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| << January 2026 | February 2026 | March 2026 >> |
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1st: Fungi One of the Goblets in the allotment is still going strong - the others are looking a bit battered. If ever a fungi suited its name, it has to be this one!! Such a beautiful shape.  |
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2nd: Frog spawn!! Mega excited - first frog spawn of the year - and in a pond that this time last year didn't exist! This is Chaser Pond, named after the Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly who were the first dragonflies to find it, and who we watched laying copious amounts of eggs in the summer. There look to be a good dozen clumps here, laid in the shallows just beyond the logs. There should be plenty of food for the resulting tadpoles and in turn, many will provide food for all those dragonfly larva and others. Fingers crossed for a balanced eco-system here. As spring turns into summer this pond should be thriving. We expect our heron will visit more often and fingers crossed, even our kingfisher. (There is a perching area further along)   |
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3rd: So many newts The newts were out in huge numbers this evening - we got to over 40 and lost count!! There seemed to be some Smooth amongst the Palmate, though it was hard to tell - we have read that usually one species will dominate another if they both choose the same pond? These were all in the garden pond (about 2-3 square metres) which contains fish (not introduced by us). The newts however seem to thrive as we get more and more each year. We will be happy if they don't all find the newer, larger ponds on our land so that the frog spawn will stand a chance (we have newts in several already mind) - but having other ponds will hopefully give ALL the four species of amphibians we get, a good chance of establishing healthy populations (and encourage others). Elsewhere on the land we rescued frog spawn from both Poultry pond (found on the grass) and Goat pond (found on the receding shoreline - we put it in deeper water). We also found the remains of a frog complete with a belly load of spawn all ready to be laid and fertilized!! A fox, heron??? And then there are the late winter/ early spring flowers - crocuses and snowdrops - a total joy during these very grey days, Still, things really are starting to happen as February gets going - growing acorns, mating and laying amphibians, an increase in birdsong. You just have to look and listen and it's all there. 
Frog spawn found on the grass by Poultry Pond and garden Snowdrops 
Brave crocuses in the middle of the stable lawn and one of many, many large acorns putting roots down in Oak field   |
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4th: A Manic Bird feeding station Unbelievable numbers of finches and tits at the bird feeding station - and very chuffed to be seeing greenfinches more regularly. We have also had more frogspawn in Chaser and new spawn in Oak which we very much hope doesn't dry out as it is in the smaller of the two 'sides' (we will move it if we are worried). Chaser Pond, then Oak   Oak  |
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5th: Frogs and Mallards The trail cam caught some fab frog activity from last night on Chaser Pond. Check out all those eyes. This is all taking place where the spawn has been laid. Frogs tend to lay in one area in a pond in order to improve the chances of mass fertilization (the male squirts his sperm over the eggs as soon as they are laid by the female) and of overall survival. Only 1 egg in 50 actually makes it to the froglet stage! Keep watching the video - after 40 seconds it switches from mating and croaking frogs to our pair of mallards. The female can be seen having a fab dabble and feed whilst, once again, the male looks on (protective mode maybe?). Mallards are omnivores and eat a wide variety of invertebrates and plants - one of the many reasons they are as successful as they are. They really aren't fussy eaters!! In other news, we spotted more spawn today -this time in Poultry Pond AND a very sweet Dewdrop Mottlegill hiding in the grass in Oak field. We love how we can find 'new growth' pretty much every single day!!   |
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6th: This is unbelievable.... Meanwhile, we have more spawn in Poultry Pond and in Oak   |
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7th: It's back!! Different pond as this is Poultry Pond but a very similar time. It has come maybe because of the frogs - we do have a lot (yet more fresh spawn today in Oak and Poultry ponds). We are blown away by these sightings!! Feel so so so lucky!!! |
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8th: Oak Pond spawn Most of the spawn in Oak field is in the 'smaller' bowl (which we are monitoring in case it starts to recede too much). In the other bowl (which is essentially most of the pond), we are getting a new single clutch on a daily basis, which is quite peculiar but fun to watch. We don't think any new spawn has been laid in the smaller bowl for a couple of days now. No more otter sightings plus we have seen no sign on the trail cams of our foxes for a week or so now!! The female is maybe now in her den with young and the male, who knows... The birds at the bird feeding station get ever more numerous and the bird song around the land, ever louder and more frequent. We had a fab view of a dunnock singing its heart out the other day (no camera to hand of course). 4th and 6th   7th and 8th 
 Frogs in Poultry Pond back on 5th  |
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9th: Fungi A tiny Mycena of some sort deep inside the Garden log pile. It's cute and awe-inspiring at the same time.  And all these are probably Turkeytail, again all growing on the Garden logpile. Such a varied fungi!!      |
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10th: More from our otter ... plus an update on the Oak Pond spawn - the one-new-clump-a-night trend continues. So here we go from four on the 8th, to five and now six today. 9th and 10th   Finally, spotted these Goblets at the bottom of Oak field today, they are not quite as pristine as those in the allotment. Think they had to work harder to emerge above all the grass here.   |
