I've got a fish - 07/5/2014

A night time visit to my pond yesterday resulted in a  pleasant surprise. As my torch passed over the water something caught my eye.  It moved quite quick and at first I thought it may have been a newt but as it came back into view there was no mistaking it was a fish.  

Not exactly sure how it arrived, perhaps it was in with the tadpoles I recently rescued or maybe it came as an egg on one of the plants added not so long ago or could a visiting bird have brought it?

According to my Pond Life Guide book, with it's red belly and greenish blue eyes it's a male Stickleback.

I'm hoping that it doesn't eat the tadpoles and it doesn't get eaten by the frog.  

Do frogs eat fish?

Pond Border Plants - 04/5/2014

Originally the plan was to have several Heathers growing in the pebble border around this pond. Sadly the Heathers died within weeks of planting so today we finally got round to adding some ornamental grasses and flowering plants instead. Hopefully these will become bushy over time and break up the border as was originally intended.

Armeria maritima

'Alba'

Digging a hole for the first flowering plant

Armeria maritima

'Alba'

Armeria maritima
 'Alba'

Digging a hole for the second flowering plant

Carex comans

'Frosted Curls'

Ophiopogon

'Black Dragon'

Ophiopogon

'Black Dragon'

Ophiopogon

'Black Dragon'

Mentha aquatica

'Water Mint'

Mentha aquatica

'Water Mint'

The view across the pond

A pigeon watching over the work below

The finished result

Pond Project #1 - 04/5/2014

Enjoying the sun - 02/5/2014

It would appear the frog has decided to 

take up residence in the bigger pond.

After work this evening I had been looking 

at my pond for several minutes before I

noticed the frog catching the last hours of the sun.

Pond Resident - 29/4/2014

I often go out to my pond in the late evening with a torch as it is interesting to see what wildlife is active after hours. Last night whilst putting out the rubbish I decided to have a quick look and was delighted to discover a frog in the bigger pond.

I'm pretty sure it's the same frog from the little pond and I expect it's after the tadpoles.

Garden Wildlife - 22/4/2014

Some photos of a Green Shield Bug

catching some sun next to the small pond.

Also in the garden was this little mouse,
who was scurrying around near the pond
looking for seed which had fallen from the
bird feeder hanging on the Japanese Acer tree.