Riverfly Survey in Toft

Toft Bourn Brook Group is carrying out surveys of the invertebrate species in the Brook according to the Riverfly rules and regulations for acquiring the samples and then counting the species found in the water. The species that are monitored include Mayflies, Olives, Stoneflies, Shrimps and  Caddis flies. Timed samples are taken and then examined for the Groups shown on the circular chart and the numbers of individuals counted. We also found very young Loach and American Crayfish plus Beetles, various Midge larvae and Pond Skaters etc

Close Encounters by the Garden Pond

Sitting quietly in the shade by my pond cooling down after attacking a few over enthusiastic brambles etc, I was visited by this very beautiful male Southern Hawker. He spent a long while going round the edges of the pond and also inspecting me. After a while he flew away and a female arrived again flying right up to me but this time dropping down onto the moss at my feet and started laying. They were never there together so did he communicate with the female as to a good area for laying and how? (Four other pond inhabitants include the Pirate Water spider Pirata piraticus)