Natural Pest controllers

Clearing up in the garden, I moved a pile of clipping that Pam had left for me, a few days ago, before the heavens opened.

I was delighted to find this small Common Toad, probably a couple of years old. It was an extremely pale one and surprised me by hopping as well as walking.

With the wet weather there has been a good number of slugs and snails appearing, so the more of these gardeners friends that come to our aid, the better.

Also hiding under the rubbish was one of this years frogs, still only about the size of my thumb nail. I really needed to cut the grass, and before I could do this I had to inspect the area carefully to ensure it was just grass that was getting chopped up.

Toad Patrol

I had my first evening on Toad Patrol, at East Langdon, tonight. There were a few toads, 28 I think and one very large frog that all got moved across the road. There were three of us with our buckets, I was lucky to be with Emily and Theresa, both experienced at the job and good at finding toads at the road edge before they got into dangerius areas. I wa ssurprised at the volume of traffic through such a small village. It's a bit like helping little old ladies across the road. Over you go, even if you weren't going that way! This was The one I picked up next to the cars. I got it to pose before I took it for it its obligatory swim.

This useful conservation activity is organised by KRAG (Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group), or see their Facebook Page,

The time for changing shape

There are still a lot of Common Newts in the two ponds in thw garden. They have bred and their young or larvae are beginning to develop, provided they evade the clutches of the many predators that lurk in the jungle under the surface.

Adult newts look most at home when they are swimming in the pond, they are quick and manoeuvrable.

In fact newts spend much of the time out of water. They hibernate on dry land and return to the pond between late February to May.when the temperature is above 0 deg C.

They normally leave the ponds in late July. They are nocturnal and spend the day hiding under large stones or compost heaps. Adult newts shed their skin as often as once a week.

 The larvae have external gills, which absorb oxygen directly from the water..The two here presumably hatched at different times, the smaller one must be several weeks behind the larger on on its way to maturity.

About 10 weeks later most have metamorphosed into air-breathing juveniles and leave the pond.  Some tadpoles, however, may overwinter in the larval state, only emerging from the water the following year. They become sexually mature at 3 years of age.

There are still a lot of tadpoles in the ponds. Many are small and black like the one above, and have developed back legs. The tail is round, not pointed as in the case of Common Frogs, as these are Toad Tadpoles.

Normal Service

Sorry there's been little of late. Various circumstances have conspired to keep me away for the St Margaret's blog, Hopefully after the bird fair normal service will be resumed.

We'e heard a lot about legacy during the Olympics, but my concern is what legacy will we leave the next generation when it comes to the health of the planet. While we keep raising interested children and imparting proper values about looking after the environment we live in there's hope.

 Josh found the lovely Toad in the rocks of one of the garden fountains. He has  prodigious appetite of looking and finding thigs and learns quickly.

Jack, three years older is already a good junior naturalist and is getting to grips with photography.

The problem we all have is that when CLOWNS, like Boris Johnson, end up with a high profile because of the games and start pedalling his ridiculous idea of another London Airport, this time in the Thames Estuary the general public are likely to get caught up in his wave of enthusiasm. They must learn to think more long term and realise that he is a glory seeking self publicising egotist who should not be taken seriously. Perhaps the toad did remind me of my thoughts to day.

So endeth my rant for the day!

Toad time.

The roadside bank along Upper Road just before the NT Car Park is a favourite place for wild flowers.

I must admit that I'm not 100% sure that the Cowslips are truly wild, and that they haven't had the seed distributed there by human intervention.

I wasn't sure if this group indicated the direction of the sun or of the prevailing wind, and it was pretty windy today. I tried to take my pictures in the lulls so that the flowers were at least half sharp.

Common Toad - Bufo bufo

Every year, at about this time Pam comes across a few Toads as she is gardening. We are both big fans of Toads, so she always tells me and I take yet another set of Toad pictures.

Just looking at this Toad reminds me of the performance of Toad of Toad Hall we saw at the National Theatre:
Badger: Do you mean to say you don't promise never to touch a motorcar again?
Toad: On the contrary! I faithfully promise that the first motor car I see...
[puts on his driving goggles]
Toad: Poop poop!
Can you imagine this Toad in driving goggles...............well try harder!

This evening was the AGM of the Parish Council. Above Councillor Brenda Paul, chair, gives her report of the years activities of the council. It was an informative evening and a little disappointing that so few parishioners attended. I had the honour of showing a few photos at the end of the meeting, to try and show why St Margaret's is such a special place to live in. I enjoyed the experience, probably because I like the sound of my own voice too much!

Flowers behind bars.

Four or five years ago a single Lizard Orchid appeared near the monument.

Sandwich Bay is well known for these beauties, but whether this came from wind blown seeds or by some other method I know not. To protect plant from nibbling rabbits and size 11 boots, a wire cage has been erected round it. Last year the leaves appeared but no spike. This year the spike is doing well and is above the top of the cage.

It is only when you get close and examine the individual flowers that the Lizard name can be appreciated. Each one has a head and a long twirly tail, all you need is a little imagination.

It's not the only orchid I saw behind a wire fence today. This Common Spotted Orchid grows under my next door neighbours hedge, behind a chain link fence. It's been there each year we've lived here but I think it's the first time its had two flowers. This one didn't arrive under its own steam, but was rescued from destruction and contrary to popular belief, grew in its new position.

While Pam was gardening she came across this magnificent Toad. He was very lively and refused to pose for a picture. Normally they are pretty placid and stay still for a while, but this guy was hyper active. Judging by the size of him he's not having too much trouble finding slugs, and there seem to be plenty around to keep him going.

I noticed that there were some damselflies just hatched in the bottom pond in the garden, I think they were Azure Damselflies, the one above was in the grass at the top of the valley, near the Lighthouse, and this is, I think, a Common Blue Damselfly. As far as I know there's not pond or water very near to where I took this, I guess they wander quite a way. It was good to go for a short walk in the valley, although the bumpy nature of the paths and the steep slopes are still a bit beyond me, but I'm fine on the flat bits without any sticks now.