Pond dipping for discovery days at Bear Essentials

young smooth newt

The weather has been very unpredictable and showery in July, here in  County Cavan. I have run several discovery workshops for children and young people at the Silver bear center in Bawnboy. Fortunately, despite the weather , the pond creatures have provided lots of interest. The workshop for children with autism was a learning experience for me and very enjoyable.  

great diving beetle

 

Moths, slugs ,newts and an otter

This piece of stick is a moth called buff arches

The Discovery Day at Bear Essentials  went off with a bang since we started off with a thunder storm. Thundery weather is great for moths and slugs and we had good collection in the moth trap . The sugar refuges provided lots of slugs for us to look at.

Garden Tiger moth

eft or young newt

The parents and children who came all had a good time and stuffed a variety of cuddly creatures indoors during the thunder storm. Once it cleared up we got outside to look for bugs. I also managed to spot an otter crossing the road outside Bear essentials so that made my day.

 

More Pondipping

head and legs of caddis fly larvae

caddis case made of pieces of plant material

diving beetle , killeshandra

Mayfly larvae

dragonfly nymph possibly 4 spot chaser

Four spotted Chaser

 Had a marvellous time last week  pond dipping with children from Mullagh National school. The teachers were excellent at organizing the event the children interested and well behaved. Every one had a great time.

water snails in May

Mullagh lake has problems and had a strong algal bloom  last week however we managed to find lots of rams horn snails, freshwater shrimps, hoglice, damselfly larvae, caddis fly larvae, midge larvae , water boatmen, mayfly larvae ( small numbers) water scorpion and great diving beetle.

Warm weather brought out the damselflies on our own lake and bog.

 I was delighted to watch four- spotted chasers (Libellula quadrimaculata )egg laying and various chases and courtships. Also present was another type probably( Brachytron pratense) or hairy dragonfly.

 

Two different species above

 

November pond dipping

I had a look in the drain yesterday and found some creatures.

Damsel fly larvae

Since there are 5 species of damsel fly, that I have seen in the summer, in that area. I wouldn’t know which these are. That would require greater study.

water slaters (I believe)