Primroses (Primula vulgaris) are now in full bloom in the garden.
There was much croaking and frogspawning activity coming from the pond yet again this morning. Most of the frogs are still diving for cover however quietly you approach but this little group were totally oblivious to my presence.
I fear one female had disappeared under 3 male frogs. I think sadly occasionally females can drown when this happens but I have been keeping an eye on the situation and she has survived so far.
I have added two more moths to the 2015 garden list.
This worn Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)
and I identified a micro moth trapped the weekend before - Agonopterix heracliana agg which is also a new species for the garden.
(Thanks to Dave and Ian on Twitter for id confirmation).
We put out some homemade bird cake last week and I was pleased to see a Starling (Sternus vulgaris) on the birdcake yesterday. Although we still have a healthy House Sparrow population in the garden we rarely see Starlings these days so it was good to add this species to the 2015 garden bird list.
Apologies if you read my other main Blog as there is a bit of an overlap at the moment with frogs and moths. I am going to have a think about what to do about this in the future but for the time being , although I will post moths and anything else exciting which happens in the garden on the other blog , everything else will just be posted here.
Mrs Frog dose not look to happy, hope she stays safe, and the primroses look lovely.
ReplyDeleteLike you I have more than one blog, The quiet Walker been my main one, I just use the others to record my findings, photos, dates and were I saw it. People do comment sometimes but really they are just there for me.
You can have one for Moths, Garden, flowers and so on... I find it easy to look for records of a sighting, say. Than having to go through my main blog to find it. It also means I can put as many photos on as I want.
Have a Look at my wild flower blog and see what you think.
http://widflowersuk.blogspot.co.uk/
Amanda xx
Hi Amanda - Thanks so much - Mrs frog seemed to survive the ordeal - it was one of those awful moments when you are not sure whether you should intervene or not. Normally I don't but I was worried about her.
DeleteYes, I have seen your other blogs - love the wildflowers one but they are all brilliant. Its a great idea of yours and I do wish I had done something similar when I first set up my blog. As you say its so much easier to find things.
I would love to do the same but my husband (out of the blue) took early retirement at Christmas and now I am not here on my own in the day I don't like to spend hours and hours on the computer (as I used to!!!). I think I set up this second blog mainly to have a record of a year in the garden in case we ever move. The idea initially was just to post a photo a day but as mentioned above I just haven't found the time - also I've never been very happy with the format of RR Nature Notes. One of these days I will get inspiration and set up something new entirely!!
Your idea is a good one though to have a visual and written record. At the moment I have to either search through loads of written notes or excel files or photo files if I want to check something!
On a different note entirely as I know you have done the Plantlife Survey in the past they have posted out the new packs to those who have registered. I had an email ages ago and I have been allocated a new square which is actually closer to home and an area I know quite well where I often walk. There is also a field guide booklet which includes all the plants on the "new" list which may be a great help. I think though that you do have to survey "plots" this time. Once I get all the information I will let you know through a comment what is involved in case you consider re-registering (they are still asking for volunteers).
Thanks again Caroline
I was going to ask you about Plantlife, have wated in case they sent me a pack out, as you have yours..looks like I might have to register again, I'm hoping I too can get some thing close to home, had to drive to other spot, just found it to hard to fit in, I am now a little more knowledgable (I hope) on the subject so that might help as well.
ReplyDeleteSee how you go on with your blogs you can change it later if it is not working for you, I even have one blog that is not public, which you can do through the blogger page when setting up, I just use this one to practice changing stuff through blogger, and keep a list of other blogs I like to visit mainly craft ones, just means I haven't a huge list on my main blog.
Amanda xx
Hi again Amanda - pack hasn't yet arrived but I noticed yesterday on Twitter that they had posted them out. I had an email from Plantlife last Autumn and ummed and aahed for a while and then decided to register. I still have to drive to the new square but not so far! Its the area near Bickenhill and the airport where I visited Shadowbrook NR last year. They are certainly still asking for volunteers if you do decide to re-register. I'll let you know via a comment here what the pack contains and methods of survey. Also how often you have to survey. In some ways surveying a few plots may be easier than counting all the wildflowers etc. on a 1km walk. I've signed up for quite a few surveys this year - bit silly really when I seem to have less time to spend doing them! But the advantage of my husband being around is that hopefully I can drag him along on some of the surveys if its areas I don't fancy visiting on my own. Its been the one problem I've always had with surveying - not being overkeen on walking along public footpaths on my own especially as I don't have a dog I could take along!! Sorry for long comment!!
DeleteYes, I kept my RRNN blog private for a few weeks when I first set it up - in case I didn't continue with it.
Best wishes Caroline
Hi , have been on and registered, turns out all the plots close to me were taken, nearest one a good few miles away (11 miles !!! ) It's in a very nice pace so I thought what the heck, if we have to only go a few times , I will make a day of it...
DeleteAmanda xx
Hi Amanda - That's great news. It will be really interesting to see what you find and to know someone else is taking part. I am hoping the new field guide with all the species in it will make the task of id easier. My square is about the same distance away! If my husband doesn't want to come with me I'll get my son to come along - he enjoyed it last year at Brueton Park although that was a particularly lovely walk. So glad you decided to join in too :) Best wishes Caroline
Delete