Photographic lap of pond

Mothman

Actually half a lap and it's a large pond. I was blessed with a opportunity to create a large pond in my garden about 10 years ago and I've been reaping the rewards ever since.
A pond is a wonderful addition to a garden. It is such a wildlife magnet and while something on this scale is an option for very few, perhaps this may inspire consideration to putting in a pond of a size that suits the space available.


I felt that things were happening today so went out with kids and camera
Male swan (cob) arousing from his rest


He's on the move and in a defensive pose. The Marsh Marigolds are throwing their splash of yellow everywhere and the oak just into leaf in my favourite tree in the garden.


These guys were trapped under ice for a while after spawning, but they are lapping up the warmth now


This is a floating nest of the Little Grebe. They quickly cover the eggs with water plants when disturbed. One egg can be seen. Its white but by the time they hatch the eggs are brown from the water plants


Nearly stood on a frog! I think 2 years old, about half adult size.


The first dragonfly of the season. a female Hairy Dragonfly/Spring Hawker (take your pick) emerged today. The exuvia (larval skin) was what she was in only a matter of hours before. Despite the lack of sunshine she had flown an hour later.


At the far end of pond we have herself on the nest for past 5 weeks. Today was due day and they were on schedule.
Can just see a glimpse of a grey body


And this is why he had defensive pose. He kept himself between us and nest


The cygnets showed themselves an hour later. At least 5 though only got 2 with camera

DubCul

Glad you seeing fruits of your enterprise, it's a pleasure to see:D

marlin vs

Great pictures Mothman, well done.

Mothman

Still waiting for the first trip on water for cygnets.
There is possibly one egg remaining, but they need to decide to abandon this soon so not to set back the hatched cygnets.
This swan has been nesting here for many years and when she was young she got the balance of when to abandon the last egg wrong and staed on the nest for about 3 days after cygnets hatched. She has been much wiser sice and only stays about a day. I'm expecting her on the water today.

And if I could edit the title I'd correct spelling!!

Mothman

Managed to witness the first splash by the cygnets. They were very reluctant! This was the second attempt by mum to get them in. First attempt about 30 minutes earlier was aborted after only 2 cygnets entered. It took about 2 minutes from first to all in the water.

First one


Three in


5


6


Final one


Then the proud mother came to me to show them off. I think this is the seventh year nesting here. We're well acquainted


And here they are before they left the nest. When I first got a full count

Alun

Wow, that must be amazing having all that going on right in your back garden! I think the entire plot of our house would fit into just the area of your pond

Cul a cnoic

Excellent work there Mothman with the pond and the photos. Thanks for sharing this.

Kalahari

That pond is brilliant, I'd love to have something like that in my garden!
When do you expect the grebe eggs to hatch?

Mothman

It think it takes about 3 weeks, so it'll be after mid May when the eggs hatch. They will have another one or 2 broods.

I'll see if I can get a photo of the eggs without the cover. To do this I need to sneak up so that the adult dives without having time to cover the eggs. I then need to make sure that they get back without Magpie, Hooded Crow or Heron getting the eggs.

What does interest me most is the dragonfly fauna. I don't usually bother with photos, but I may just make an effort to get photos of them here.

bogtreader

Thanks for sharing those great pictures of your pond.We have a tinchy one compared to yours it amazing the amount of life you get in them.
The cygnets are really impressive:):):)

Durnish

Love the marsh marigolds. Dragon/damselfies are a special interest of mine.

Mothman

Durnish wrote: »

Love the marsh marigolds. Dragon/damselfies are a special interest of mine.

Saw 2 species of Damselfly yesterday - 3rd May
Common Blue Damselfly/Common Bluet
Azure Damselfly/Azure Bluet

I expect to see Four-spotted Chaser Large Red Damselfly and Common Blue-tailed Damselfly during May

scudzilla

great pics Mothman but that aint no pond!!! That be a lake

Mothman

scudzilla wrote: »

great pics Mothman but that aint no pond!!! That be a lake

Actually I do call it a lake but I didn't want to sound too grand here.

Durnish

I learned the old names when I did the dragonfly recording course for the Dragonfly Ireland project. Find the new ones harder to remember.

Do you catch them and then look at the marks behind their necks? I find it easiest to photograph the neck segment so that I can identify at leisure. This sounds a bit nerdy.

Mothman

Durnish wrote: »

I learned the old names when I did the dragonfly recording course for the Dragonfly Ireland project. Find the new ones harder to remember.

