Dragonfly Emergent Exoskeleton

 

Returned home from work and noticed that there were at least 6 Emperor dragonfly cases on the reedmace and flowering rush plants in the pond. They must have all decided to hatch overnight or during the day as they were not there the day before. A shame I missed them emerging and expanding their new wings to take to the sky.  Given my pond is only a year old I thought that I would not see emergent dragonflies for a couple of years. I had seen the larval forms swimming in the pond last year, but assumed they needed to mature for a few years before they would emerge. Better do some research to check my facts!  

Flowers, Toads, Geese and Ducklings...

 Arriving home after work I took my customary walk around the pond and meadow to see what was new, what was coming into bloom and what was perhaps going over and turning to seed. The fist thing to greet me on the pond were two wild greylag geese that had dropped in unannounced. This was a fist and although the thought of geese fouling up the pond water was nor to my liking, I was however gratified that they found my pond to be attractive enough to drop in on. As if the geese were not enough excitement, my attention quickly turned to a mother mallard who was chaperoning no less than 12 of her ducklings around the pond. 

Toadtally liking this chap!

While checking out the emergent flowers on the meadow walk I was blessed to encounter this toad who was clearly making the most of the feeding opportunities in the meadow.

Further on in the walk I identified a few more wild flowers that have made a grand flowering  entrance into the meadow landscape.

SANFOIN

SCARLET CLOVER

OXEYE DAISY

FIELD PENNYCRESS 

RAGGED ROBIN

Hit to Toad Jack...

 

Found this little chap nestling under a sheet of corrugated Onduline next to a pile of logs near the pond.

Sadly no toad or frogs sporn to be seen in the pond as yet. I will be keeping an eye out for newts returning to the pond as the weather warms (hopefully) over the coming weeks. We had newts appear and breed in the pond last year even though the pond had only recently been completed. Excited to see if we get our first ever frog and toad sporn arriving in 2022, although if it doesn't happen soon we are unlikely to get any this year. Watch this space.

Get the Habit, habitat!

Hedgehog heaven!

Habitat stack 1

Habitat stack 2

Habitat stack 3

Habitat stack 4 by the pond

'Build it and they will come' 

Clint (Our East wood) was too overgrown and some diseased Ash trees needed to be removed. While I hate cutting down any tree (most trees), I thought I would put the wood to good use and make some wildlife friendly habitat log piles for insects, newts and hopefully provide some wood that will be useful for stag beetle larvae. We live in hope. I am taking the  build it and they will come approach to managing my 6 acres for wildlife. This stack is at the top of the pond and in a rough area of grass adjoining the wood.

 

Smooth Newts Arrive!

While keeping on top of the duckweed in our small garden pond, I accidentally scooped out two little efts (young newts). You can still see the gills at the back of the head and in front of the front legs.  I'm delighted and honored that these little fellas have chosen our pond to hold up in. That's two ponds and two breeding groups! These are common/ smooth newts.  Can only hope that we may at some time in the future, be blessed with a colony of great created newts to top the bill... Time will tell. Regardless of possible future events, any newt sighting is a real pleasure. The only downside to finding great crested newts is we won't be able to catch, disturb or handle them without a license! A small price to pay if we have made a habitat that GCN's can thrive in.