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Post by rowanberry on Mar 4, 2017 21:45:40 GMT
Some photos of frogs in the pond in the baskets I've hung around the edges for them to lay their spawn in... they will kick out all the watercress overnight, so I have to put it all back again in the morning. There's quite a few out there now, but they dive the minute I go out with the camera. I was only able to get photos of these three. 03 Frogs Mar2017 by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr 02 Frog Mar2017 by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr 01 Frog Mar2017 by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr
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Post by aeshna5 on Mar 5, 2017 17:22:15 GMT
From the bedroom window I could see at least 7 frogs cavorting in the pond + could see at least one was croaking. Didn't see any action though after a heavy hail shower.
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foxy
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Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Mar 5, 2017 20:59:50 GMT
I took some more photos at Stanhope as there was no sign of frogs or spawn at the other 2 hotspots. There is still no other signs of pond life (other than new growth on some vegetation), I presume it's too cold. If so then why are the frogs active at Stanhope? flic.kr/s/aHskS5kpsW
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Post by rowanberry on Mar 9, 2017 12:02:01 GMT
Foxy, it might just be because those particular frogs have returned to where they've spawned and are early? I'm never sure what provokes activity in our pond, although I know it does become busier once the sun starts to fall on the water, (which ought to be in the next few weeks.) A few photos of a few of the frogs in our pond this morning- I counted twenty-two in all, although I'm sure there were more submerged. Three Frogs Mar2017 by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr Frog Mar2017 by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr
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foxy
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Post by foxy on Mar 9, 2017 20:26:41 GMT
The 'black egg' of my frogspawn is changing shape and looking a bit 'tadpoleish' in the 2 cat litter pools. I didn't put any in the bigger pond as that hasn't been up & running as long so less likely to be suitable yet. The plants (creeping jenny, marsh marigold & hornwort) are starting to grow & 'Tesco's best' watercress is looking healthier than when I threw it in so may be the warmer weather we've had this week is helping.
I have a large jar of water to which I've added watercress, a little bit spawn & some live daphnia is a bit more advanced in as much as one tiny tadpole has come away from the 'jelly' and is clinging to the jar and wiggling and the few others seem to be moving in their 'jelly'. I'm only hoping that if they do hatch there's enough food in the water to help them grow. The water for the small pools & the jar is from a frog hotspot. The water in the bigger pond is new rainwater so may have to 'seed' it with suitable water if the plants don't get it conditioned in time.
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foxy
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Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Mar 12, 2017 17:26:42 GMT
It's been 11 days since I did the rounds of the 2 frog 'hot spots' that haven,t shown any signs of frogs or spawn till now. Today we took the dog for a walk (she love the place almost as much as me lol), what a difference! There must have been over 100 frogs at 1 place & could well have been over 200 at the other. Spawn in abundance at both places but it's obviously early days so lots more to come judging by the number of frogs in amplexus and all the croaking going on.
Can't wait till my next visit when hopefully the tadpole will be fully formed and swimming about.
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foxy
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Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Mar 12, 2017 19:53:42 GMT
I was always under the impression that frogs were more active during the night yet for as long as I care to remember I've seen very active frogs during the day.
Today the 2 hotspots I visited were teeming with active frogs and the croaking was loud. Does this mean that, at spawning time they are active day & night (or the frogs in the NE just weird? I know that as a kid I used to collect the young frogs on mass during the day.
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Post by aeshna5 on Mar 13, 2017 5:18:01 GMT
At mating time I find the frogs are active night +day when it is warm enough + most notable when damp.
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foxy
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Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Mar 14, 2017 10:46:37 GMT
For the last few days I've had some tadpoles (small quantity of spawn kept indoors in a large jar) that had broken out of the jelly but still feeding from it. Since Sunday they have been free of the jelly but not moving about much. Today they are all (approx. 15) swimming & feeding from algae on the watercress etc. and are growing well. I'll have to transfer them to a larger container as they grow bigger and then in to the large pond at a later date.
The spawn in the pools (from which the indoor spawn was taken) is developing but more slowly due to the colder temperature outside but at least the exercise has proved the conditions & spawn are viable, looks like the ponds will support some to the frog stage. Whether the surroundings will be suitable for resident frog, only time will tell.
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Post by rowanberry on Mar 14, 2017 21:27:57 GMT
Yours are ahead of mine, Foxy. Here they are still just little black dots. From the activity out there today, I think there's still a lot of spawn still to come!
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foxy
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Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Mar 15, 2017 13:48:49 GMT
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Post by aeshna5 on Mar 16, 2017 17:49:16 GMT
I've got about six clumps of spawn in the pond + another three laid in a nursery tank.
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Post by rowanberry on Mar 18, 2017 17:57:02 GMT
There is so much spawn now I've given up trying to count the clumps- they are all merging into masses.
There does seem to be fewer frogs, (thankfully, because it was getting out of hand; I counted 78 day before yesterday!)
The sun is finally high enough so that it falls on one side of the pond, so the tads should start developing soon.
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Post by NellyDee on Mar 20, 2017 14:19:50 GMT
Well the frogs have spawned, as usual in the area that dries out fast if the weather says dry. Can't think why there is so much spawn when we have had nothing but very cold weather and on and off snow. If they survive till it gets a bit warmer maybe they might have a chance, but then would still need the rain to keep the area filled with water. Made the mistake of moving lots of spawn from a water logged dip to this area then we promptly had two week of dry sunny weather and all the water drained off. Think I will just let nature take its course this year.
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foxy
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Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Mar 20, 2017 20:05:42 GMT
More or less finished setting up the wildlife garden and just in time I think. Some of the spawn in the small pools are just about ready to swim free of the jelly. Snowdrops finished, crocus dying off & daffs won't be long before they are finished. Pond plants are starting to grow as is some of Tesco's best watercress I threw in. All in all I'm pleased with what I've done, just hope the frogs are, lol. I would appreciate your thoughts on what I can do to improve the 'frog friendliness' and other than the 2 ladybug/solitary bee boxes you can see in the photos, is there anything else I could do to to attract/keep these & other garden friendly bugs? There are other plants not shown in the photos such as foxglove, lavender, lupin & roses. flic.kr/s/aHskWj6YgN
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