When I went out into the garden the other night, I heard a strange sound that, at first, I didn't recognise. Martyn came out to listen and he just said, "They're back then."
Of course, the sound that I had heard was the frog chorus, although it would be more accurately described as a frog solo as the voice belonged to a solitary frog.
The next morning I went out, camera at the ready, to try to spot our visitor. Unless their attentions are busy with other more demanding activities, the frogs in our pond are ever watchful, and dive under the surface if a camera is pointed in their direction.
As it happens we spotted at least three frogs, and they had already been very busy.
A huge pile of frog spawn was nestled in amongst the watercress and, as we have noticed every year, the frogs appeared to be protecting it.
In previous years we have observed several frogs arranged around the spawn, all facing in different directions staring defiantly whenever we approached. It's another occasion when they don't automatically plop below the surface.
Despite the presence of ever hungry fish, some of the plentiful spawn will survive and return as frogs the following year.
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Ooh! How exciting! Can't wait to see whether ours have flown in yet!! :-D
ReplyDeleteI’m sure that they are on their way, Belinda.
DeleteThanks for the alert. Webbed fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteToes too, Mal
DeleteGreat pictures!
ReplyDeleteSpotted spawn in my pond just now
Thanks, Roger. Always good to see lots of spawn.
DeleteWow - that is a LOT of spawn!
ReplyDeleteSadly only a tiny percentage of spawn reaches adulthood, Margaret so i guess they need to deliver lots of spawn just to end up with a couple of mature frogs.
DeleteLovely photos. It's very froggy in our pond, I think there really aren't enough ponds around - everyone should have one! Our frogs are shyer than yours though, I would struggle to get a photo of them. Maybe we are noisier than you...
ReplyDeleteOurs tend to be preoccupied at the moment CJ.
DeleteThe sounds of spring Sue, the songs of frogs. It's lucky that your pond didn't freeze but mine did and the frogs die under the ice.
ReplyDeleteThat's so sad, Nadezda
DeleteThat's brilliant news, Sue! Great images too. Well jealous here, have been regularly checking our pond in the evenings and have seen one frog but alas it's either hiding or moved on to the call from another pond (although sadly there aren't many in my area that I know of). I'm ever optimistic though - maybe this weekend ;-)
ReplyDeleteI hope the frogs head your way, Shirley
DeleteJust fantastic seeing your frogs! Sadly, I discovered about fifteen frozen in our pond when we came home from holiday last year. No sign of frogs or frogspawn this year, looks like the Beast from the East killed them all off.xxx
ReplyDeleteThat must have been awful, Dina
DeleteWe don't have frogs in our garden but we have been hearing the Spring Peepers when out birding in the country side. Fun to see your frogs and the spawn.
ReplyDeleteWhat are Spring Peepers, Lisa.
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