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Rowan Keld | Quality Cumbria Accredited |
| Natural History and the Garden |
| March 6th At last the frogs have started spawning in earnest! A few days ago one or two were becoming very friendly in freezing conditions, with a bit of warmth and some rain we now have about 8 clumps of spawn. Not much really but a lot better than last year. The ducks have finished off most of the duck weed and I am glad that I have put wire mesh over the shallow areas. They are now prevented from trashing the vegetation and eating the frog spawn. |
| February 16th Again it dawns bright clear and with a sharp frost. Just 11 Pheasants in for breakfast today, yesterday there were 18 plus the three ducks waiting around the veranda for some seed. As I write the three Mallard are sitting on the veranda surveying the frozen pond on which the Carrion Crows and a few Pheasants are wandering around looking for food. At the front of the house the Blackbirds are busy exploring nest sites in the Laurel Hedge and the Wood Pigeons are still feeding on ivy berries. It looks like another good day! 12th. Another fine and bright day with a good frost overnight. Outside the patio doors this morning we have about 10 Pheasants, 3 Mallard and a buck Roe Deer further on down the garden. A few days ago we had three Roe Deer in the garden browsing on ivy and bramble. There has been no activity on the frog front with this recent cold weather but we hope for some activity when the weather gets warmer and wetter. When they spawn I shall move in fast and secure it before the ducks get their beaks around it! The pheasants form a morning feature, wandering around outside the patio doors waiting for breakfast, highest numbers so far are 20. The roosting pouches we have put up seem to be used by Wrens and Coal Tits. One of the hanging baskets in the front of the house has been tunneled out by a Coal Tit for a roost site. During the coldest weather we counted 7 Wrens going into one of the pouches - very cosy! |