Exuvia

This is what's left after a dragonfly has emerged from the nymph.  Although we haven't seen many dragonflies around the pond yet this year, I can see at least 10 of these exuvia - hopefully the emerging dragonflies have mainly gone off to pastures new, rather than being gobbled up by a passing bird.

I did see a female - species uncertain - ovipositing.  I've put an extra of the rather blurred view.

We've had another busy day in the garden.  W has sorted out the netting for the brassicas, and planted up a raised bed with some purple sprouting broccoli and sprouts.  We tried these last year, but were completely incapable of keeping the cabbage whites off them, so they were enjoyed by a multitude of caterpillars.  Hopefully we'll be more successful this year.  He also planted up some lettuce in the polytunnel.

I spent another morning paddling, scrubbing the blanket weed off the rill.

In other news, we've had a woodpecker visiting our bird feeder every day for the last 4 days - though I have yet to get a digital record of this.