Saturday, 17 July 2010
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Springwatch again!
It's time for Springwatch once again. Three weeks of nightly entertainment from the natural world presented by Kate Humble, Chris Packham and company.
On the topic of ringing (birds) I wonder if you can put a ring on a frog's leg? Hmm ... it could cause a hazard for the frog - risk of getting stuck on undergrowth, etc. Maybe another way would be to put a coloured spot on it's back. But what? - Frogs have fine skin that absorbs easily.
It would be good to monitor it each year and see how long it returned to the garden for. Even better - it would be good to monitor how far it travelled. A tracker!!!
Any ideas?
On the topic of ringing (birds) I wonder if you can put a ring on a frog's leg? Hmm ... it could cause a hazard for the frog - risk of getting stuck on undergrowth, etc. Maybe another way would be to put a coloured spot on it's back. But what? - Frogs have fine skin that absorbs easily.
It would be good to monitor it each year and see how long it returned to the garden for. Even better - it would be good to monitor how far it travelled. A tracker!!!
Any ideas?
New frogs found!
Two new frog species discovered in Panama’s fungal war zone. Click on above title to see the link.
Sunday, 18 April 2010
The Frogs' Chorus
Click on the above title for Paul McCartney's rendition of this all-time favourite :o) Croak, croak!
Monday, 29 March 2010
All finished - spawn laid and frogs gone!
Well that's it! The excitement's over for another year.
Although the numbers were down (around fifty frogs instead of an expected 60), I'm pleased to say I haven't found any dead frogs in the pond like other people have reported. Spawn has been laid in great quantities and the frogs have disappeared from the pond once more until next year. And yes! I do a head count - several actually. Little things just won't sit still!
I did eventually managed to take some photographs. The best way is at night with our outside light on - and using the flash on my camera. The frogs don't seem to mind my presence quite as much as when I try it during the day - I think the light shining on the pond helps camouflage me. Any skittish ones that dive for cover usually re-appear within a few minutes and don't seem to mind me after that. Neither do they seem bothered by the camera's flash. There's always a few obliging frogs that seem particularly unphased by my presence and seems at times to almost be posing!
One of my favourite photos that I took about 4 years ago with a small compact flash camera was of a small quantity of frogspawn. The image was taken close to and blown up to A4. Far from being off-putting, it was quite beautiful, each egg glistening in the damp night and with a fluid appearance as if it were covered in mercury. I've taken quite a lot of froggy photos since then but never managed to get a shot that I liked quite as much as that.
On the subject of the eggs, I'm looking forward to watching how they develop. It's fascinating to watch the tadpoles developing once they've hatched, but I've never studied the egg development in close detail. Looking at macro (close-up) shots of eggs laid at difference times during the last 2 or 3 days, the difference in their developmental stages becomes apparent. Tomorrow I'll take a small amount of recent spawn and leave it at one side so I can take macro shots on a daily basis - or maybe several times a day. It will be interesting to note and watch their development and re-search the subject a bit more.
As a child, I grew up in a house with a large back garden that had a pond and it was normal for me to see frogs and watch the different types of pond life. In fact I have a vivid memory of my father removing a large water beetle from the throat of a goldfish using a pair of tweezers. The goldfish had obviously bitten off more than it could swallow! My own children, too, have grown up with a garden pond and it's only in the last few years that it's occurred to me that there must be many children who've never seen a frog, let along touched one!
A couple of years ago I was helping with some Reception class children on a local farm* that does educational visits. The sheer delight of the children at turning over a log and finding a frog was amazing. It was even better when - right on cue - we turned over another log next to it and found a toad! We couldn't have arranged it better if we'd tried and it demonstrated the difference between a frog and a toad far better than any classroom text book. The children couldn't have been more excited if they'd gone on safari to the Serengeti. Quite simply, they thought it was fantastic!
