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GARDEN 28 |
Wildlife 5
The boundary stream and its associated reed bed have an important role to play in attracting wildlife. Frogs, newts and toads are generally rare but there is a good population of sticklebacks and eels to provide food for Herons and the occasional kingfisher. Grass snakes are fairly common and use it to pass from one end of the garden to another without being disturbed and as a short cut to the compost heap in which they lay their eggs. Mallard and Moorhen use it as a nest site and a quiet place in which to rear their young and very rarely, during the winter months, it is visited by the secretive Water Rail. The reed bed also attracts Sedge and Reed warblers, Reed Buntings, Whitethroats, Blackcaps and surprisingly, Stonechats. The stream is also home to one of our rarest mammals, the Water Vole.
Extremely shy and wary, the water rail is infuriatingly difficult to both see and photograph. They seem to choose the dullest days on which to venture out and never stray far from the deep cover afforded by the reed bed. One day I will get a sunny day to take a decent shot but these will have to do for now.
Kingfishers use the stream when the main river is too dangerous to fish. I would dearly love to find the nest site as our terrain is completely wrong for breeding purposes.
Preening is vitally important if feathers are to stay in tip top condition.
(L) Although not seen in large numbers, frogs, newts and particularly, toads, all need the stream for breeding and relative safety. This little toad, (about 3 years old) nearly became another casualty of the mower but was just spotted in time. (C) Frogs are actually quite rare despite the stream being the perfect environment for them. Sadly, any that do turn up, invariably end up as heron food. (R) Just after sunrise is the best time to catch a wary heron that may be hunting in the stream.
The bank of the stream is a good place to spot grass snakes warming up before going hunting.
Several species of damsel and dragonflies are on the wing for most of the summer