"A frog he would a-wooing go,
Heigh Ho! says Rowley,
A frog he would a-wooing go,
Whether his mother would let him or no
With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigh Ho! says Antony Rowley....."
Thomas Ravenscroft
The first frogspawn was laid in our garden pond on Wednesday, 19th March, which is an average date for spawning here. The frogs were still very active yesterday and, despite diving for cover the first time I approached the pond, I was able to creep a lot closer on the second attempt as their minds were obviously on other things!
I counted at least nine frogs. The photos would have been a bit sharper I think if I'd used the tripod and some pictures are cropped trying to get rid of some of the reeds and water plants that appeared in nearly every photo :)
In amplexus!
In amplexus again!
14 comments:
Lovely set of shots, Caroline.
Dean Stables - Thanks so much Dean :)
Fantastic pics! Wish we'd get some in our pond :-)
Lovely pictures. I haven't seen any frogs but we had loads of spawn a couple of weeks ago in our dew pond. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful photos of the frogs. I'm starting to give up hope that they'll find my ponds for frogspawn this year (as there's no sign of any around). I just hope they find them for next year!
Countryside Tales - Thanks CT :) I really do hope they colonise your pond soon - perhaps just takes time for local frogs to find it?
Sarah - Thank you :) I think they often spawn at dawn when its not so easy to see all the activity. Glad you've got lots of spawn :)
Wendy - Thanks so much Wendy. There's still time for frogs to appear and I do hope they do. Last year ours spawned in April - the latest ever!!! To be honest when we first put in the pond about 20 years ago my husband was that impatient for frogs that he got a neighbour to give him some spawn. BUT these days this is definitely not recommended in case you introduce disease to your pond :(
Hi rr. Plenty of frogs in the future. Great shots
Margaret Adamson Many thanks. I always look forward to the first little tadpoles appearing :)
Brilliant photos, I have had a frog calling from the pond for the first time, so maybe we'll have activity later or next year. I have enjoyed seeing these photos.
SeagullSuzie Thanks so much :) Super news re: the frog in your pond. Not too late for them to spawn - last year it was April here (the latest ever!!! I will keep my fingers crossed for you and please let me know if you get spawn.
I was so excited to find the amplexus orgy that I did a few weeks ago and it seems you have been similarly graced! Great shots. I found the frogs seemed to be in a trance and so let me get very close to photograph them in a way they wouldn't normally do.
Em Parkinson Many thanks :) I've noticed in previous years that once they get to a certain stage in the "amplexus orgy" they seem totally oblivious of your presence. The activity seems really prolonged this year - started Wednesday and they were still active today!
Frogspawn!!!!! Very cool shots! I would be so excited to see this. Being that we are in the desert, I don't always get to see these things. Wonderful pics!
Chris Rohrer - Thanks Chris :) Glad you enjoyed the photos. Have to say I prefer my frogs to your rattle snakes :)
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