Weather: a beautiful day with blue sky and sunshine - but a chilly wind. The temperature in the shade was only 8 degrees, but in the sun - and out of the wind - it felt much warmer.
Suddenly, during the last couple of days, green tips have started to appear on bushes and trees and the tete-a-tete daffodils are already in flower. It feels like we are well on our way to spring. But wait! The forecast tonight is for a rotten week ahead with snow more than likely at some stage during the week.
* http://www.cronkshaw.co.uk/
Ttfn :o)
Although the numbers were down (around fifty frogs instead of an expected 60), I'm pleased to say I haven't found any dead frogs in the pond like other people have reported. Spawn has been laid in great quantities and the frogs have disappeared from the pond once more until next year. And yes! I do a head count - several actually. Little things just won't sit still!
I did eventually managed to take some photographs. The best way is at night with our outside light on - and using the flash on my camera. The frogs don't seem to mind my presence quite as much as when I try it during the day - I think the light shining on the pond helps camouflage me. Any skittish ones that dive for cover usually re-appear within a few minutes and don't seem to mind me after that. Neither do they seem bothered by the camera's flash. There's always a few obliging frogs that seem particularly unphased by my presence and seems at times to almost be posing!
One of my favourite photos that I took about 4 years ago with a small compact flash camera was of a small quantity of frogspawn. The image was taken close to and blown up to A4. Far from being off-putting, it was quite beautiful, each egg glistening in the damp night and with a fluid appearance as if it were covered in mercury. I've taken quite a lot of froggy photos since then but never managed to get a shot that I liked quite as much as that.
On the subject of the eggs, I'm looking forward to watching how they develop. It's fascinating to watch the tadpoles developing once they've hatched, but I've never studied the egg development in close detail. Looking at macro (close-up) shots of eggs laid at difference times during the last 2 or 3 days, the difference in their developmental stages becomes apparent. Tomorrow I'll take a small amount of recent spawn and leave it at one side so I can take macro shots on a daily basis - or maybe several times a day. It will be interesting to note and watch their development and re-search the subject a bit more.
As a child, I grew up in a house with a large back garden that had a pond and it was normal for me to see frogs and watch the different types of pond life. In fact I have a vivid memory of my father removing a large water beetle from the throat of a goldfish using a pair of tweezers. The goldfish had obviously bitten off more than it could swallow! My own children, too, have grown up with a garden pond and it's only in the last few years that it's occurred to me that there must be many children who've never seen a frog, let along touched one!
A couple of years ago I was helping with some Reception class children on a local farm* that does educational visits. The sheer delight of the children at turning over a log and finding a frog was amazing. It was even better when - right on cue - we turned over another log next to it and found a toad! We couldn't have arranged it better if we'd tried and it demonstrated the difference between a frog and a toad far better than any classroom text book. The children couldn't have been more excited if they'd gone on safari to the Serengeti. Quite simply, they thought it was fantastic!
Weather: a beautiful day with blue sky and sunshine - but a chilly wind. The temperature in the shade was only 8 degrees, but in the sun - and out of the wind - it felt much warmer.
Suddenly, during the last couple of days, green tips have started to appear on bushes and trees and the tete-a-tete daffodils are already in flower. It feels like we are well on our way to spring. But wait! The forecast tonight is for a rotten week ahead with snow more than likely at some stage during the week.
* http://www.cronkshaw.co.uk/
Ttfn :o)
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Just a thought ... water temperature?
Although I've been recording the air temperature on my garden thermometer (which, from my observations, is a big factor in when the frogs return to the pond) I've never thought to check the water temperature. I'll start doing this, though I can't imagine it changing much from day to day.
But I could be wrong!
Ttfn
A :o)
But I could be wrong!
Ttfn
A :o)
More males than females ?
Morning!
