Monday 12 March 2012

NEW HYTHE AND A GARDEN ORGY




A couple of hours at New Hythe today failed to turn up any surprises, unsurprisingly. There were a few highlights though, one of which were the Dunnocks who sang their ever so slightly flat little song from the tops of various bushes across the site. There were nine Shelducks along the river, fingers crossed for a breeding pair this year, as we had two years ago. Competing with the Dunnocks were at least six Cetti's Warblers, mostly in the sunken marsh area, one Snipe which crossed the river and landed in the reedbeds and a single Redshank. In the creek by the small wood two Kingfishers called to each other and then flew downstream together and at the southern end of Brooklands lake a Chiffchaff flitted silently through the branches.


I found this very small newt over in the east scrub, I was hoping for an early Slow Worm but the cool breeze probably put paid to that. Other species seen included Green, Gold and Bullfinches, Jays, a multitude of Wrens, a pair of Pied Wagtails, various pairs of Long-tailed Tits and a single male Reed Bunting who sang feebly from the top of a Hawthorn, that's probably why he's still single. On the way back to the car park a couple of gulls alerted me to a Buzzard overhead who, harangued by said gulls, drifted south along the river and then turned, headed back north and was harangued all the way back. My planned rest on the bucket by the river was thwarted by cold mist being blown over the downs and dropping into the valley. I noted a Kestrel hunting in the distance and a Pheasant calling across the river before heading for home.

In the sheltered warmth of the back garden I found my first Comma butterfly of the year.


As you can see below it wasn't the most pristine of individuals, not surprising considering its long hibernation through the winter, but at least it survived.

While I had the camera out I snapped another couple of garden visitors. The House Sparrow is one of the thirty or so who spend most of their time in the large Pyrocantha bush next to the feeders, the Sparrowhawk can't get them in there, much to its disgust.



The Blue Tit above may be the one that has been roosting in my camera nest box every single night since last October. Hopefully we'll have a nest soon.


The Frog orgy is continuing in my small pond, it's now been two weeks or so and shows no sign of abating.

This afternoon I counted a minimum of twenty Frogs all embracing each other in the fullest sense of the word. This is the most Frogs in the pond for quite a few years and may be due to me deciding against restocking with fish after the Heron snaffled the last lot two years ago. The Newt population has also rocketed, good move I think.

9 comments:

Marianne said...

Like the new header! Lots of springlike action going on there, the newt is a beauty and (despite being a bit battered) so is the Comma :)

Mike Attwood said...

I like the header too. Thats a cracking shot, Phil.

Wilma said...

It is a nice header - reminds me of Marilyn Monroe with her dress blowing up ...
you will be over run with frogs soon.

Greenie said...

Phil ,
Well done with your 'signs of Spring' too , haven't found a newt yet . Just as well you didn't venture too far , Carol's brother near Cliff was in fog all day yesterday . I thought your new header had been on for a while now . As for the title , some people will write anything to get readers . You didn't work for the Sun , did you ?

Jason K said...

There have been similar scenes of amphibian pornography in my garden pond over the past week or so Phil, but they only spawned for the first time 2 nights ago

ShySongbird said...

Lots of lovely sunny Springtime photos here Phil, I like them all and was going to pick favourites but couldn't! They all look particularly nice when clicked on. I have to say I'm very envious of the Newt sighting, I never seem to see them.

It seems all my friends in Kent were very fortunate with the sunshine yesterday. After a beautiful Sunday it was dull all day here, not a glimpse of the sun!

Warren Baker said...

No matter how I try I cant introduce Frogs into my garden ponds, the Newts seem to eat all the tadpoles!

wouldn't mind watching a Fr-orgy in my pond!! :-)

Ken. said...

Phil
Hope you get the Tit's nesting in your cam box again this year.
Your photo's are coming on leaps and bounds.
By the way, what size is your pond as you seem to have a great number of wildlife attracted to it.

Bob Bushell said...

I love the spring, there is the spawning, baby birds and the snakes. You have so many of them, brilliant photos.