foxy
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Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Feb 21, 2017 11:25:37 GMT
I've read comments from some people that they have seen frogspawn this year but they all seem to be from the south. I'm in County Durham and wondering if anyone up this end of the country have seen any.
I've not seen any lifeforms in any of the ponds I usually see tadpoles & spawn. I know it's still early but it's been such a mild winter I've had primula flowering since early 2016 and other plants also seem ahead of time.
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foxy
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Feb 21, 2017 18:34:31 GMT
Just got back from a walk where we passed a know 'hot spot' for frogspawn. We saw about 12 frogs and 4 clumps of spawn. No other signs of life at all in the pond and nothing at all in several other ponds.
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Post by rowanberry on Feb 22, 2017 9:52:26 GMT
That's amazing that there are clumps of spawn already... the frogs just reappeared in our pond a few days ago, and although there's quite a few in amplexus I'm not expecting to see any results for some time yet.
Our pond is in shade until nearly April, so I think that is a factor... if they get sunlight shining on them, it must warm up the water a fair bit.
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foxy
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Feb 22, 2017 20:22:27 GMT
It's been a mild winter up in the north east but as I've been so busy since July 2016 I've not had the opportunity to go out walking again (had to stop for health & work reasons) so when I can I'm getting out for short walks of 4-6 miles. Mostly going out by myself so decided to investigate some of my regular haunts and for the last 4 weeks concentrated on the frog areas I know, that fact I love those areas even when there's no frogs is a bonus lol.
I was surprised to see so many frogs and some spawn yet no other pond life whatsoever. These areas are long disused quarries a good way up weardale so are boggy from the run off of the surrounding hills and the water is still cold.
I'm not back to work for a week so another trip or two and I'll be taking a camera this time.
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Post by teasel on Feb 25, 2017 10:45:39 GMT
frogspawn in Cardiff So happy, I have newts in my garden and frogs and toads at the allotment
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Post by aeshna5 on Feb 26, 2017 11:51:59 GMT
Saw c60 clumps of spawn in temporary pools on my local patch + also saw a Heron eating one of the adult frogs.
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foxy
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Feb 26, 2017 15:10:07 GMT
Took some photos today, there is quite a bit more spawn and a lot more frogs fighting over the females. flic.kr/s/aHskPKmaZJ
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Post by aeshna5 on Feb 26, 2017 18:50:17 GMT
Great photos Foxy!
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Post by Harold Smith on Feb 26, 2017 19:32:55 GMT
Like the photographs Foxy.
It seems the frogs are more active in Durham than they are in Gloucester. At the moment there is very little activity in my pond.
Looking at your photographs it appears that the frogs are spawning in a wet area next to a road. Is there a danger it will dry up or is it a permanent pond that has a regular supply of water?
Harold.
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foxy
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Feb 26, 2017 20:18:52 GMT
Like the photographs Foxy. It seems the frogs are more active in Durham than they are in Gloucester. At the moment there is very little activity in my pond. Looking at your photographs it appears that the frogs are spawning in a wet area next to a road. Is there a danger it will dry up or is it a permanent pond that has a regular supply of water? Harold. Apparently 1 of the locals has placed stones along the edge to reduce the risk of it drying out. It is feed from run off from the hills so it's always waterlogged but may not always be deep enough although the stones do help. The biggest problem is ducks, they decimate the spawn etc. but this has gone on for years without the frog (newt & toad) population dying out. The road isn't used much as it was mainly access to long since disused mines & quarries so traffic is not a problem. I'm surprised to see the spawn this early, the other day (Tuesday) there were only 4 clumps, today (Sunday) there must have been at least 12. In the photo of the pond you can see the ripples from a few frogs (just past the V shaped run off, middle of left side) where all the spawn is concentrated. Judging by all the activity I think there's a lot more spawn to come, a good excuse for another 60 mile round trip and possibly adding another 40 miles to include other known hot spots in that area. It's hard to see but in that group of frogs squabbling (when I arrived) there were 15-20 frogs with more round about, I would guess at over 30 in total.
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Post by rowanberry on Feb 26, 2017 21:57:11 GMT
That is a lot of frogspawn.
My pond is full of frogs splashing about, but so far no spawn... I really do need to get out there and get the nursery baskets ready, (pond baskets full of loose watercress from the supermarket- helps to keep the spawn from sinking.)
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Post by teasel on Mar 3, 2017 14:30:17 GMT
The nearest I've come to seeing frogs was a couple of bubbles and possibles some hind legs disappearing into the murk at the bottom . I have added another clump to the ones in the photo as they had been laid in a puddle on the plastic that still covers much of my allotment. I only put the "pond" in late last year!
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foxy
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Mar 3, 2017 21:07:27 GMT
Had a look again on Wednesday. There were 2 clumps in a place further along from the main area, as this part was just waterlogged ground 2 days previous I have relocated the 2 clumps to my pond.
In the main area there is now approx. 3 time as much as there was a week ago with still plenty of frogs visible (30 +)
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Post by rowanberry on Mar 4, 2017 10:59:43 GMT
The first clump of spawn has appeared, and I've put out three 'nurseries' for them this morning, (will try and get a photo later today.)
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Post by aeshna5 on Mar 4, 2017 18:38:37 GMT
Still no spawn in my pond + haven't noticed any frog activity over the last couple of days. However noticed two spawn clumps in a nursery plastic tray about 3 inches deep on the patio. The last couple of years I've transferred a small amount of spawn from the pond into this as the newts now get to devour most in the pond. First time frogs have directly deposited in here. My partner said she saw one clump 3 days ago + assumed I'd moved it, but hadn't even seen it until today.
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