Alderfly larva. Picture Ray Baker

Froglet. Over the years, frogs have seldom bothered to even lay eggs in the ponds - we theorise because they know that success is unlikely due to the very large population of newts, so when the pond was re-dug in Sept 2011, we built a couple of small scrapes which the hoped the frogs might use. To our surprise, spawn appeared in Spring 2012 and tadpoles survived to develop into froglets - this is one of the first! Picture Ray Baker

Grass Snake. We have quite a reasonable population of Grass Snakes around the reserve and are trying to do what we can to help them by the provision of compost heaps for shelter during the winter and breeding, and also basking shelters. We have noted quite a few young snakes, so hopefully we are having some success. Picture Ray Baker

Grass Snakes. Picture Ray Baker

Great Crested Newt. Picture Ray Baker

Greater Diving Beetle. Picture Ray Baker

Water Boatman (greater) Shortly after this photograph was taken, the Water Boatman shook out its wings and flew 3-4m back to the pond. They are surprisingly beautiful when seen well, out of the water. Picture Ray Baker

This dragonfly larva looks a bit odd, since it is very young and is yet to develop all of the characteristics of a typical specimen. The coloured bands are camouflage and will be lost as the insect develops. It has been tentatively id-ed as a hawker species, and possibly a Brown Hawker. Pic Ray Baker

Smooth Newt Larva. This one was caught during one of our regular pond dipping sessions.We have a healthy population of smooth newts which breed every year. You can see its gills just behind its head. Picture by John Madden.

Mayfly Nymph. This may be a Pond Olive. Picture Ray Baker

Great Crested Newt - male. Picture Ray Baker

Smooth Newt - male. Picture Ray Baker

Damselfly Larva. Note the big eyes on the front and the feathery 'tail'. Picture Ray Baker

Water Boatman - greater. Picture Ray Baker

Diving Beetle larva. This can be identified by the pincers at the front, which Damselfy larvae don't have. Picture Ray Baker

Dragonfly Larva. We're not 100% sure, but believe this to be a Broad-bodied Chaser - there is a photograph of the adult on the dragonfly gallery. Picture Ray Baker

Great Crested Newt - female. Picture Ray Baker

Smooth Newt. Picture Ray Baker

Tadpoles. When this photograph was taken (1st April, 2012) they had been hatched out for about a week. Picture Ray Baker

Water Spider. Picture Ray Baker

Caddis Fly larva. You can see the larva emerging from its protective shell, which it makes out of bits of vegetation etc. Picture Ray Baker

Water Snail. Picture Ray Baker

Pond Life. In this photograph you can see a small microcosm of what some life must be like in the pond. Top right is a Pond Skater which has caught and is eating what looks like a Damselfly larva, another of which is bottom right. The newt larva centre left is a Smooth Newt but the one that is exiting the frame is a Great Crested Newt larva - you can tell by the spots on the tail. Just to complete the picture, a Lesser Water Boatman is centre frame.

Soldier Fly Larva. Picture Ray Baker

Screech beetle larva - so called because the adult will sometimes screech or squeak if lifted from the water. Pic Ray Baker

Smooth or Common Newt. Picture Ray Baker

Water Snail - egg case. Picture Ray Baker

Tadpole. Photographed on June 19th, by which time most other tadpoles had already developed into froglets. Note this one has back legs, but no front legs tey and is still tadpole shaped, rather than froglike. Picture Ray Baker

Water Louse. These look quite a bit like the aquatic version of wood lice. The relative size can be seen from this photograph, which also shows a Lesser Water Boatman.... slightly blurred as it zooms by at speed! Picture Ray Baker

Water Stick Insect. A large attack predator, that will lurk in hiding and capture its prey, which could include small fish and tadpoles, in its long jaws. Picture Ray Baker