I finally managed to replace our outside light yesterday. We are now minus a large bush which had to be chopped down for us to get the ladder up against the wall. It was too big, anyway! Did I say 'us'? I meant 'Me' - husband had no part in it and anyway was too busy working hard to pay for all the birdseed we get through! Anyway, with a new bulb fitted at last, I could take a ring-side seat last night with a cup of tea and watch the show from my patio door. There was a lot of froggy activity and much croaking though they are still quite skittish about me going closer so I didn't get much in the way of photographs.
Several more clumps of frogspawn arrived during the night. Out of curiosity, does anyone know if there's a collective noun for a 'clump' of frogspawn???
Within the pond there are several groups of 3 frogs - 2 males clasped tightly around 1 female. Does this suggest a lack of females, I wonder? Or perhaps this is a better way for nature to ensure a continuation of the species: with a ratio of 2 males to 1 female, the eggs are almost guaranteed to be fertilized.
I see there are several single frogs still not paired up but I don't know if these are males or females.
It was interesting to read the article about the use of the pesticide, Atrazine, mentioned in one of my earlier posts. http://frogblog2010.blogspot.com/2010/03/common-pesticide-identified-as-major.html The apparently world-wide use of this pesticide can reduce the testosterone in male frogs, changing them into females. They can then mate with male frogs and produce eggs, but because they are still genetically male all their resulting offspring are males. M + M = M. I need to read the article again and the response by the company that produces it.
Mild and damp again. Temp at 10am is
Ttfn A :o)
I finally managed to replace our outside light yesterday. We are now minus a large bush which had to be chopped down for us to get the ladder up against the wall. It was too big, anyway! Did I say 'us'? I meant 'Me' - husband had no part in it and anyway was too busy working hard to pay for all the birdseed we get through! Anyway, with a new bulb fitted at last, I could take a ring-side seat last night with a cup of tea and watch the show from my patio door. There was a lot of froggy activity and much croaking though they are still quite skittish about me going closer so I didn't get much in the way of photographs.
Several more clumps of frogspawn arrived during the night. Out of curiosity, does anyone know if there's a collective noun for a 'clump' of frogspawn???
Within the pond there are several groups of 3 frogs - 2 males clasped tightly around 1 female. Does this suggest a lack of females, I wonder? Or perhaps this is a better way for nature to ensure a continuation of the species: with a ratio of 2 males to 1 female, the eggs are almost guaranteed to be fertilized.
I see there are several single frogs still not paired up but I don't know if these are males or females.
It was interesting to read the article about the use of the pesticide, Atrazine, mentioned in one of my earlier posts. http://frogblog2010.blogspot.com/2010/03/common-pesticide-identified-as-major.html The apparently world-wide use of this pesticide can reduce the testosterone in male frogs, changing them into females. They can then mate with male frogs and produce eggs, but because they are still genetically male all their resulting offspring are males. M + M = M. I need to read the article again and the response by the company that produces it.
Mild and damp again. Temp at 10am is
Ttfn A :o)
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
YIPPEE !!!! Frogs back today AND the first frogspawn
At last!! The frogs have re-appeared from over a week ago (Sunday 14 March was their first appearance). Not only that, but a head count through the binoculars shows there are at least 40 of them. This is much better than I first thought, though still about 20 down on last year.
AND ... we have our first batch of frogspawn this morning.
The frogs' behaviour is quite frantic now. Some are already firmly grasped together in pairs with the male behind the female, clasping his front legs around her middle. When you look in the pond they are easy to spot by the 2 heads - one behind the other - in the water.
Frogs don't mate like mammals. The eggs (frogspawn) are fertilised by the male frogs as they are laid by the female and you will sometimes see male frogs crawling all over the newly hatched eggs to make sure they are successful. Their only aim is to be THE one to fertilise the spawn. So strong is this instinctive behaviour that it is common to see a female frog with 2 males - 1 behind and 1 in front (facing) both clasped firmly. I once saw a ball of frogs - about 6 - 8 inches in diameter - on the gravel next to my pond: I can't remember how many frogs made up this ball but there must have been at least 5. They remained there for a couple of days and it did make me wonder just how the female in the middle managed to breathe!