Do you catch them and then look at the marks behind their necks? I find it easiest to photograph the neck segment so that I can identify at leisure. This sounds a bit nerdy.

Not nerdy to me

I have close focusing binoculars but often use net to identify, particularly the females. I contributed records to Dragonfly Ireland as well and "grew up" with the old names, the names that as far as I know all the current guides use, and I find it very hard to adopt other names

Vegeta

Amazing stuff, I'm really jealous. Would love to have a feature like that or even the land to put in a pond/lake

Mothman

One cygnet down.
Usually they are quite successful at rearing their cygnets for the first month so its a concern they've lost one so quick.

There are mink in the area and I've seen one once couple years ago. I'm hoping I don't have any in temporary residence now.

Vegeta

Mothman wrote: »

One cygnet down.
Usually they are quite successful at rearing their cygnets for the first month so its a concern they've lost one so quick.

There are mink in the area and I've seen one once couple years ago. I'm hoping I don't have any in temporary residence now.

Ah bugger

What are the usual mortality rates Mothman? Out of the 7 how many do you suspect will survive to 1 year or older?

Mothman

I've no personal experience because my swans walk out on me.....no kidding!!
Every year, usually first week of June the swans, parents and cygnets up and leave and walk to Wicklow.
Ok the walking to wicklow is not strictly true but they head to the tidal lakes (Broad Lough) north of Wicklow. Sometimes they travel overland and sometime down the shallow stream that goes all the way to Broad Lough. Either way it's 2km. Overland means out my lane, down the road :eek: and then down another lane and across fields.

One year when they nested late the cygnets were only 2 weeks old. This year if they follow same timing they will be much stronger.

In Autumn the parents have returned with as many as 2 cygnets in tow, so they do succeed but I've no direct experience to answer your question about mortality.

The swans leaving is bitter sweet...shame to see them go, but 6 or more swans over Summer would make a real mess of the lake

Durnish

never mind the mess round your lake, imagine the world if seven cygnets survived into adulthood and reproduction from each pair!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Vegeta wrote: »

What are the usual mortality rates...

Mortality rates in Mute Swans is as high as in most birds. Mink are a real problem and can wipe out a clutch in very little time. Foxes have been known to take Cygnets, as have Pike. Disease, hunger, cold all take a toll. Collisions with overhead obstacles (transmission lines etc) are also a significant factor.

Durnish wrote: »

never mind the mess round your lake, imagine the world if seven cygnets survived into adulthood and reproduction from each pair!

:rolleyes:
That scenario applies to all creatures on this Earth!

Swans in Ireland begin breeding at an average age of 3 years (less in Britain). Life expectancy in Ireland is 10 years. If in that intervening 7 years a pair raises 2 or 3 young to breeding stage then they have been successful.

Prowetod

That is one epic pond. What size is it in terms of your whole site? like does it take up your whole garden. How deep is it? How do you prevent flooding?

Mothman

It makes sense to continue a story here about the swans. I mentioned earlier that the swans leave each year when cygnets are a few weeks old.
They left yesterday and the following is the detail of the journey....

I was heading out to do some work at about 7.10am when I noticed the tail ends of the 7 swans. We lost a 2nd cygnet about 2 days previously, so down to 5. I knew immediately that they were heading out along my lane.

So informed the family that I was dropping everything and going with the swans. My daughter accompanied me.

On my lane at 7.19am


Onto road at 7.28. At the end of the straight is the entrance they usually head in, about 200m and with it being straight, it's relatively straight forward, but the swans tend to walk down the middle and I try to usher them to side so they are only blocking one way.


7.35am and the only traffic and just reaching this entrance


8.02 am and still on the road :eek: and they are getting tired with all of them sitting down at times to rest. Alas they continued passed the previous entrance. It may have been because a car just happened to appear in this entrance at just the wrong time, but it seemed they were going to stay on the road anyway. Plenty of traffic including one car that had to make a rapid stop when he came across us when he went round corner.
So this is about 600m further on and just approaching the next entrance. I was determined to force them in here because the next entrance another 600m on would have involved many dogs.


8.03am and they didn't need encouragement to go in. They pondered for about a minute of how to get through the gate but they managed to fit under.


The ow er of this field caught up with me at this stage and told me the lye of the land and where the drains are. These drains lead to Broadlough. They also put in their dog.

