Linda Pryke
@pondprodder.bsky.social
Surrey (UK)-based Dragonfly nut, fly wrestler, happiest stood in a pond watching the sun rise..
at the WWT Barnes for the dragonfly festival weekend- awesome, elegantly graceful stilt walkers put in an appearance now and again.
August 24, 2025 at 10:32 AM
at the WWT Barnes for the dragonfly festival weekend- awesome, elegantly graceful stilt walkers put in an appearance now and again.
Hackney Marshes today.
July 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Hackney Marshes today.
looking forward to hunting out some dragonflies today at the beautiful Painshill Park. warm intermittent sun and barely a breeze, so fingers crossed there’ll be plenty to show my guests.
July 8, 2025 at 10:09 AM
looking forward to hunting out some dragonflies today at the beautiful Painshill Park. warm intermittent sun and barely a breeze, so fingers crossed there’ll be plenty to show my guests.
lovely start to the week at FSC Preston Montfort, #damselflies #odonata emerging. so aware of what’s around, even when only just out, they’ll hide behind blades of grass if the think you’re a predator.
May 12, 2025 at 8:24 AM
lovely start to the week at FSC Preston Montfort, #damselflies #odonata emerging. so aware of what’s around, even when only just out, they’ll hide behind blades of grass if the think you’re a predator.
can’t claim the credit for spotting it first, but broken my duck- first sighting of the year- Beautiful Demoiselle at Tolworth Court Farm this afternoon #Dragonfly #odonata
April 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
can’t claim the credit for spotting it first, but broken my duck- first sighting of the year- Beautiful Demoiselle at Tolworth Court Farm this afternoon #Dragonfly #odonata
moved the office outdoors for a lunchtime meeting at Brockley Park
April 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
moved the office outdoors for a lunchtime meeting at Brockley Park
In celebration of weeds! Nature reserve on reclaimed landfill performs gloriously at this time of year, buzzing with life. #Biodiversity #London #wildflowers
April 24, 2025 at 9:07 AM
In celebration of weeds! Nature reserve on reclaimed landfill performs gloriously at this time of year, buzzing with life. #Biodiversity #London #wildflowers
Worm surveys near Gatwick today, an absolute joy, sunshine and birdsong amongst the almost bluebells. Lots of other woodland flora though- Violets, Primroses, Moschatel, Dogs' mercury, Arum leaves.
April 2, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Worm surveys near Gatwick today, an absolute joy, sunshine and birdsong amongst the almost bluebells. Lots of other woodland flora though- Violets, Primroses, Moschatel, Dogs' mercury, Arum leaves.
first one in the gate this morning at the NHM Kensington. got a bag full of dragonfly exuvia and a day with a microscope. at the front of the queue enjoying warm sunshine.
March 26, 2025 at 9:49 AM
first one in the gate this morning at the NHM Kensington. got a bag full of dragonfly exuvia and a day with a microscope. at the front of the queue enjoying warm sunshine.
The meowse. Having heard about the importance of the creative muse, Ian has decided to help me with the crossstich design process.
March 24, 2025 at 7:56 AM
The meowse. Having heard about the importance of the creative muse, Ian has decided to help me with the crossstich design process.
Making the most of todays sunshine, out for a walk on the National Trusts' Bookham Commons. Primroses and Celandines, occasional Bee flies and and solitary bees. The woods to the north look as though there will be plenty of Bluebells in due course.
March 18, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Making the most of todays sunshine, out for a walk on the National Trusts' Bookham Commons. Primroses and Celandines, occasional Bee flies and and solitary bees. The woods to the north look as though there will be plenty of Bluebells in due course.
The resilience of frogs never ceases to impress. Most of the pond edge trampled by dogs, theres' invasive Crassula and Parrots feather. This year theres' more spawn than ever, and frogs shamelessly and joyfully bonking in the middle of it all. #Freshwater #Ponds #Amphibians
March 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The resilience of frogs never ceases to impress. Most of the pond edge trampled by dogs, theres' invasive Crassula and Parrots feather. This year theres' more spawn than ever, and frogs shamelessly and joyfully bonking in the middle of it all. #Freshwater #Ponds #Amphibians
Chained to the desk today writing belated dragonfly reports. Hoping to earn my freedom for a day out tomorrow, as the wild stuff seems to have woken- up to be counted.
March 9, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Chained to the desk today writing belated dragonfly reports. Hoping to earn my freedom for a day out tomorrow, as the wild stuff seems to have woken- up to be counted.
