1st: Hedgehogs are awake
Caught our first hedgehogof the year on the trail cam last night. It looks a huge one too. This is in Goat field, by the fox hole, so we wonder whether it was in the barn under all the straw in there. Very chuffed to see it and know that it's got through the winter.
AND we now have new toadspawn in Chaser and in Oak.This means we have had frogspawn in four ponds and toadspawn in four ponds too, although not in the same four: Poultry, Chaser and Oak have both, Little Chaser just has toadspawn and Goat just has frogspawn. Also of note is that with both species once the first lot is laid, that then becomes 'the' area for all spawning, no matter how big or small the pond. In addition, the two species don't mix - there is always a separate spawning area with several feet between the two.
The frogspawn is now hatching in its thousands. There are going to be some very well fed pond invertebrates over the next few months.
Finally, spring has officillay arrived - the first Blackthorn is out!!
 
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