8.18am and stuck in a corner of field. I knew they would be but also knew there was nothing I could do until they reached it. So now I'm attempting to move them along the hedge to a gap, but it is against their sense of what direction they need to go in


8.27am After me trying to manhandle them to go this way and they giving out me I asked my daughter to lead.........and they followed ....phew
There is a bank (new hedgerow) in the distance


8.35am. Up and over the bank. There is a house here and drain starts not far from it.


Last photo but it took another 25 minutes because they refused despite my best forcing efforts to direct them to take the short way under a post and rail fence.
They arrived at pond. I left them at this stage. I hear they left this pond aout half a hour later and continued across fields. They didn't find the drain I was trying to direct them to. Eventually they will have reached one of a number of drains and all I can assume is that they did so safely.

The journey covered about 2km and took 1.50 hours.

Connacht

A great story, well recorded. Thanks.

marlin vs

Well done Mothman, brilliant post. Thank's for taking the time to post it.

Mothman

Thanks for feedback. Its a pleasure to share the experience.
I do feel responsibility towards them. I'm respnsible for creating a breeding site. She has been nesting here for about 8 years. I'll have to look at my notes to confirm. She's almost part of family. They have had tustles with other swan pairs and even lost control of the pond to another pair for a while, but won it back before nesting.

Don't know how long she can keep owning the pond because she suffered an injury to her leg/foot between leaving this time last year and returning in late Autumn. She walks with a limp and there is a cut (healed) in the webbing in a foot.

Her mate is strong though, probably in his prime now, so I anticipate they'll nest again next year.

recedite

You deserve a medal; Swan Lollipop Person of the Year:)

Mothman

These are scattering from the pond now.
very hard to walk around without stepping on them.
Plenty without tails.

If the hens find them they'll have a field day... :eek:

wildlifeboy

that is mad early for frogs..are there any newts in the pond? I am doing a newt survey in Dublin at the moment. my tadpoles dont even have back legs yet.

Mothman

wildlifeboy wrote: »

that is mad early for frogs..are there any newts in the pond? I am doing a newt survey in Dublin at the moment. my tadpoles dont even have back legs yet.

Yes, I thought it early, but there has been a lot of sunshine recently and water temperature is high and development from back legs to emerging has been very rapid.

There are tons of newts here near Ashford. Even counted 7 in a flooded vehicle track. Still got water in it and is a mass of algae

Mothman

Fantastic news!

My Swans are in Wicklow Town. I saw them there today and they have the bread to themselves. No other swans there. The cygnets have grown a lot! Down to 4, but there were 5 up to very recently (last couple days) and from what some folk there were saying they arrived either the same day or the day after they left my place.

The distance in a stright line is 5.5km. They had only completed 1km when I left them though they travelled 2 km to get that far.

This is the first time I've seen and recognised them in Wicklow.

TRNIALL

Mothman wrote: »

Fantastic news!

My Swans are in Wicklow Town. I saw them there today and they have the bread to themselves. No other swans there. The cygnets have grown a lot! Down to 4, but there were 5 up to very recently (last couple days) and from what some folk there were saying they arrived either the same day or the day after they left my place.

The distance in a stright line is 5.5km. They had only completed 1km when I left them though they travelled 2 km to get that far.

This is the first time I've seen and recognised them in Wicklow.

Thats great news,I'm sure your delighted to know they are safe and well.Make sure you keep us up to date with photos,at the moment am keeping an eye on our local ponds in Tymon park, plenty of activity at the moment, Cygnets galore.

d32

your work is wonderful i'll be showing the local kids this swan story-they'd kinda know the road...delighted to have come across this cheers

Feargal as Luimneach

My pond not as big as Mothman's lake:( But home to a fine population of native nine spined sticklebacks:cool: 4.5mX2.5m, 2.5m at it's deepest point



Smaller pond 2.5mX1.5m, 1m at it's deepest point. Full of tadpoles at the moment. There's no sticklebacks in this pond.


My spagnum moss/heather bog. Collected it from part of a bog that's been filled in:(


One of my garden residents earlier in year


My native irish hedge. Mainly whitethorn (60%) but with blackthorn, hazel, spindle, guelder rose, dog rose, ash, oak, holly, willow, gorse, mountain ash, irish crab apple, irish bird cherry, elder and my favourite (pictured) wych elm. My wild flower is in the right of the picture. Only sowed last year and will take 4 years to mature so early days yet.

My water diverter collects water from roof into the two water butts (400L capacity). I have hose pipes from water butts to ponds to give flows of fresh water to them. Tap water is toxic to pond inhabitants.