SPRING has SPRUNG! and it's pancake day and the sun is shinin and theres frogspawn in the pond!! some days are really just bloomin fantastic. (some days can be awful though- I hope wherever you are, something will make you smile today). #amphibians #frogs #freshwater #ponds
March 4, 2025 at 4:10 PM
SPRING has SPRUNG! and it's pancake day and the sun is shinin and theres frogspawn in the pond!! some days are really just bloomin fantastic. (some days can be awful though- I hope wherever you are, something will make you smile today). #amphibians #frogs #freshwater #ponds
Couldn't let #valentines go by without some #dragonfly loving. Black-tailed skimmers Orthetrum cancellatum sure live in the moment, locked together, crashing through the sky at great speed, bouncing off anything that gets in the way.
February 14, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Couldn't let #valentines go by without some #dragonfly loving. Black-tailed skimmers Orthetrum cancellatum sure live in the moment, locked together, crashing through the sky at great speed, bouncing off anything that gets in the way.
when it comes to #litterpicking on Molesey Heath, Ben sets the bar high.
February 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
when it comes to #litterpicking on Molesey Heath, Ben sets the bar high.
Pic from 2019. Unpromising maybe at first glance, seriously urban these days, but roadside historic village pond up for some community TLC this year. Bottle traps in 2014 yielded an astonishing 58 Smooth newts, lets see what 2025 brings.. #britishecologist #Amphibians #ponds
February 6, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Pic from 2019. Unpromising maybe at first glance, seriously urban these days, but roadside historic village pond up for some community TLC this year. Bottle traps in 2014 yielded an astonishing 58 Smooth newts, lets see what 2025 brings.. #britishecologist #Amphibians #ponds
Gloriously sunny day, managed to mark #WorldWetlandsDay by escaping the family for a quick late-afternoon peek at Sanderstead pond. Central to the village its' generally loved. Icy at the margins but full of promise for things to come.
February 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Gloriously sunny day, managed to mark #WorldWetlandsDay by escaping the family for a quick late-afternoon peek at Sanderstead pond. Central to the village its' generally loved. Icy at the margins but full of promise for things to come.
i seem to have mislaid this morning. And a secondhand book arrived in the post. i have a feeling the two are connected… #dragonflies #DragonflyNymph #Odonata
January 28, 2025 at 12:10 PM
i seem to have mislaid this morning. And a secondhand book arrived in the post. i have a feeling the two are connected… #dragonflies #DragonflyNymph #Odonata
looking forward to getting stuck-in with exuvia ID. and iRecording this season. plenty of practice and creating a good reference collection both on the agenda. heartiest thanks to British Dragonfly Society members for help, specimens and advice.
January 25, 2025 at 10:10 PM
looking forward to getting stuck-in with exuvia ID. and iRecording this season. plenty of practice and creating a good reference collection both on the agenda. heartiest thanks to British Dragonfly Society members for help, specimens and advice.
Blue tailed damselfly loving. Often pondside you'll catch just a glimpse of a dot of brightest, almost fluorescent blue in the vegetation. Never fails to delight. #BlueMonday #BlueBugs #Odonata #Freshwater
January 20, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Blue tailed damselfly loving. Often pondside you'll catch just a glimpse of a dot of brightest, almost fluorescent blue in the vegetation. Never fails to delight. #BlueMonday #BlueBugs #Odonata #Freshwater
Finally feeling like myself after cold/chest infection thingy through the most of Dec & Jan. Reluctantly out and about today, and yes, I feel all the better for it! As a bonus, first newt of the year. The newt is v.small, earthworm within expected parameters :-) #biodiversity #amphibians #wildlife
January 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Finally feeling like myself after cold/chest infection thingy through the most of Dec & Jan. Reluctantly out and about today, and yes, I feel all the better for it! As a bonus, first newt of the year. The newt is v.small, earthworm within expected parameters :-) #biodiversity #amphibians #wildlife
Simple pleasures from the doorstep on the first 'proper day' of the year, as we emerge back into the world. I just liked the shape the pigeons made as the Robins sang at each other along the railway.
January 2, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Simple pleasures from the doorstep on the first 'proper day' of the year, as we emerge back into the world. I just liked the shape the pigeons made as the Robins sang at each other along the railway.
just past the solstice and they tell us the days are getting longer. No need for the alarm clock this morning to see the sun come up. given the weather we’ve had it’s a welcome sight and gladdens the soul.
December 22, 2024 at 8:44 AM
just past the solstice and they tell us the days are getting longer. No need for the alarm clock this morning to see the sun come up. given the weather we’ve had it’s a welcome sight and gladdens the soul.
Utter delight sorting yesterdays’ river netting haul somewhat marred by accidentally upending the pot on the patio. think i’ve managed to save the majority. (most are 2-3mm btw).
December 17, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Utter delight sorting yesterdays’ river netting haul somewhat marred by accidentally upending the pot on the patio. think i’ve managed to save the majority. (most are 2-3mm btw).