we live 1/4 mile away from the river Sow
Strange but true
TEST
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Post by slicko on May 11, 2015 19:54:34 GMT
Not a newt story i know, but there was a bucket behind mum/dads shed two years ago which was nearly full of water but had old paint brushes and paint etc in it, it had been there for a while... i went to move it and there was movement in the water, i tipped out some of the was to reveal 4 frogs covered in paint but they seemed to be alive and well..god knows how. my dad and i took them down to the local river to release them, but how the hell they were alive i do not know?? one month later 4 more frogs were in the bucket and i'm sure they were the same ones, but we live 1/4 mile away from the river Sow Strange but true TEST Gloss or matt?
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2015 20:01:39 GMT
Not a newt story i know, but there was a bucket behind mum/dads shed two years ago which was nearly full of water but had old paint brushes and paint etc in it, it had been there for a while... i went to move it and there was movement in the water, i tipped out some of the was to reveal 4 frogs covered in paint but they seemed to be alive and well..god knows how. my dad and i took them down to the local river to release them, but how the hell they were alive i do not know?? one month later 4 more frogs were in the bucket and i'm sure they were the same ones, but we live 1/4 mile away from the river Sow Strange but true TEST Gloss or matt? Not sure now. TEST
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Post by slicko on May 11, 2015 20:07:24 GMT
Need to determine if it was toxic gloss... maybe they were trying to kermit suicide
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2015 20:16:43 GMT
Need to determine if it was toxic gloss... maybe they were trying to kermit suicide As i said, i would not know now mate, i used the paint to do the outside of the house a couple of years ago but the ones that returned looked similar but in fairness i'm not an expert TEST
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Post by slicko on May 11, 2015 20:31:11 GMT
Need to determine if it was toxic gloss... maybe they were trying to kermit suicide As i said, i would not know now mate, i used the paint to do the outside of the house a couple of years ago but the ones that returned looked similar but in fairness i'm not an expert TEST Sounds like they're homing frogs. Check wiki if you get the hopportunity.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2015 20:55:08 GMT
As i said, i would not know now mate, i used the paint to do the outside of the house a couple of years ago but the ones that returned looked similar but in fairness i'm not an expert TEST Sounds like they're homing frogs. Check wiki if you get the hopportunity. Oh ok,thanks mate i will..as it happens, i'm going to a talk about pond life on Friday evening,at the local hall. Thank you, you are very kind TEST
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Post by davel on May 13, 2015 10:06:07 GMT
We have a willife pond on the allotment and have seen a couple of newts sometimes. They just appeared along with pond skaters, freshwater shrimps, snails and at the moment thousands of tadpoles.
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Post by Staffsoatcake on May 13, 2015 16:20:11 GMT
Could this end up like that thread from years ago, about Cats in your Garden? ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/kwfoKwtHI0jglJZ4qZf6.gif)
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Post by Northy on May 13, 2015 17:21:57 GMT
Ours are back as well, also got robins, blue tits and wood pigeons nesting in the garden, it's an orgy out there i tell ya
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