some good stuff Ian. When I first started reading the list, I though it was a list of “conditions” you’d had recently
I had a spot of grey wagtail the other day, which I thought might have been due to a chiffchaff situation
The first flower is out on my peony. It’s tucked away in a not well seen spot. Anyone know if they’re happy to be dug up and moved?
Orb weaver of some variety in the greenhouse. I've got false widows too, but they tend to be a bit shyer so hard to photograph
I notice you have no netting on the pond. We had some (didn’t stop the pigeons having a bath) and took it off recently as I had cleared a load of ivy out the pond that had grown in and entangled in the net. Left off the new netting for a few days as I thought all the Activity all at home Would keep Mr Heron away, but no. He was back trying to poach.
I've got one of those fake plastic herons which seems to deter the actual ones. I thought about netting but decided against it as the pond is 1m deep so easy for fish to avoid predators
it cost me about £12 and I haven't lost any fish yet. I haven't got really shallow shelves in the pond so not many places for a heron to stand and fish. 60% of the pond is a meter deep.
I have a couple of shelves and the fish like to congregate near the reeds which are in a basket so if they’re not alert, Heron can pick them off from there. Deepest part is about 60-70cms. The Heron can also stand on the path that is 18” beneath the pond and help himself.
I've got mark one of a homemade floating island in the pond, with watercress growing through it. I'm upgrading it today so it will be about 2' square. The fish like to lurk under that which gives them good cover. I'll probably tether the island so that it'll stay somewhere central and away from the edges and any predators