More Predation

 Tuesday 13th May

Pond Predators and Prey

It is quite extraordinary to see events in a garden pond that illustrate so clearly the pressures on survival of the fittest! Last week I watched a Blackbird, taking a drink at the pond edge, disturb a common newt. It promptly caught it and then proceeded to treat it as if it were an earthworm by pecking along its length. A tasty meal ensued.

Today it was the newts turn to be the predator. On the first occasion the newt tackled a freshly split final instar of the Southern Hawker Dragonfly and rapidly ate the still soft body. On the second occasion a common newt tackled the soft body of a mollusc tearing at it using 'crocodile rolls'.

Julia

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