(Just spent half an hour pond gazing and watching Newt TV. Marv things. I suspect numbers are reduced as the heron may have been visiting. Going to set the trail camera up and see if it's making early visits then decide whether to net the pond for breeding season).
Looking out of the big window at the back of the house. I can see nothing man made bar a few mooring buoys and a couple of stone ruins. Whether the landscape is manmade is moot, there's sheep been grazing it so it's not entirely wild.
(Just spent half an hour pond gazing and watching Newt TV. Marv things. I suspect numbers are reduced as the heron may have been visiting. Going to set the trail camera up and see if it's making early visits then decide whether to net the pond for breeding season).
We have so many "courting" Newts in our pond I have to apply for a sex pond licence from the council.
The Staffie security system tends to dissuade any predators from our garden.
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
(Just spent half an hour pond gazing and watching Newt TV. Marv things. I suspect numbers are reduced as the heron may have been visiting. Going to set the trail camera up and see if it's making early visits then decide whether to net the pond for breeding season).
We have so many "courting" Newts in our pond I have to apply for a sex pond licence from the council.
The Staffie security system tends to dissuade and predators from our garden.
I'll have to get a Staffie.
Trying to get a bit more greenery into the pond at the moment to provide a few more hidey holes and leaves for them to stick their eggs on.
After we had the pond reshaped/enlarged it had only been filled for about half a day before the heron turned up to check things out.
When we bought this place the pond had goldfish in but they were shy and elusive. I started feeding them (the previous bloke didn't) and they got a bit more gregarious...so the heron would pitch up at dawn and take them. I netted the pond and looked out at sparrowfart the next morning. The bloody thing was bouncing on the netting like a trampoline! It completely cleared them in the end so the newts and frogs and toads moved in. Inc. Great Crested....but don't tell anyone.
Surprising end of season dump of snow making the place look pretty.
I got out for a few laps before the cloud spoilt things, I launched off a huge (8ft?) drop that I didn't see until I had no choice but to send it. Landed in lovely soft powder and rode it out
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day. Despite not being a day off I managed to get out on the mountain for a few hours.
My chosen route under the Signal lift was perfect and I was flying around. I've got frontside shifty grabs now and the sendy jump I dug into the off piste is very very sendy.
MingtheMerciless wrote: Tue Apr 02, 2024 2:38 pm
And another one.IMG_1313.jpeg
That's not your little lizard.....
(I'll line 'em up, you knock 'em down with the punchline)
I had never seen a Newt in my life until i moved to my present address some 17 years ago. One was on the back garden wall and that was it until about two weeks ago again out the back with the dog. Little newt walking up the path like it was just out for a stroll. Both occasions it was the Smooth newt with an orange belly.
I suspect numbers are reduced as the 
heron may have been visiting. Going to set the trail camera up and see if it's making early visits then decide whether to net the pond for breeding season).
..
IMG_20240401_212524 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr