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11th: Niger seed After several months of not being as popular as the sunflower seeds and the mixed seed, niger seed is now back in vogue at the Bird Feeding Station. The goldfinches and siskins are now eating from the niger feeder more than others. They must have their reasons. Both niger and sunflower seeds are full of fat and protein and so great for keeping the birds warmer in the winter months but also good for all year round energy, raising chicks and moulting support. We never tire of watching the birds at the feeders especially as we do seem to attract such a delightful range, with no one species really dominating too much. In other news, no new spawn for the first day since we spotted our first clumps back on 2nd BUT we spotted three huge clumps in Goat pond that we had not spied before. That now makes it FOUR ponds that the frogs have chosen to spawn in: Poultry, Chaser, Oak and Goat. Of the remaining six ponds, we can sort of see why they haven't been chosen. Rabbit pond hasn't filled into the shelf area yet so there aren't really any shallow places, Little Chaser doesn't have any obvious plant -filled shallow areas, The Clay Pit, Yeti and Swallow only have puddles in them and Fruit is perhaps a bit too exposed and wind-swept. In a way, all this is good as it means they will all be providing slightly different eco-systems which should mean an overall balanced bio-diversity.... (maybe..).  |
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12th: Finches We caught this beautiful female bullfinch on the trail cam yesterday - we haven't caught that many glimpses this winter and no males as yet. Fingers crossed they appear more. The greenfinches are feeding above them on the feeders occasionally still and again, we hope to see them in larger numbers this year. The chaffinch sightings are definitely on the up though and the males are starting to look very bright as breeding season approaches. There are just seven resident or migratory species of finch that we 'could' see in Devon, and we see six of them, the three mentioned above plus the very numerous goldfinches and increasingly numerous siskins (both of which are Bird Feeding Station visitors) and finally the linnet, which we see occasionally round the land. |
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13th: Starlings and Open Gardens Hundreds of starlings today in the Poplars -the noise was just fantastic   The National Garden Scheme is amazing - all gardens that register and then have open days, charge entrance fees, 100% of which go to the scheme who then pass on the monies to various charities - just under 4 million pounds was raised this way last year. Today, Becky and I visited Higher Cherubeer, Dolton and saw thousands of stunning snowdrops and cyclamen - who knew there were so many varieties of each one. The owners here are in fact one of two venues in the UK that house a National Collection of cyclamens: 23 species, 38 cultivars and 81 taxa - they are viewable in the many greenhouses there. It's open again a week today and is well worth a visit: (the photos do not do it justice). 
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14th: Bird Feeding Station Merlin picked up seventeen species and we caught photos of twelve of them (missing are starling, bullfinch, crow and magpie, buzzard). 
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15th: Spring is trying Another brave crocus in our lawn, developing frogspawn and hidden snowdrops in our garden/gathering area hedge. Also need to mention that three days ago we spied our first frogspawn in the garden pond and two nights ago we spotted our first toads: two singles and almost certainly males getting ready to 'receive' the first females. We shall look forward to hearing those high pitched squeaky mating calls in due course. 
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16th: Otter and Mallard action on Fruit Pond |
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17th: UK Wild Otter Trust We had a fabulous chat with the UK Wild Otter Trust this week to learn a bit more about the fabulous work they do and to see what role we can play in supporting them. You can find out more about them on their website and see if you are interested in adopting an otter and/or making a donation.  Meanwhile, after a gap of a week, we now have a seventh lot of spawn in Oak pond!! It's quite unusual, this laying pattern. In the other ponds a lot appears over just a few days. In this part of Oak pond, we have had just one at a time, beginning on 4th and with several days between some!! Quite fascinating!  |
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18th: Frogs and Toads The garden pond action is hotting up - we have a teeny bit more frogspawn in there and the toads numbers are creeping up. We are still seeing singles but hopefully it won't be long before the females decide on their partners. We have had a lot of action at the bottom of the bird feeders too - have now seen two female bullfinches and the number of chaffinches is starting to rival the goldfinches. 
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19th: Willow weaving A brilliant afternoon at Fran's making the most enormous and amazing Plant Support. Willow weaving is definitely becoming our thing!! 
 
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20th: Growth All these plant species are growing on just one bank in Swallow field - and there were so many more. It is going to be fabulous to see what plants re-appear and what new ones we can add to our list 'and' will there be some we no longer see at all?? We are fairly confident about our IDs but never say never... Oh, and spot the odd one out!!! Salad burnet and Wild carrot 
Wild flower seedlings and Mallow  
Turkeytail Fungus and Wild raddish 
Oxeye daisy and Corn marigold 
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21st: Water Yet more fresh spawn, this clump in Poultry Pond, whilst the spawn in Oak pond is now becoming a black wriggly mass. Despite not being the first laid, this spawn is the furthest along. Oak pond is more shallow and so the water will be warmer, plus the whole pond is in a very sheltered position. 
 Meanwhile, another pond catch-up.... (it would be nice if some had a bit more water in after the rain we have had). Poultry: pretty much always full and has overflowed in heavy rain - full of a lot of aquatic life - also contains frogspawn - visited by our otter, heron and kingfisher as well as being a favourite of swallows and martins in the summer Fed by stable and barn roofs .jpg)
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Goat: this is how full it gets pretty much - contains frogspawn Fed by field only .jpg)
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Rabbit: water has never been over onto the shelf Fed by field only .jpg)
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Oak: filled to the top once, then immediately drained, two bowls have joined in the past up but this seems to be its level now - enjoyed by dragonflies - contains frogspawn Fed by overflow pipe from well .jpg)
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The Clay pit : has water trickling into it from the land - filled once and then immediately drained - this is now its usual state .jpg)
Chaser: pretty much always full, leak on long bank may now be fixed - contains frogspawn - visited by our otter and heron as well as being a favourite of gulls and corvids in the summer - enjoyed by dragonflies Fed by stream from ditch and overflow from Little Chaser as well as from Yet's gate .jpg)
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Little Chaser: pretty much always full-ish and has overflowed - enjoyed by dragonflies Fed by ditch from Yet's gate .jpg)
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Yeti's: almost always dry with just the odd few puddles Fed by field only .jpg)
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Swallow: almost always dry with just the odd few puddles Fed by field only .jpg)
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Fruit: usually full and has overflowed - visited by our otter Fed by roof from cow shed (via IBC) and ditch from gateway .jpg)
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22nd: Colour and vibrance The dafs this year have are really numerous in the middle hedgerow and such a delightful sight amongst the snowdrops. We have had a bit of sunshine today which has made them look even more welcoming and vibrant. Meanwhile the White clover is popping up everywhere in a plethora of different sizes and shades of green. Our scrapes and banks are starting to look amazing!! It's all giving us such a lift!! 
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23rd: Toads We counted a good FORTY toads in Poultry Pond last night, a good half of which were in pairs. What a fabulous sight they all were. They were dotted all around the bowl of the pond too, against the edge, in both deep and shallow water. And interestingly, none were in the area containing the spawn from the frogs. There were at least a dozen in the Garden Pond too, some of these also paired up. Toads often return to the pond of their birth to mate which is wht a lot can be killed on the roads. These ones have obvioulsy NOT done that as this pond is only just over a year old. Fingers crossed they cross no roads to find a good hibernation spot and that way, we should get them all back next year! Males have strong front legs for gripping those females and in the breeding season develop 'nuptial pads' on their thumbs. Looking forward to spotting the spawn in the next few days.     |
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24th: Toad spawn And now we have masses of spawn - laid just a couple of metres from the frog spawn in similar shallow water. We took these pictures in the middle of the day (it was deliciously sunny) and there were so many toads around still, including calling males. We also saw backswimmers, water boatmen, great diving beetles, whirlygigs, dragonfly and caddisfly larva. This pond just keeps giving!! AND, our ten o clock pm torch walk found us counting over EIGHTY toads: 50 in poultry pond, a good dozen in the garden pond and the rest spread out over five other ponds: Goat, Rabbit, Oak, Chaser and Little Chaser (the later having the most) - every pond we looked in tonight had some in... and no matter where we were, we could hear the males calling.. quite fantastic!!     |
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25th: Tadpoles The video is fascinating to watch - wonder just how many tadpoles there are? Each frog can lay between 3000 and 4000 and there must have been a good dozen clumps here. That is a LOT of tadpoles. Apparently one in 50 make to the froglet stage and from there a mere five (or less) might make it to sexual maturity (which takes three years). (Source: Reptile and Amphibian Conservation) Tadpoles and frogs have a lot of predators, which is why they are such a valuable part of any eco-system. As for the photo, am I the only one who thinks this tadpole mass looks like a load of slightly creepy-looking aliens??? 🥲🤣 (zoom in to see what I mean)  Meanwhile, we have toadspawn in Little Chaser (a pond the frogs ignored interestingly, which we put down to it not having a defined shelf) and more Glistening Inkcaps (we think) growing at the base of the Ash by Yeti's gate. They were last spotted in December.   Finally, this is Oak pond. Spawn began to be laid in here on 4th, was daily for a few days, then there was a gap, then it was daily again, and then we had a break of a week before clump seven appeared (on 17th), and now, 'another' week later, we have clump number eight - all shiny and new whilst those around it are starting to hatch!! Quite fascinating!!  |
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26th: Bits and bobs The Glistening Inkcaps are really putting on a show under the Yeti Gate Ash tree - and there are lots more than there were in December - it's obviously a good spot for them. Meanwhile we have free swimming tadpoles in Oak pond and an unidentified feather found on the shore line of Chaser!! We are back to rain after a couple of days of rather lush weather, especially on 24th, during which Firefly's pond totally dried up. It's a scrape not a dedicated pond so this is OK news. There looked to be more toadspawn in Poultry pond but no more on Little Chaser and none as yet in any other ponds. We do hear the male toads during the day so it seems there are a fair few round still.    |