death on the duck pond

A black and white springer spaniel was seen savaging the ducks on the duck pond this morning. The dog was not immediately identifiable and it may be new to the village. Two Duchy students who saw the attack very kindly stopped to give first aid, as did several neighbours. As a result of this attack the two old females were very seriously injured. One died at the scene, the other had to be euthanased  at the vets in Lezant. They gave a lot of pleasure to many people over the years and especially to the little children from the Ducklings nursery; it seems very sad their lives came to such a savage end.

It was only last week that I took great pleasure in photographing the two of them marking the arrival of Spring around the duckpond (see page).

oil beetle

we seem to be a local hot spot for the violet oil beetle. It likes this habitat of grass, wild flowers and leaf mould to be found on the edge of glades and woody hedgerows. This is a male, and he was warming up in the sun. Given their very complicated life cycle (qv, and link) it is amazing that they seem so common around here.

Pest (or pet), the lack of growth in the grass is driving the local warren inhabitants back into our gardens.

getting together

birds are busy pairing up ready for the breeding season. Male and female robins look very similar. They pair up in late winter/early spring. The female chases the male until he accepts her but then he cements the relationship by feeding her, often on the ground. Male and female bullfinches are strikingly different and much more secretive. They are described as 'sedentary' and rarely move far from their local patch.

celandine heaven

What tells us when Spring is really here?

It's when the celandines are open everywhere.

more excitement

first it's long tailed tits, and then it's red wings in the paddock. They are another of our winter migrant visitors, and normally they have left for Scandinavia by April. The cold dry weather seems to be upsetting these natural rhythms but enhancing the bird watcher's daily enjoyment.