Ponds, Kingfishers & Grass Snakes

[JeffH]

Last year I completed a fairly large water feature in my garden here in the flat Fenlands of Cambridgeshire consisting of two ponds - one raised & one at ground level - linked by a 30' stream. The ponds and particularly the moving water in the stream have so far attracted no less than than 7 new bird species in my garden, including a heron, a grey wagtail and, best of all, a Kingfisher - bringing the total no. of species seen in/from my garden to 70. The water has also attracted damsel flys, dragon flys, frogs, newts and various water insects and as a result I was lucky enough to win 'Wildife Pond of the Year' in a national gardening magazine

The downside is that the Kingfisher has had quite a few of my small fish & I've had to re-stock. However, my resident sticklebacks have successfully bred and hopefully some will avoid becoming part of the Kingfisher's take-away menu

Last Friday evening we spotted an exciting new visitor - just as we were counting the no. of frogs with their heads sticking out of the water a Grass Snake was seen at the pond edge with its jaws locked onto the rear end of a rather large frog - at least 4 times the diameter of the snake's head. Over a period of several minutes the snake gradually swallowed the frog and I got an incredible (if somewhat gruesome ) sequence of photos showing the frog gradually disappearing - I've posted a couple of photos on the Gallery. After completing its meal, the snake (approx 30 - 36" long) sloped off into my pondside bog garden and disappeared under a large log.

Then yesterday morning we spotted a grass snake swimming across my raised pond. This one looked smaller than the first one but had a large lump in its middle - presumably another unlucky frog.

I've noticed that the no. of tadpoles and minnows in my top pond seems to be reducing and I presume the grass snake may be responsible for this. But can anyone tell me how often a grass snake eats? I'd have thought the large frog consumed on Friday evening would be enough to last that one several days? Also, up to what size of fish can they take? I've got a number of medium sized (6" -7") goldfish, shubunkins, golden & silver orfe & golden tench in my bottom pond - they seem to be too big for the Kingfisher but I'm now worried that the grass snake(s) might decimate my stock of larger fish as well as the frogs and tadpoles.

Can anyone out there tell me more about the appetite and eating habits of grass snakes please?

[pheonix]

Im not too sure, but i'd have thought a fish might be too fast for a grass snake to catch. and i think your right that a large frog will keep the snake happy for at least several days.

Good one on creating the ponds and stream though, its a great thing to have to attract wildlife to your garden.

[Wild-Woman]

Right I've just read that the grass snake can eat up to 5-8 toads a year so I presume that means frogs too or equivalent amounts.They also eat small fish,newts tadpoles and invertebrates. I hope this helps. I think that contacting a local herpetology group may be better at advising you on their habits and what to expect as regards to balance for your pond life.

[JeffH]

Thanks Pheonix, I hope you're right about the fish being too quick for the snakes! I'll add a further posting if I see any evidence to the contrary!

[eeyore]

Hi Jeff, sounds like a major pond project, how did you get the water to recycle - I take it its pumped but I'd be interested in more details - also looking foerwards to seeing some pictures of this wildlife mecca you have created.

on your snake question you might find this interesting http://www.froglife.org/

[nightshade]

Hello JeffH,I have a grassnake in my garden and to date it has taken to my knowledge a couple of fish but its diet is mainly frogs.When I can sort out my digital dilemma I will post a sequence of the snake eating a frog I have sat very still and quiet and watched it stalking but till now never seen a "take" I would love a kingfisher!

[henrya]

jeffh, contact the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Amphibian and Reptile Group - this has only just started but is hoping to do more and more ( www.froglife.org/cparg.htm ).

Grass Snakes eat very infrequently, so it is important not to disturb them while they are eating, or to cause them to regurgitate their last meal. They are long lived animals - forty or more years if given the chance.

henrya

[Gill Catton]

Don't forget that pretty much everything eats tadpoles - including goldfish and other tadpoles!! I always struggled to keep minnows in my old pond although as yours has a stream they'd very much prefer that. I'd have thought that if you provide enough areas of cover - areas of dense planting - emergents etc perhaps the fish will be able to self sustain against marauding kingfisher and grass snake - both of which tend to live at relatively low densities I think.

[nightshade]

Hi JeffH,Stuart has put two images of a grassnake in the Gallery (I took a series of shots trying not to disturb it)I missed the strike and by the time I got the camera firing it had got the head in its mouth,the other shot is in the closing stages as it moved for cover to digest its meal,it did completely swallow the frog (a full sized one!) the snake appeared to be about the size of my thumb in dia.25mm+ and perhaps 600mm long

[somerset_gooner]

Hi All
Just found this site whilst researching grass snakes. Am keen to know more after finding one helping itself to my goldfish! Luckily it stayed still long enough for me to run inside & grab the camera. I'll next go to see if I can work out how to post picture in the Gallery.