A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(
--


Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent the
herons here.
They still have miles of adjacent canal to go at - so they wont starve !
Regards

Pete
www.thecanalshop.com

On 15/3/07 12:40, in article , "Pete
Stockdale" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(
--


Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent the
herons here.
They still have miles of adjacent canal to go at - so they wont starve !
Regards

We can't electrify because the public wouldn't appreciate it. ;-) We might
be able to net, though the fountain/pot in the middle would make that a bit
more difficult. In the end, I think we'll either have to net, or move all
the fish to a different pond which has no wading access at all.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
On 15/3/07 12:40, in article ,
"Pete
Stockdale" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either
it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter
as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(
--


Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent
the
herons here.
They still have miles of adjacent canal to go at - so they wont starve !
Regards

We can't electrify because the public wouldn't appreciate it. ;-) We
might
be able to net, though the fountain/pot in the middle would make that a
bit
more difficult. In the end, I think we'll either have to net, or move all
the fish to a different pond which has no wading access at all.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

Try a few overhead wires, they are big clumsy birds coming into land and
prefer a large landing area and walk to the water, its surprising with your
trees you are having the problem. I have also heard it said that the stone
cats some people put by their ponds discourages them.
Think your self lucky the Otters have not found you yet!!
(and I have replied to your last short email let me know if its gone missing
again)

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collections of Clematis viticella (cvs) and
Lapageria rosea

On 15/3/07 16:33, in article , "Charlie
Pridham" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
On 15/3/07 12:40, in article ,
"Pete
Stockdale" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either
it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter
as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(
--


Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent
the
herons here.
They still have miles of adjacent canal to go at - so they wont starve !
Regards

We can't electrify because the public wouldn't appreciate it. ;-) We
might
be able to net, though the fountain/pot in the middle would make that a
bit
more difficult. In the end, I think we'll either have to net, or move all
the fish to a different pond which has no wading access at all.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

Try a few overhead wires, they are big clumsy birds coming into land and
prefer a large landing area and walk to the water, its surprising with your
trees you are having the problem. I have also heard it said that the stone
cats some people put by their ponds discourages them.
Think your self lucky the Otters have not found you yet!!
(and I have replied to your last short email let me know if its gone missing
again)

It has! ;-( I don't know what's going on - anyone else 'losing' emails both
outgoing and incoming or is it just my luck?
When you next come up you'll see changes to the garden which almost
incorporate your overhead wire suggestion but appear to make no difference!
The hedge beside the path to the tea room has gone and that's where we've
put up the posts and rope swags. They would do the overhead wire job if
anything would but it doesn't seem to have deterred this heron! In fact a
year or two ago I was up very early one morning and a heron was sitting on
*top* of the now rooted out hedge, gazing thoughtfully at the pond!
The culprit of yesterday was seen by Ray the evening before, looking at the
new pond in front of the house but it couldn't wade into that, so presumably
it decided to try its luck with the 'old' fishpond. As it has three ponds
to choose from, it's quite busy but the ex-duck pond has no fish in it, so
no luck for a heron there!
The fact that it bothers to come here makes me wonder what the fish stocks
must be like in the River Dart which, as the heron flies, isn't at all far
from here.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:40:46 -0000, "Pete Stockdale"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
.uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

You cant gripe about animals doing what animals do. Did you protect
them in any way?

Does anything take spawn?

I think next weeks weather may well put paid to some early breeding
wildlife, sadly.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent the
herons here.

Very good idea. We actually have trouble with cats grabbing the frogs
at the pond, lying in wait etc. Electric would be a very good
deterrent! What do you use?

They still have miles of adjacent canal to go at - so they wont starve !
Regards

On 15/3/07 17:18, in article ,
"(o)(o)" wrote:

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:40:46 -0000, "Pete Stockdale"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

You cant gripe about animals doing what animals do. Did you protect
them in any way?

Other than netting which looks unattractive (this garden is open to the
public) there is nothing else to do. We may have to move the fish to
another pond.

Does anything take spawn?

Yes, fish and herons! One enormous clump has disappeared overnight and as
the fish are being fed, they've being ignoring the spawn.

I think next weeks weather may well put paid to some early breeding
wildlife, sadly.

I'm afraid that's probably right. I've heard of baby blackbirds in the nest
already and our rooks are building nests like mad though not actually laying
yet, I hope.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent the
herons here.

Very good idea. We actually have trouble with cats grabbing the frogs
at the pond, lying in wait etc. Electric would be a very good
deterrent! What do you use?

If this is meant for me - we don't and can't - public access again!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:40:54 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

On 15/3/07 17:18, in article ,
"(o)(o)" wrote:

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:40:46 -0000, "Pete Stockdale"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

You cant gripe about animals doing what animals do. Did you protect
them in any way?

Other than netting which looks unattractive (this garden is open to the
public) there is nothing else to do. We may have to move the fish to
another pond.

Does anything take spawn?

Yes, fish and herons! One enormous clump has disappeared overnight and as
the fish are being fed, they've being ignoring the spawn.

I think next weeks weather may well put paid to some early breeding
wildlife, sadly.

I'm afraid that's probably right. I've heard of baby blackbirds in the nest
already and our rooks are building nests like mad though not actually laying
yet, I hope.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent the
herons here.

