ED Nature Watch

[civilservant]

a heron on CP Road! fantastic!

our neighbour has a fishpond - maybe that was the attraction - but it's netted so slim pickings unless its a slim heron and able to slip under the net!

I saw a pair of parakeets yesterday dive squawking onto next-door's apple tree, which is absolutely laden with fruit. I have never seen such a harvest on that tree in any of the previous five years we've lived here.

[Only me!]

I've read that the unusual late Summer weather has been great news for all sorts of Autumn crops. Berries, apples etc are all supposed to be about in bumper quantities. Which your last post seems to back up.

Unfortunately it also said that these same conditions are likely to contribute to a prodigious number of spiders as well!

I will try to dodge the mass of creepy crawlies as i search out a berry laden Sloe bush! (For medicinal purposes only... of course!)

[Sue]

Yeh it has been an excellent year for fruit, but there's always loads of spiders about at this time of year.

I always forget to duck when going down the side of my house into the garden, and end up with my hair full of cobwebs (and if I'm really unlucky, the spider as well :)) )

Luckily I don't mind spiders too much, but in my hair is a step too far :))

Sloe gin - excellent! If anybody has any spare sloes, I'll gladly take them off your hands!

[civilservant]

There are two huge spider webs in our garden, with vigilant owners who arrive to check what's going on if you twang a corner of the web. One of them had a fly victim trussed up in the middle of the web. I don't mind spiders (I used to have a 'pet' spider who lived under my futon - now that's going back awhile!) but can't stand flies, so that's ok by me.

Other local wildlife on Crystal Palace Road includes the fox who lives in the garden next door. It is very active at night and drives our dog mental. We live in fear of being shamed on the Forum as owners of a nuisance barking dog!

[Sue]

Saw four green parakeets fly over Crystal Palace Road this evening, squawking loudly (possibly attempting to compete with civilservant's dog!)

My theory is that the parakeets are making a bid to take over East Dulwich prior to taking over the world. Sydenham Hill Woods are full of them :))

[foxtailandfern]

have little bats in our garden, that come out in the evening & fly from one end of the garden to the other - Cute!

[reetpetite]

A pair of beautiful swans are visiting on Peckham Rye Park pond , hope they stay awhile.

[Sue]

Daffodil out in my garden today!

:-S

[lousmith]

The lovely spring weather has brought the frogs to a frothy spawning frenzy in my garden pond...about a week later than usual, but making up for lost time. Made a little film of it

[mynamehere]

what a beautiful film and I saw a honey bee having a drink and what a beautiful pond with such clear water... how do you do that? is there a flow through? my pond is healthy but covered with blanket weed. I get loads of frogs but nothing like that convention.

[lousmith]

Thanks nynamehere. the pond is self regulating, no flow-through, quite deep, which I think helps. I do get a smattering of blanket weed when the weather gets warmer, but not long-lasting. Lots of duckweed though. I think its a suicidal wasp that nearly gets eaten...it did eventually get eaten. They're usually a bit smarter than that. Glad to hear they're around in good numbers.

[civilservant]

Saw a woodpecker having a go on our suet ball feeder today - makes a change from next door's grey squirrels!

[Sue]

No sign of froggies in my tiny pond :-S

Though a cat was showing great interest in it the other day ....

[civilservant]

Did all your froglets from last year move away, Sue? I do hope a few stuck around!

[Sue]

civilservant Wrote:

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> Did all your froglets from last year move away,

> Sue? I do hope a few stuck around!

xxxxxxx

They were still around at the start of the Winter, and there are places around my garden where they could have hidden/hibernated, but I haven't seen any since then :-S

[civilservant]

they probably heard about the party at lousmith's - seems to have been quite a do ;-)

[Sue]

civilservant Wrote:

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> they probably heard about the party at lousmith's

> - seems to have been quite a do ;-)

:))

[lousmith]

.....still going on!

[Sue]

Lots of frogspawn due then, Lousmith :))

[lousmith]

Yup! loads already, I counted about 40 clumps yesterday. Got some of it in the nursery tanks to hothouse the little tads. I'll keep you posted.

[Sue]

I'd love some if you could spare some at some point?

Unless by some miracle some of my froglets have grown up and return to the tub :)

The person who gave me spawn last year has seemingly done a runner (along with my housekeys (6) )

[lousmith]

You'll have to wait a few more years for them to come back to spawn... about another three. You're welcome to collect some spawn when you want. The spawning will be over soon, so hurry if you want to see the phenomenon.

[Sue]

What happens to the spawn if the water freezes over?? Do the taddies survive?

[lousmith]

Usually the spawn underneath survives. a really hard frost for a lengthy period will do for it though. Lets hope it doesn't happen. Motile taddies will survive as they will just swim down.

[Twirly]

Went for a walk in Peckham Rye Park this afternoon, to make the most of the sunshine. The birds were singing very enthusiastically, there was lots of next building going on, and I actually saw a bumble bee on the blossom on one of the trees.