Frog End - Monday 1st September

A day of poor weather meant that there was not a great deal to be found of interest at Frog End today but the Slow Worm did come out for a brief spell. I don't think mentioned the other day that Helen and I measured it and it is exactly 13 inches {32.5cm} long. Today it was nodding its head up and down in a strange manner.


A couple of Garden Spiders (Araneus diadematus) were on the vegetation.


I found a grasshopper on the Crocosmia - I think it's a Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus).



I found some more of the caterpillars that Helen discovered the other day. I realised that they couldn't be Clouded Drab because it is the wrong time of year so I'll have to leave it until I've got access to my caterpillar book.



I popped out to Sainsburys and in the process took a photo of the sculptures that stand on the entrance roundabout. I'm not really sure what the are supposed to symbolise but, as Ian pointed out, they may not symbolise anything.

Slow Worm

In the evening Helen measured the distance between the marks I had made at the head and tail of the resident Slow Worm. It is exactly 13 inches (32.5cm).

Frog End again

The weather forecast for the day was cloudy but no rain. I didn't believe it. As a result it took me all morning to pluck up courage to go for a decent walk. But the time was not wasted. I spent some of it at Frog End Reserve which is always a most rewarding exercise.


Without my snail book I'm not sure what species this is.


I do like Verbascum.


The pond remains my favourite part of this reserve.


Next to the Large and Small Whites, the Speckled Wood is the most common butterfly here at the moment.


This Slow Worm looks pregnant. Perhaps when Helen gets home she'll be able to tell me how you distinguish male from female and at what time of year they give birth? {Postscript- It seems that distinguishing male and female can be difficult but since they give birth around September to November the chances are that this one is pregnant.]


I tried to get a photo of its tongue flicking in and out as it was doing it frequently but despite a number of attempts I failed.


A young Green Shield Bug in one of its later instars.

In the garden - Saturday, 23rd August 2008

One of my hosts - William (age 14).


Another host - Helen (aged **). My mum (aged 21+) always taught me one doesn't mention a lady's age...



One day this will be a pumpkin.


Helen found this moth chrysalis on a bulrush in their pond. Any ideas on its identity would be welcome.


A Common Darter called in while we were waiting to see if one of the resident Slow Worms appeared.




Later in the day the Slow Worm did come out to bask. My first ever certain sighting of a slow worm - indeed, having seen the leisurely pace at which it takes life I have concluded it is definitely my first one.