Several years ago I was delighted to find a very old book on the anatomy of the frog. In it I read that the clasping reflex is so strong that even if you cut off the frog's front legs and remove the frog, you can't remove the severed legs from the female! I don't like to think about how they found this out, but it's an interesting fact and I can well imagine it to be true.
I'm out to lunch today (Italian, not French!!) but when I come back I'll be out there with the camera. The few frogs that have been around this last week (until today, often no more than half a dozen) have been very skittish but I don't think they'll bother about me being there now - far too intent on doing what nature intended.
Temperature around 10+ degrees - mild and very wet
Ttfn :o)
AND ... we have our first batch of frogspawn this morning.
The frogs' behaviour is quite frantic now. Some are already firmly grasped together in pairs with the male behind the female, clasping his front legs around her middle. When you look in the pond they are easy to spot by the 2 heads - one behind the other - in the water.
Frogs don't mate like mammals. The eggs (frogspawn) are fertilised by the male frogs as they are laid by the female and you will sometimes see male frogs crawling all over the newly hatched eggs to make sure they are successful. Their only aim is to be THE one to fertilise the spawn. So strong is this instinctive behaviour that it is common to see a female frog with 2 males - 1 behind and 1 in front (facing) both clasped firmly. I once saw a ball of frogs - about 6 - 8 inches in diameter - on the gravel next to my pond: I can't remember how many frogs made up this ball but there must have been at least 5. They remained there for a couple of days and it did make me wonder just how the female in the middle managed to breathe!
Several years ago I was delighted to find a very old book on the anatomy of the frog. In it I read that the clasping reflex is so strong that even if you cut off the frog's front legs and remove the frog, you can't remove the severed legs from the female! I don't like to think about how they found this out, but it's an interesting fact and I can well imagine it to be true.
I'm out to lunch today (Italian, not French!!) but when I come back I'll be out there with the camera. The few frogs that have been around this last week (until today, often no more than half a dozen) have been very skittish but I don't think they'll bother about me being there now - far too intent on doing what nature intended.
Temperature around 10+ degrees - mild and very wet
Ttfn :o)
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Common pesticide identified as major threat to frogs worldwide
Here is an article about the effect on frogs of the use of the pesticide, 'Atrazine'.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/atrazine-frogs.html
Read the manufacturers statement about Atrazine.
http://www2.syngenta.com/en/corporate_responsibility/syngentathinks_full.html
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/atrazine-frogs.html
Read the manufacturers statement about Atrazine.
http://www2.syngenta.com/en/corporate_responsibility/syngentathinks_full.html
Friday, 19 March 2010
Manchester University's Frog Blog
Here's a link I've found to Manchester University's Frog Blog (and here's me thinking I was soooo original!) http://frogblogmanchester.wordpress.com/
Thursday, 18 March 2010
How big is a frog?
Well, it depends on how old it is. In my observations it takes about 4 years for a frog to reach full size from the tadpole stage. Then there is the weight to consider. I think they weigh less in the spring that they do later in the year - due to the hibernation.
Until today the largest frog I've seen in my pond (though up to now I haven't actively searched) was in October 2007. It weighed in at a hefty 73 gms and had a hind leg span of 11 cms from the thigh socket to the end of its toe.
However tonight I found a large frog in the road just in front of our house. Not wanting it to get squashed I picked it up. Due to its size I expected it to be a toad but it was a frog - a big one! It weighed in at 65 gms which, as its only spring, is a fair old weight. Its leg span was 11 cms. It certainly had some strength and it was as much as I could do to contain it within my hand.
I've marked its back with Tippex in the hope of monitoring it but I think it will wash off in the water.
It's now sitting on the side of our pond in the back garden amidst much croaking and splashing. I still haven't replaced our outside light (a bit tricky due to shrubs and bushes) and will try tomorrow so I can watch them at night. I hope the mating ritual continues for a few more days before the frogs lay their eggs. Once that happens all the frogs will disappear once more. The show will be over for another year.
