Once again I’ve been confined to barracks over the last five days, but on the theory that nature and wildlife is not about four seasons but 365 days a year, I’m still spotting changes every time I walk up the Garden.
Grey Wagtails
Every year is the same with these fascinating birds, they show a face down the Lane in mid Spring, then return for a few weeks mid-August.
This is quite interesting as on the RSPB Grey Wagtail page, we’re just about borderline for Resident and Winter. I can only guess it’s a kind of mini migratory thing.
Reptiles around the Garden
The Slow Worms are continuing to thrive and another younger Grass Snake than last time appeared under the Rubber Mats.
About 12 weeks ago, the young lads over the Lane presented me with a jam jar with 5 Newts they’d found in a nearby Pond inside, their Mum thought it best to pass them on to me, so I put them in my little Pond.
That was the last I saw of them, but just in the last two days I’ve noticed two youngsters, so all did end well!
Obviously, their Predators being Grass Snakes, large Birds, Hedgehogs, Cats and Foxes, they’ll need to be on their guard!
Down the Lane
First rather exciting event was spotting an Argus Brown Butterfly, I can’t recall seeing one down here before.
Grass Snake – Young wild Trout
The other nice thing was to see a young Wild Trout in the Stream. Over the years quite a number have been born and precious few survive the odd visit from a Little Egret or Grey Heron. However, there are about 4 of reasonable size.
Egyptian Geese
Before being confined to my home and garden I did manage a short walk to the main Lake at Conningbrook, with the only thing more out of the ordinary were three Egyptian Geese
Egyptian Goose
It seems more and more of these birds are appearing around here and Dungeness has seen some breeding on the Islands.There’s a bit of controversy with these birdswith most Birders seeing them as a nuisance.
I think it’s a little like Parakeets, as much as they may be seen as ‘invasive’, they’re here to stay!
[fblike]
