Sunshine and the first frog's spawn

Common frog with spawn

Awoke to find the first frog spawn of the season in my garden pond today.

I know it's often a lot earlier in West Cornwall (sometimes before Xmas even) but here in North Cornwall this is a regular time to find it.

The frogs have been active around the garden for a few days and I counted 12 in the lower pond this morning.

Here are a few shots and I'm sure there will be more in the next few weeks as they are great to photograph and being in the garden means easy access!

Common frog with spawn

Common frogs

Common frogs

It's still Winter!

Wistmans Wood on Dartmoor

To follow on from yesterdays blog when the signs of spring were showing we went to Dartmoor today where they are still in the depths of Winter.

We hiked up to Wistmans Wood from Two Bridges hoping that the light would lift as forecast but it was heavy cloud all day but with some stunning snow scenery.

Here are a few images and being there today reminded me what a fascinating place it is amongst the stunted oaks of the high moor and how I must make an effort to get back there again in the spring.

A lone oak

 

Wistmans Wood on Dartmoor

Wistmans Wood on Dartmoor

Signs of Spring?

Snowdrops by the River Camel

I took this today as a little reminder that spring isn't too far away!!

Birding at Par ponds.

Drake Shoveler

Bright sunshine greeted us at Par this morning for the first Cornwall Wildlife Trust Photographic Group field trip of the new year.

Several members turned up and there were a few of the commoner birds about to photograph.

Here are some examples which look that much better when the sun shines!

Drake Shoveler

 

 

 

 

A Mute Swan in regal pose

Male Stonechat

Rock Pipit

Moorhen

Bird flocks at Walmsley

A flock of 66 Black Tailed Godwit were feeding in the meadow beside the road this afternoon.

There were also several hundred Lapwing taking advantage of the lower water levels inside the reserve.

Also present were 3 Green Sandpipers, 5 Pochard, 5 Little Egret, numerous Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler etc. along with many hundreds of Snipe that were showing really well.