Garden bogs: Bullrush, yellow iris, purple loosestriff, heather.

d32

heya-Feargal did you need to line your ponds with anything-am wondering if you bothered or are they in a marshy space anyway....if you did line it what did you use? ....inspiring post and photos ...

Feargal as Luimneach

d32 wrote: »

heya-Feargal did you need to line your ponds with anything-am wondering if you bothered or are they in a marshy space anyway....if you did line it what did you use? ....inspiring post and photos ...

Unfortunately unless you have a stream with a constant flow of water or live near a real marsh/real bog you will need liner. I use PVC liner. Butyl rubber is the best liner but is also the most expensive Make sure you have no sharp stones or anything likely to puncture the liner. I then put an old carpet and sand as an underlay. The water diverter is great for keeping a good supply of fresh water for your ponds/bog. Make sure you use only native plants. I sourced all of mine from local ponds. If you have to buy from garden centre make sure their native plants.
Get your shovel out and start diggin'.

Mothman

"My" swans have returned. Been here for about a week. They did have other swans in tow which I assume are their cygnets but they didn't manage to land. Its a hard place for swans to get in and out of, but not a bother for my pair.
I saw what I assume are the 4 cygnets flying over during next 3 days. Each time they were communicating with their parents who were on the ground. Who called them "Mute" Swans....positively noisy!
I've never heard communication before between swans on land and others in air.

jap gt

what size is the lake mothman, is it totally man made, its a lovely setup you have, is there a stream running into it etc, how do you handle overflow

Mothman

Lake is about 70 x 30m, dug out 11 years ago. 3 days with excavator and 2 tractors and trailers. I have the option of diverting stream into it, but most of time it is not flowing in. The overflow floods a lower bog area which is nearly same size as lake.
I also put in a pond this year. The 2nd photo above with single swan is the pond. Clay lined and fed from house roof. I wanted a pond nearer the house that wouldn't have the Little Grebes eating all the big dragonfly larvae.

The issue with lake is that the water lilies and spreading quite quickly and if left alone would cover nearly all lake withing about 5 years. I think it may be quite a task to remove most of them. They are well rooted in and tough to cut.

artieanna

Wonderful thread as always mothman, this forum would be so much poorer without you, thanks a mill for your input.;)


Is there much maintenance to keep the lake in peak condition, like build up of algae, cleaning etc...

Mothman

Maintenanace has been minimal up to now. There was some algae for a few years until a balance was achieved. Used to rake the algae in, unfortunately full of Stickleback

In recent years invasive water (non native) plant has been taking over and the water lilies are getting large. Also some trees are getting large and plenty of willows are being cut.

I'm going to see if I can make an impact on the water plant and the water lilies during next few months.

ehewitt

totally enchanted by your swans, what a lovely post and stunning images, thanks for sharing it:)

Feargal as Luimneach

Mothman wrote: »

Maintenanace has been minimal up to now. There was some algae for a few years until a balance was achieved. Used to rake the algae in, unfortunately full of Stickleback

In recent years invasive water (non native) plant has been taking over and the water lilies are getting large. Also some trees are getting large and plenty of willows are being cut.

I'm going to see if I can make an impact on the water plant and the water lilies during next few months.

What invasive plants have taken hold?

ppink

ehewitt wrote: »

totally enchanted by your swans, what a lovely post and stunning images, thanks for sharing it:)

Totally agree, great thread! There are several of these images I would love ot have on my wall. do you sell them? if not you should:)

Mothman

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

What invasive plants have taken hold?

I'm sure one of them is Canadian Pondweed and can't remember what the other is, but it's worse!
Probably originated from garden centre all those years ago when getting plants for lake.

Durnish

Is your pond frozen this morning, MM?

Terrier

Mothman wrote: »

I'm sure one of them is Canadian Pondweed and can't remember what the other is, but it's worse!
Probably originated from garden centre all those years ago when getting plants for lake.

Great site for non native species
http://invasives.biodiversityireland.ie/

Mothman

Cormorant is annual visitors to the garden, but never seen 2 together before.
This captured today. Excuse the limitations of my compact camera.

Feargal as Luimneach

Nice one mothman,
you must have a good bird list for your garden:) To add to your moth and dragonfly list:D
Your swan doesn't appear too happy with them though!

Mothman

The swans don't tolerate much and in Spring they chase the Mallards away!
No idea on my garden list. I don't keep list counts.