Just a quick update on my tadpole aquarium. The tadpoles are doing well and I am close now to releasing them back into the wild. Once most of the tadpoles have there little back legs then I will put them back into the pond they came from. I estimate that will be in about a weeks time, though have them now as you can see below.

I hadn’t appreciated how nicely patterned tadpole were until I took a few closeup pictures. This is taken of one feeding on the side of the tank so its taken from below as though it was swimming over the top of you.

A little while ago Hepscott Parish Council kindly donated a couple of display cabinets that they were replacing. One has been used at the entrance for a while now but the other needed a stand made. At last I have managed to get around to making it. The display case fits in so it can be taken out and the whole thing moved wherever needed on site.

Our latest project has been to build 3 leaky dams on the stream running down from Dunces Corner Pond. This stream is a combination of overflow from the pond and the outflow from the underground pipeline of rainwater runoff, from Coopies Lane Industrial estate.

There are three main benefits, in my mind, for putting in these dams.

1. These dams will slow down the waterflow, particularly when there is heavy rain, which is a contribution to flood alleviation. This water feeds directly into the Wansbeck so it should in some small part slow the flow into the river.

2. As the water coming off the industrial estate will not be the cleanest my theory is that the pools formed behind the dams will act as settling ponds taking out some of the pollutants. In theory this should mean cleaner water going into the Wansbeck!

3. The pools formed should make better habitat as the waterflow will be much slower.

To progress this project I contacted Northumberland Rivers Trust and Peter Kerr came out and had a look, agreed it was a worthwhile project. He also agreed to fund the project, which was wonderful. Skill mill is the enterprise company that they use for this work, a company that we have worked with in the past having helped us with pond maintenance in the past.

Over the last week they have constructed three dams. They were learning as they went along so it took several attempts to ensure they weren’t too leaky. We even incorporated some donated sheep fleeces to help with the construction.

So it’s a big thanks to Dave and his team for all their hard work.

Our little cygnet has been on her own pond now for three weeks and seems to be happy on her own.

She is an inquisitive little bird and comes up from the pond if there is any activity.

She still seems unable to fly so we are hoping that when she moults her juvenile feathers she may regain that ability, otherwise we may have a long term resident.

The young Roe deer have been appearing on the reserve more often over the last few days. I think it is because there is now more to eat as new growth appears with the spring.

The triplets from last year appear to have a friend, its an older buck with only one horn. He may even be a buck from the 2022 triplets.

He appears to be a bit more mature than the three youngsters from the 2023 family, see below:-

Our Chiff Chaffs arrived a few weeks ago but they have now been joined by Black caps, Willow Warbler and just yesterday I saw my first Swallow of the year over the reserve.

At our regular bird ringing session we caught a beautiful male and female Black Cap.

It will be interesting to see which one of our warblers will be the next to arrive.

Who knew you can buy tadpole food?

Smells like fish food but the tadpoles seem to like it.

They are growing at a rapid rate and seem to be doing well in their tank.

Two days ago I made the decision to remove the last remaining cygnet from last years brood. Don’t worry the removal was a transfer from the Dunces Corner Pond to Woggle Water Pond.

The reason for this is related to my last blog ‘Swan news’, the parents were preparing for a new family and as such were giving last years cygnet a hard time. She has a damaged wing and I do not think at the moment she can fly. The hope is when she moults her juvenile feathers and gains her adult feathers she may be able to fly.

As you can see below she seems to be fit and well apart from her dodgy left wing.

Charles and Camilla have started a new family, yes we have a nest and some Easter eggs!

The first egg appeared yesterday and as you can see we now have three, maybe more to come over the next couple of days. Last year there were seven eggs of which five hatched, so I do expect more to come.

Thank you to John K. for using his drone to get this picture.

Many thanks to my neighbours Roy and Christine for donating a large fish tank ( and their sons for helping relocate it).

The plan is to put some of our frog spawn in the tank and our visiting school kids will be able to watch it develop over the coming weeks.

I will update when the new residents move in.