Hi everyone, here is a new guest post from one of my friends and neighbours Philippe V, who happens to be a wildlife expert who recently build a large pond in his garden to photograph aquatic fauna. Philippe V is well known in the area for his wonderful pictures of birds and he’s also shown me stunning surveillance camera footage of wild boars, badgers and foxes around this pound. Philippe’s text in French is at the bottom of this post. I have translated it in English for the main audience (93% English speaking). Thank you so much Philippe V. I hope this is just #1 out of many such contributions. – Pascal
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It was after a discussion by a pond that Pascal offered me to become a part of this journal. So it’s quite naturally about this pond that I will talk here.
Let’s pay honour where honour is due : the White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba) is a key host of the pond. Rooted in the mud, its beautiful flowers open in the morning when the weather is not too cloudy and close again in late afternoon. They do not last very long, but the plant produces them constantly.
Along with others, it contributes to the oxygenation of the water and the balance of the pond. Its large floating leaves shelter the bottom from the sun and serve as perches for all kinds of animals.
It is the green frog’s (Rana “esculenta”) favourite singing perch. During the breeding season, the vocal sacs on each side of the mouth amplify its twilight and night-time song aimed at attracting females and detering intruders, which it would not hesitate to attack.
The recent arrival of green frogs in the pond seems to have resulted in a significant reduction in the number of tree frogs they tend tend to supplant. The latter occupy the pond at the same period, during which their particularly vocal and sepcific sound can be heard. Competition is tough between them and this tiny southern tree frog (Hyla meridionalis) is much safer in the surrounding vegetation.
Patrolling tirelessly on the surface of the water with their outstanding flight technique, dragonflies also often have trouble with the frogs constantly on the lookout.
Posted on a marsh iris leaf, these Agrions damsels (Coenagrion puella) form a pretty heart while copulating (the male is at the top) which, however, makes them particularly vulnerable to predators.
Likewise, this female Anax imperator is laying eggs in underwater vegetation, oblivious to danger and could end its short life here …
Meanwhile, the male red Crocothemis (Crocothemis erythraea) has landed on his favorite perch over the pond, where it awaits its prey between two reconnaissance flights.
C’est après une discussion au bord d’une mare que Pascal m’a proposé de participer à ce journal. Et c’est tout naturellement de cette mare dont je vais vous parler.
À tout seigneur tout honneur, ce Nénuphar blanc (Nymphaea alba) y est un hôte incontournable. Enracinées dans la vase, ses fleurs magnifiques s’ouvrent le matin lorsque le temps n’est pas trop couvert et se referment en fin d’après-midi. Elles ne durent pas très longtemps, mais la plante en produit sans arrêt. Avec d’autres, elle participe à l’aération de l’eau et à l’équilibre de la mare. Ses larges feuilles flottantes protègent le fond des rayons du soleil et servent de perchoirs à toutes sortes d’espèces animales.
C’est le poste de chant préféré de cette Grenouille verte (Rana “esculenta”). En période de reproduction, les sacs vocaux de chaque côté de la bouche amplifient son chant crépusculaire et nocturne destiné à attirer les femelles et à décourager d’éventuels intrus qu’elle n’hésiterait pas à attaquer.
L’arrivée récente des grenouilles vertes dans la mare semble avoir eu pour effet une réduction importante du nombre de rainettes qu’elles tendent à supplanter. À la même période, celles-ci occupent également la mare où leur chant caractéristique, particulièrement sonore, se fait entendre. La compétition y est rude et cette petite Rainette méridionale (Hyla meridionalis) est beaucoup plus à l’abri dans la végétation alentour.
Voiliers hors pair, patrouillant inlassablement à la surface de l’eau, les libellules ont souvent aussi maille à partir avec des grenouilles sans cesse à l’affût.
Sur une feuille d’Iris des marais, ces probables (?) Agrions jouvencelles (Coenagrion puella) ont formé un joli cœur copulatoire (le mâle est à la pointe, la femelle dans l’échancrure) qui les rend cependant particulièrement vulnérables.
De même, cette femelle d’Anax empereur (Anax imperator) en train de pondre dans la végétation subaquatique, insouciante du danger et qui pourrait bien finir ici sa courte existence…
Pendant ce temps, ce mâle de Crocothémis écarlate (Crocothemis erythraea) a rejoint son perchoir favori au-dessus de la mare, d’où il guette ses proies entre deux vols de reconnaissance.
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Hi there, I´ve just come across your blog and will make sure to check it out more often. i bet you are looking forward to getting the new Sony A7 or A7R when they come out. I moved to the smaller Nex system from both Full frame and APS-C Canon DSLRs ( I still have them though ) but love being able to carry a smaller camera with great IQ around. All the best, Evan (lightoflanzarote)
Hi Evan,
thanks for the kind comment ! Yes, I am very much looking forward to the A7r ! I wouldn’t mind using it around Lanzarote either !! 😉 Looks like a fabulous place.
Cheers, Pascal