Pond life - Smooth Newt and friends

Derek T has at least two Smooth Newt in his pond (and reported in a previous post), and has seen them again today.

Anne D-N has also been spotting wildlife in her pond recently, finding a Three-spined Stickleback and a Common Frog.  The stickleback are just entering their breeding phase, with the males acquiring red throats and bellies, as well as blue eyes! The one photographed was constructing a nest in a shallow area where there is some gravel. The frog appears from time to time in Anne's pond, but as yet there is no spawn.

Gill S also mentioned seeing a shoal of small fish - perhaps minnows or maybe trout - in the river from Sluice Wood today (28th), something she normally only sees around the Millennium Bridge.

Smooth Newt [photo DLT]

Three-spined Stickleback  [photo ADN]

Common Frog  [photo ADN]