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Who is this visitor?

On my nightly slug patrol (I do leave them for wildlife) I came across this little person. After finally giving up with my mini pond in a container 2 years ago, this summer I now have 3 frogs, a slow worm, birds, bees and butterflies galore and hedgehog droppings. So glad all my wildlife planting and shallow dishes of water are working but is this a baby lizard or a newt?
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Newt. They spend the vast majority of their time out of the pond, only really going back for mating.
Thank you FloBear. Such a thrill when you see new wildlife. I did try to Google so cheers for the reply
Gosh it does look large!!!......I always thought newts were quite small
It's a newt looking for slugs and bugs
Looks like either a Smooth or Palmate newt ... Palmates have spotted throats - Smooth newts don't.
Last edited: 23 August 2017 06:00:29
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Mary370, no it is very small about 1 inch.The photo is deceiving.
Dove thank you for that, I was wondering which type it was. Will have to see if it returns tonight!
How lovely for you Kaymay. Just shows how we don't need a huge pond for attracting all sorts of wildlife into a garden. Greta photo too
Maybe you'll have to stop your nightly slug patrol now - you've got a built in worker instead
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks Fairygirl. I do love my potter around in the dark!!
We're all weird really Kay
It's those little pleasures (and I'm talking about the newt, not your nightly wander!
) that make gardening so enjoyable though 
Last edited: 23 August 2017 13:08:56
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Female smooth newt, lissotriton vulgaris, although there's nothing vulgar about this specimen, she's beautiful!
Not impossible that she's a Palmate, but they are rare in gardens.
Last edited: 24 August 2017 17:34:20
Thank you honest h.