The first froggie of the year!

Haven't seen or heard any frogs yet but there's two bunches (is that the right collective noun?) of frog spawn appeared in the last couple of days so they are certainly around.

Last year for the first time we had toad eggs laid in a long string criss crossing our small pond. Unfortunately no toadpoles (I assume that is what an immature toad is called ) hatched out. All the eggs turned white and eventually disappeared.

 

...and then this morning lots more frog spawn and at least 6 frogs locked in various states of amorous embrace.

 

The frogs in our pond are extremely nervous. The sound of the back door opening is enough to set off a mass dive, like synchronised swimmers but without the fixed smiles and a lot more splashing. Even sneaking around the house from the front requires the stealth of a hunting leopard to avoid startling them.

It's a bit too cold to sit out quietly waiting for them to resurface but we did manage to get a few photos.

 

Lovely photos, HsuH We've got the same nervosity here, but that's because the cats' favourite game is 'pat the frog into the pond' Re. toadpoles, I'm sure we had trogs and froads in the UK pond...there seemed to be some confusion when the urge gripped them all We decided against fish in this pond because they used to gobble the tadpoles, as did the newts. It's a hard (and brief) life being a little wriggly blob

 

My chickens ate the newts; the herring gulls ate the fish.

All I have left are frogs, water boatmen, pond skaters and algae! (Blast! I forgot the mosquitoes - who find me irresistible

 

In their droves, Our Mandy!! Not pleasant

 

That would make a good case for introducing some golden orfe..they eat mossie larvae

 

Cheeky thing!!!

You wait until Shiney's open day

 

Yeah, you're laughing "now"

 

Bring on the sofa, Our Mandy ... you can hide, but you can't escape