Baby newt

This little guy seems to be a Great Crested Newt eft. It's good to know that at least some have made it to this size.

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

When a mummy newt and a daddy newt...

Baby newts are also known as 'efts'. I think this might be one of the offspring of our Great Cresteds, though it's not easy to tell.

Whichever species it is, you can see its gills and spindly legs starting to develop. These little fellows hatch out about a month after the eggs are laid, and in another three months' time, they'll be ready to leave the pond and spend the next couple of years as a land-lubber.

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM