If you’ve watched Monsters Inc, you’ll guess why I’ve given my surprise discovery the name Randall. Probably an unfair comparison, but the unblinking stare and the ability to creep into a very small space and disappear was reminiscent of that sneaky character. And unfair because all this little fellow was doing was trying to mind his or her own business under a fancy brick, when I chose that brick to add to my new frog staircase (see previous post).
So, we have at least one smooth newt in the garden. Newts like to eat tadpoles, so that may solve the issue of what to do about too many tadpoles.
Once I’d uncovered Randall, he didn’t do much and for a while I thought he was dead. Then I realised that he was keeping still so I couldn’t spot him, while keeping his eye firmly on me. Patience was eventually rewarded and I captured some slow-mo manoeuvring, as he found a new home in the staircase. I think the frogs will be safe though, because newts and frogs eat each others’ tadpoles and I can’t find anything that says they eat each other.
FROG BLOG 