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Joined February 2009
Photo by Colin Humphrey (@Pondwatcher)Photo by Colin Humphrey (@Pondwatcher)Photo by Colin Humphrey (@Pondwatcher)Photo by Colin Humphrey (@Pondwatcher)Photo by Colin Humphrey (@Pondwatcher)Photo by Colin Humphrey (@Pondwatcher)Photo by Colin Humphrey (@Pondwatcher)Photo by Colin Humphrey (@Pondwatcher)Photo by Colin Humphrey (@Pondwatcher)Photo by Colin Humphrey (@Pondwatcher)
The frogs are spawning earlier in our garden pond this year, they started yesterday. It's difficult to count but I estimate that there are between 50 to 60 frogs.
My son-in law found this wasp nest that had been built between the roof cavity and a partition wall in his house in Lee Chapel South. It would appear that the previous owner had called in a pest controller to eradicate the wasps, such a shame but understandable.
A male greater spotted woodpecker feeding a juvenile on our garden feeder late this afternoon. The adult bird is on the right and the juvenile with its bright red cap is on the left. The woodpeckers empty the suet from these feeders as soon as I refill them.
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This Large red damselfly has just emerged from its larval skin, having pumped up its wings with special fluid it sits and waits for them to harden before flying off to a safer place. I spotted this on an iris leaf in my garden pond this morning.
This Large red damselfly has just emerged from its larval skin, having pumped up its wings with special fluid it sits and waits for them to harden before flying off to a safer place. I spotted this on an iris leaf in my garden pond this morning.
Essex Wildlife Trust are using a heavy horse to remove felled timber from the Green Lane area of Willow Park. hawthornheavyhorses.co.uk/ Green Lane is an ancient section of track that once ran from St Nicholas Church to One Tree Hill and beyond.
Helophilus pendulus, this hoverfly is a regular visitor to the pond.
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Wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) feeding on the flowers of Lambs ear ( Stachys byzantina). Amazing to watch this very territorial hoverfly chasing off rival males. The female collects hairs from the leaves to line the nest.
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What a fantastic time of the year! So much going on in the garden at the moment; daily visits from a juvenile Greater spotted woodpecker and the azure damselflies are busy ensuring that there will more dazzling jewels flying around our garden pond next year.
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Just days after ice in the pond melted an army of frogs turned up to lay spawn. The first clump of spawn seen on Friday 9th March. I have managed to count around 25 frogs but this is not easy when they constantly move around the pond in search of a female.
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Delighted to have siskins return to our garden during the past few days.
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Marks Hill in the snow, the information board looks splendid. Many thanks to Toni Dawson for sending in this picture.
Delighted by a return visit from a male Willow Emerald damselfly to my garden pond. Would be interested in other sightings in the area.
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What an amazing Sunday in the garden! First a pristine brimstone butterfly then a male willow emerald damselfly spent some time at the pond.
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It was hard to spot this male migrant hawker dragonfly sunning itself on a shrub overlooking my pond.
The runner beans are infested with aphids, help has arrived but in the form of Harlequin Ladybird larvae. Would rather it be native species