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Go straight to: Salamanders & Newts
Go straight to: Photos of ponds and pools.
Grenouille rouse ~~ Rana temporaria ~~ Common frog
Salamandre noire ~~ Salamandra atra ~~ Alpine Salamander
Spéléomante de Strinati ~~ Speleomantes strinatii ~~ French cave salamander
Photo above. A good roadside / woodland pond.
What at first glance may seem to be a shallow, dirty, untidy mess is in fact a haven for wildlife. A pool like this will provide a breeding place for Newts, Frogs, Toads and Salamanders, it will contain a vast number of aquatic insects and will attract grass snakes as well as numerous birds and mammals. It is also likely to be a major part of a feeding corridor for some bats.
In some years it may dry up completely, this should be of no concern although some management may be required from time to time to remove excess silt. Due to its woodland location there is little danger of pollution.
Photo above. Another interesting pond, this time an old field pond that would have been used for animals in the past. Although there is some small scale risk from sprays being used on the crops, both from drift and leaching, (that's wheat in the field on the opposite side), it appears quite healthy. A quick survey revealed Agile frogs, Marsh frogs, Common toads, Midwife toads (in the surrounding area), Salamander larvae and Palmate newts.
Photo above. Not a pond as such but an area of low lying land that has several seasonal drainage streams running into it from two sides and then exiting from another, creating a seasonal marsh which probably never quite dries out. A quick glance revealed Marsh frogs, Common toads, Palmate newts, Salamander larvae and again Midwife toads in the vicinity. An interesting habitat for a number of species, although there has to be some pollution concern with the run of from the fields that feed the drainage streams.
Photo above. Old stone constructed farmyard pond with a slope for animal access. As can be seen this pond dried out completely in an extremely hot and dry summer, but after refilling with winter rain the following spring saw Palmate newts, Common toads, Marsh frogs, Pool frogs, Great crested newts, Salamander larvae and Midwife toads. Extremely low pollution risk as the farm is now inactive and is used as a private residence.