Quay Life!

[Rashmika]

I've been feeding the ducks (plus occasional Ducklings that survive the Gull onslaught) and swans (plus their cygnets who seem much more capable of surviving than the poor ducklings!) with my little girl for about three years now.

However, at the weekend I noticed something I have not seen before. The quay was bursting with small fish. There appeared to be some small fry around an inch in length and some adult fish further into the quay (where it is colder) which were about 3 inches in length. Some of these fish had red bellies, were they sticklebacks?

Then I noticed lots of enormous water snails drifting along...

Then to my absolute delight and shock, I kept noticing froglets! I'd say, for every froglet, I saw around 5 snails and 30 fish.

Now the reason for my post; the sides of the quay are about a foot high. The only slopes are at distant either ends... are the froglets okay? I was under the impression they wanted ot be out of the water now. Will they be in trouble if they are unable to get out of the quay?

Secondly, where have they all (fish, snail and froglet) come from? As I said, I've been down there for years and this is hte first time I've seen anything like this. Is it a man made event or can nature really behave like this?

I have to admit I was desperate to take some home for my pond, but I am wary of spreading any potential disease... so I left them to it

Cheers!