Frog Spawn

With the daffodils beginning to break in the garden, I have been keeping a close watch on the pond to see if any frog spawn had appeared. Sadly, although I have seen a frog in there, no spawn. Then, this morning, I saw a newt in the pond for the first time this year. Probably the frogs are not spawning there because of the presence of newts. I then looked in the fish pond, which is relatively new and, as far as I know, free of newts, and there were two small clusters of spawn!

Madiera Lizards

Walking through the park by the Presidential Palace I was surprised to see lizards swarming over a flowering shrub. Upon further investigation it became clear that they were feeding from the flowers. I always assumed that lizards were insectivores and so the sight of them partaking of nectar was a surprise.
Later I hand fed some lizards on the low park walls with bits from the desiccated remains of a fallen stone fruit. The lizards were very keen to grab these offering and retreat to their lairs within holes in the wall.

Raucous Blackcaps on Madiera

I could not understand to begin with why the blackcaps outside my hotel balcony were making such a racket. It turned out that the bottlebrush shrub that they liked to hide in had been infiltrated by some wild canaries. The blackcaps were defending their territory whilst the canaries were partaking of the nectar from the many blooms on the shrub,

Stoat

A stoat flew cross the lane just ahead of us this morning. It went at such lightening speed that, after it had gone, you were left wondering if you should believe your eyes.
It reminded me of a poem I wrote a little while ago and which can also be found at: http://daveupoems.blogspot.com

Encounter with a Stoat

One day whilst scrambling over boulder strewn bank

I came upon one bolder than I.

A small creature with glinting eye

Revealing the truth of its aristocratic rank.

I tried to follow through rock and scree,

An elusive spirit that watches me.

A relentless chase ensued;

My stealth against the vigour of one pursued.

I sit to watch this dry wall highwayman

Who cheats the wire of man

Emerging from his lair

To feast on the rabbit in its snare.

He shrinks not from me

But condescends to still that life

For a brief moment of indignation;

No enfeeblement of trepidation.

Even man, the great molester,

Cannot match his constricting stare.

Rabbits may run from the gun,

For him, seizure is their life’s sum.

Red Kite

Travelling back from Croydon the other day on a cold and dank afternoon, saw a red kite flying over the barren fields at Botley Hill. I wonder how much longer before they will be inhabiting the fields by my home, less than twenty miles away.
Magpies are carrying sticks to a nest two gardens away.

Winter Migrants

The sun came out today and for the first time for some time, there was some warmth,
A large flock of fieldfares was feeding on the stubble in the upper fields, a few redwings amongst them. On the lower fields were a large flock of redwings.
A vociferous song thrush chorus this evening.

Skylarks - Larking About!

The skylarks on the lower fields were very active yesterday. A couple of cocks were singing away in full voice, the first time I have seen them flying so high this year. Others were chasing each other, clearly male birds chasing hens. After a minute or so of chasing, the hen would suddenly drop to the ground and the male would hover over her at about six feet from the ground.
All this was happening on a cold dank day.