Frogs, Toads and Newts 2013

[frogesque]

After a week or so of brilliant sunshine and warm days the first of our frogs have apeared. No pairing up yet but the males were optimistically croaking away last night and heads are poking up out of the pond today. Counted 4 so far but it's early days yet!

What else is going on in the murky depths?

[SteveB]

5 clumps of spawn in my pond which I am really pleased about as I only created the pond in August 2010, so they must like it.

[frogesque]

Nice one Steve! It's amazing how quickly a garden pond will support a varied wildlife and they are becoming even more important for amphibians.

[peterf]

nothing just yet but we still have snow on the shaded parts of the pond.

[SteveB]

Nice one Steve! It's amazing how quickly a garden pond will support a varied wildlife and they are becoming even more important for amphibians.

Very pleased with the way the pond has developed over the last couple of years, would like to see signs of Newts though. Not had any Toad spawn in the pond yet, but I know they are in the garden, so hopefully they will take a fancy to the pond in the next couple of months.

Still need to do a bit more landscaping around the pond, add in some more logs & stones to make some good hiding places for them.

Edited March 4, 2013 by SteveB

[Bobby]

Plenty of frogspawn in the pond up in the hills, I saw 3 big herons around it yesterday also, I'm guessing they were feasting on frogs.

I think there are newts there too.

[frogesque]

Much cooler over the last few days. The frogs are about but keeping very quiet and mostly lurking in the bottom of the pond. We seem to have one pair that come up for air periodically.

[picog]

Common newt outside the backdoor last night, and sounds of frogs in the pond. No sign of any spawn yet.

[jethro]

Heard the frogs in the pond for the first time last night, next door's joined in the chorus too; all that wooing and singing must have worked as the pond's full of spawn this morning. Shame it's just in time to get frozen solid next week.

[frogesque]

As long as it's just a surface skin of ice most of the spawn will be OK. Bit like an iceberg with at least 90% below the surface.

Unfortunately we had a visit from Mr Heron this morning. I've netted the pond but theres no goldfish to be seen. Hopefully some made it to the bottom before it got to them.

Meanwhile, our frogs were busy last night but no spawn yet.

[Boro Snow]

i was taking my daughter to school last wed and we past a few large frogs/toads on the paths of yarm rd in darlo and its quite a major road

[picog]

Still nothing here — very late this year! Haven't even had any frogs/toads croaking the past few nights, it's just too cold for them.

[mushymanrob]

disturbed newts last week when clearing the ponds... but they are lethargic then went back to sleep lol. no frogs.

[picog]

Pond now frozen. No sign of any frogs or spawn. Is it possible that it will be too late for the frogs to lay any?

[frogesque]

Some here picog. Think they will get going again soon enough when it warm up though.

On a brighter note it seems Mr. Heron only managed to catch a couple of our fish. He did return but the chicken wire had him foxed!

[The PIT]

A brief fling now in stall mode. Poor guys must be frustrating for them. Hormones get pumping then the temp drops and not tonight dear.

[picog]

Pond still freezing every night, so still no action. I hope they can hold on!

[frogesque]

Still cold but the sun must have warmed up the pond just a little this afternoon. One definite pair on the surface and another lose cannon searching for a mate. Cold, clear and frosty now so no chorus tonight.

[Sprites]

Two frogs paired up yesterday lurking near the edge of pond, it was -5c the night before , no sign of them today.

Haven't seen a bee yet this year!

[picog]

Croaking tonight, and definitely saw 4 frogs in the pond. Temperature now a few degrees below freezing so the pond will be icing over (again).

Two frogs paired up yesterday lurking near the edge of pond, it was -5c the night before , no sign of them today.

Haven't seen a bee yet this year!

No bees here either, or butterflies. mind you, apart from daffodils and a few primroses, there is still no blossom so just as we'll they are not out and about perhaps.

[frogesque]

Genrally they will drop to the bottom of the pond below the inversion (4C or thereby) where the bottom of the pond is warmer than the frozen surface. Mud is also a good insulator so they won't loose as much heat. A prolonged cold spell may even set them back into hibernation. All our native amphibians have evolved to cope with cold weather and should be OK.

[The PIT]

Ahhh Frogs spawned overnight the falling snow must have set them off.

[frogesque]

Ahhh Frogs spawned overnight the falling snow must have set them off.

Well, there's only so much foreplay you can take!

There are frogs begining to venture up in our pond during the day but it's a very clear night tonight and a heavy frost may cool them off again.

[SteveB]

Found a dead frog by the side of the pond over the weekend + it looks like all the frog spawn that was laid in Feb is dead as well.

[frogesque]

That's sad SteveB. With luck there will still be some late starters and you may get some fresh spawn.

Our frogs have delayed spawning but the temperature reached a heady +8C today and was probably a lot warmer in the sun and out of the wind. No frost tonight either and they are all hard at it croaking away and plopping about in the pond. Expecting a 'happy event' any day now!

Edited April 4, 2013 by frogesque