The weasel is back. We had a happy half hour watching him running and cavorting around the lawn. We know he will decimate the mole, vole and shrew population, but as always, they will rebuild again. During the last week our fish population was halved in number. We know it was not the heron this time because no oily film was left on the water. So we conclude it was the weasel. We have often watched him in the past “playing” around the pond, but have never seen evidence of him catching fish either for play or feeding.
Talking of the pond, for the last twenty years, we have tried to introduce amphibians into the garden, always unsuccessfully despite countless buckets of frog and toad spawn being emptied into the pond. However, five weeks ago, I chanced to see a newt in the pond, which was very exciting. I rushed off to ring my grandson with the news. I haven’t seen the newt since, but it is enough to know he is there.
Last week we were clearing the garage and were surprised to find a medium-sized toad crawling about. He clearly dines on the myriad flies, spiders and snails who share his abode. Two days later, my grandson who is staying with us reporting seeing an enormous toad on the patio. No frogs yet, but maybe soon.