Ttfn :o)
Until today the largest frog I've seen in my pond (though up to now I haven't actively searched) was in October 2007. It weighed in at a hefty 73 gms and had a hind leg span of 11 cms from the thigh socket to the end of its toe.
However tonight I found a large frog in the road just in front of our house. Not wanting it to get squashed I picked it up. Due to its size I expected it to be a toad but it was a frog - a big one! It weighed in at 65 gms which, as its only spring, is a fair old weight. Its leg span was 11 cms. It certainly had some strength and it was as much as I could do to contain it within my hand.
I've marked its back with Tippex in the hope of monitoring it but I think it will wash off in the water.
It's now sitting on the side of our pond in the back garden amidst much croaking and splashing. I still haven't replaced our outside light (a bit tricky due to shrubs and bushes) and will try tomorrow so I can watch them at night. I hope the mating ritual continues for a few more days before the frogs lay their eggs. Once that happens all the frogs will disappear once more. The show will be over for another year.
Ttfn :o)
F Day! 30 at least today :o)
Well, I'm a happy bunny this morning with at least 30 frogs in the pond. Though this still isn't up to the usual number of 60 plus during recent years. May there are more to arrive, or perhaps the winter has taken its toll? Glad to say I haven't seen any dead (or maybe just torpid?) frogs in my pond as reported by other people in the area.
I haven't seen the Heron in our garden this spring. In previous years he's visited regularly for breakfast. Apparently to catch fish they emit some kind of liquid into the water which attracts the fish and then, of course, once in the shallow water, they become an easy meal. I don't know if this works on frogs. Much as it's nice to see the Heron at such close quarter - in our case just several feet from our window - I'd rather try and maintain my frog population and have the Heron hunt down in the river Ogden or the Irwell.
I've just received news on a frog which was previously thought extinct. Not in Lancashire, alas, but in Australia. Follow the link. http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/bell-frog
No sign of frog spawn yet but the frogs are getting very friendly. Looking out of my window I can see several clusters where there are at least 3 in a bunch. I rather pity the poor female in the middle! I must get out there and take some photos. I should also top up the water level - this lovely spring spell of warm, dry weather has let the level drop and the shallow end is now dried up.
Back soon!
Ttfn :o)
I haven't seen the Heron in our garden this spring. In previous years he's visited regularly for breakfast. Apparently to catch fish they emit some kind of liquid into the water which attracts the fish and then, of course, once in the shallow water, they become an easy meal. I don't know if this works on frogs. Much as it's nice to see the Heron at such close quarter - in our case just several feet from our window - I'd rather try and maintain my frog population and have the Heron hunt down in the river Ogden or the Irwell.
I've just received news on a frog which was previously thought extinct. Not in Lancashire, alas, but in Australia. Follow the link. http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/bell-frog
No sign of frog spawn yet but the frogs are getting very friendly. Looking out of my window I can see several clusters where there are at least 3 in a bunch. I rather pity the poor female in the middle! I must get out there and take some photos. I should also top up the water level - this lovely spring spell of warm, dry weather has let the level drop and the shallow end is now dried up.
Back soon!
Ttfn :o)
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Back home after a week in the Lakes
6 - 13 March, 2010. Stephen and I were up in the Lakes all week. It was beautiful. We had blue skies every day and some wonderful walks, including The Old Man of Coniston. Absolutely glorious!
Amanda, my daughter, had dutifully been checking the pond each day in my absence to record the frog's return but not so much as a ripple had been seen.
Saturday 13 March. Back home, now, and I remembered that the broken, rickety fencing down one side of our back garden had been replaced last autumn by new fencing. Panic! No gaps! We put this to rights by lifting a couple of the panels and holding them an inch or so off the base with pebbles. Phew - imagine the poor frogs having trekked through weeds, wildnerness and bogs to reach their spawning ground only to be met by a four foot fence. Still no frogs. Max temperature today 7 degrees.
