Newt or Sand Lizard

You may remember the little beastie I found under a plant pot. Following Den'ds suggestion that it may be a sand lizard and to check with English Nature. I did so - their response:

"Thanks for the enquiry and photo.
It's not a lizard ,i.e. a reptile,but a female smooth ,or possibly a female palmate,newt.(i.e. an amphibian.) Had me fooled! I had to ask our expert."

Just been round to my neighbours garden - and her pond is certainly colonised by newts - lovely to see. So that appears to the identity of my little friend.

 

Glad you got somewhere Fran, it didn't look like a lizard to me especially a sand lizard as the head was not big enough, as you only had the one photo it was hard to distinguish it from above.
If you see it again in close up, check the back feet, if they are webbed it's a palmate if not it's a smoothie.

 

On my original normal size photo - the hind feet look unwebbed, so therefore I'll call it a smooth newt I think.

 

even so, a newt is a very welcomed guest!!!! I'll tell the boys they were wrong, but they will still be excited by the newt....

 

Newts luv slugs! gobble gobble

 

Thanks Honeybee - it was you not Den'd that advised me - apologies for confusion. Your lads are very eagle eyed - and twas an excellent suggestion to contact English Nature.

I hope she's still flourishing round my pots, and eating all the slugs. :D

 

It looked of a breeding size so hopefully it will have gone to a nearby pond and will have laid eggs.

 

Prolly my neighbours, when I was round there the other day, she showed me her newts .

 

Found it's friends then and may have done the business.

 

Glad you found out it wasn't me!! I didn't think I'd said that?? But I do forget things - must be getting old....