Very good idea. We actually have trouble with cats grabbing the frogs
at the pond, lying in wait etc. Electric would be a very good
deterrent! What do you use?

If this is meant for me - we don't and can't - public access again!

You must be in an ideal position to test out various heron scarers!

I wonder if a replica dog, or similar stationed near the pond would
work?
--


Avoid the rush at the last judgement. Be converted now instead!




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In article , Pete Stockdale
writes

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent the
herons here.
They still have miles of adjacent canal to go at - so they wont starve !
Regards

Pete
www.thecanalshop.com


Do they come at specific points of the year or do they pinch the fish
anytime? We've lost three sets of orfe to a heron, the fish that get
missed, usually the baby black ones, seem to go into hiding for about a
week afterwards.
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

In message , Janet Tweedy
writes
In article , Pete Stockdale
writes

We now electrify the sides and net over the top of our pond to prevent the
herons here.
They still have miles of adjacent canal to go at - so they wont starve !
Regards

Pete
www.thecanalshop.com


Do they come at specific points of the year or do they pinch the fish
anytime? We've lost three sets of orfe to a heron, the fish that get
missed, usually the baby black ones, seem to go into hiding for about a
week afterwards.
I hate herons, nice to look at though they are. Our best deterrent is a
pair of crows, generations of which have lived in a tree in our
next-door's garden for years. They see the heron off in double quick
time. It never ceased to amaze me how big herons are when they come and
land in the vicinity of the house.

Someone here, years ago, got a full-sized model heron and were worried
that the real one would try to mate with it. I was told when we built
the pond to put plants round it, as herons cannot wade into it then (it
is very deep but we have shelves on three sides). However, a friend of
ours had a huge pond and the herons used to come and spread their wings,
making a shadow over the pond, before pinching the fish without wading
at all.
--
June Hughes

"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

If you put a sort of fence around the pond, a wire suspended about 6in to a
foot high on some samll stakes, it will stop the herons getting in, as they
walk to the side of the pond and anything which stops them moving into the
water deters them.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

On 15/3/07 14:50, in article , "Alan
Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

If you put a sort of fence around the pond, a wire suspended about 6in to a
foot high on some samll stakes, it will stop the herons getting in, as they
walk to the side of the pond and anything which stops them moving into the
water deters them.

We can't, Alan. This pond is paved all around. There's nothing to put the
sticks into - and sure as fate if we could do it, someone would trip over it
and take a dive into the water!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:12:44 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :

On 15/3/07 14:50, in article , "Alan
Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

If you put a sort of fence around the pond, a wire suspended about 6in to a
foot high on some samll stakes, it will stop the herons getting in, as they
walk to the side of the pond and anything which stops them moving into the
water deters them.

We can't, Alan. This pond is paved all around. There's nothing to put the
sticks into - and sure as fate if we could do it, someone would trip over it
and take a dive into the water!


Sacha, I have never tried it but some friends once swore by positioning an
artificial heron at the edge of the pond. The theory is that they don't take
to a rival and will stay away. You can get some very life-like ones :-)



--
Sally in Shropshire, UK

On 15/3/07 16:37, in article
, "Sally Thompson"
wrote:

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:12:44 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :

On 15/3/07 14:50, in article , "Alan
Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

If you put a sort of fence around the pond, a wire suspended about 6in to a
foot high on some samll stakes, it will stop the herons getting in, as they
walk to the side of the pond and anything which stops them moving into the
water deters them.

We can't, Alan. This pond is paved all around. There's nothing to put the
sticks into - and sure as fate if we could do it, someone would trip over it
and take a dive into the water!


Sacha, I have never tried it but some friends once swore by positioning an
artificial heron at the edge of the pond. The theory is that they don't take
to a rival and will stay away. You can get some very life-like ones :-)


Might try that. Do we have to get a gnome, too? ;-) The kind with a
fishing rod might not be too tactful! Thanks, Sally.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:40:19 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :

On 15/3/07 16:37, in article
, "Sally Thompson"
wrote:

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:12:44 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :

On 15/3/07 14:50, in article ,
"Alan
Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
A wretched heron has been to one of the ponds this morning and either
it's
cleared it out or all the fish are hiding! I feel sure it's the latter
as
it's a well-stocked pond but while I don't begrudge it one or two fish,
we'll be furious if it takes the koi. And we *are* furious that it's
taken
a mass of frog spawn. ;-(

If you put a sort of fence around the pond, a wire suspended about 6in to
a
foot high on some samll stakes, it will stop the herons getting in, as
they
walk to the side of the pond and anything which stops them moving into the
water deters them.

We can't, Alan. This pond is paved all around. There's nothing to put the
sticks into - and sure as fate if we could do it, someone would trip over
it
and take a dive into the water!


Sacha, I have never tried it but some friends once swore by positioning an
artificial heron at the edge of the pond. The theory is that they don't
take
to a rival and will stay away. You can get some very life-like ones :-)


Might try that. Do we have to get a gnome, too? ;-) The kind with a
fishing rod might not be too tactful! Thanks, Sally.


A gnome is not obligatory I believe. However, I have to say that we once
stood and watched a heron at the edge of a lake for ages until it dawned on
us it was an artificial one - so they can be tasteful -)





--
Sally in Shropshire, UK