Sunday 14 March. The situation was the same this morning - still no frogs - but when I looked a couple of hours later ... FROGS!!! Only about 15 or so but a good sign at last. The temperature in the sun had risen to 8 degrees. One degree must make all the difference.
Monday 15 March. Not a frog in site today.
Tuesday 16 March. Today has been the warmest since before Christmas and got up to 12 degrees in the sun but still no frogs. I'm curious now and a bit worried!
Report for today, Wednesday 17 March, to follow in a further post.
Ttfn :o)
Amanda, my daughter, had dutifully been checking the pond each day in my absence to record the frog's return but not so much as a ripple had been seen.
Saturday 13 March. Back home, now, and I remembered that the broken, rickety fencing down one side of our back garden had been replaced last autumn by new fencing. Panic! No gaps! We put this to rights by lifting a couple of the panels and holding them an inch or so off the base with pebbles. Phew - imagine the poor frogs having trekked through weeds, wildnerness and bogs to reach their spawning ground only to be met by a four foot fence. Still no frogs. Max temperature today 7 degrees.
Sunday 14 March. The situation was the same this morning - still no frogs - but when I looked a couple of hours later ... FROGS!!! Only about 15 or so but a good sign at last. The temperature in the sun had risen to 8 degrees. One degree must make all the difference.
Monday 15 March. Not a frog in site today.
Tuesday 16 March. Today has been the warmest since before Christmas and got up to 12 degrees in the sun but still no frogs. I'm curious now and a bit worried!
Report for today, Wednesday 17 March, to follow in a further post.
Ttfn :o)
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
A strange affair
I've received a sad tale of events that occurred last week (towards end of February) in local ponds during a cold spell. A friend found a dozen or so dead frogs in her allotment pond. They were all upright in the water with just the heads sticking out. She removed them to the nearby river bank in the hope of putting them to good use for the Heron. There were similar incidents at 2 neighbouring ponds.
It occured to me to wonder (perhaps stupidly!) if the frogs were in fact dead? Or had they been reduced to a torpid state by a sudden drastic drop in temperature? In which case they would presumably warm up on the river bank and hop away. I don't know if this is possible but I remember seeing lizards in Scotland which, like frogs, are cold-blooded creatures. They had crawled into the May sunshine on the warm tarmac road then had been unable to move once the sun disappeared and the temperature fell. I wonder if this is the case with frogs? If anyone has any ideas on this please contribute in the 'comments' box below.
Temperature at 3.30pm is 5 C in the shade. The thin layer of ice on my pond has thawed from this morning but still all quiet on the western front.
The snowdrops I transplanted last year from my late father-in-law's garden have taken well and are in full flower. I'm pleased I gave some away and hope they are giving as much pleasure to them as to me.
Ttfn :0)
It occured to me to wonder (perhaps stupidly!) if the frogs were in fact dead? Or had they been reduced to a torpid state by a sudden drastic drop in temperature? In which case they would presumably warm up on the river bank and hop away. I don't know if this is possible but I remember seeing lizards in Scotland which, like frogs, are cold-blooded creatures. They had crawled into the May sunshine on the warm tarmac road then had been unable to move once the sun disappeared and the temperature fell. I wonder if this is the case with frogs? If anyone has any ideas on this please contribute in the 'comments' box below.
Temperature at 3.30pm is 5 C in the shade. The thin layer of ice on my pond has thawed from this morning but still all quiet on the western front.
The snowdrops I transplanted last year from my late father-in-law's garden have taken well and are in full flower. I'm pleased I gave some away and hope they are giving as much pleasure to them as to me.
Ttfn :0)
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Wasps' nests - amazing things!
No wind!! Here on the edge of the West Pennine Moors it's a rare occurence to have a calm day - whatever the time of year. Today is one of them. Beautiful!
At 2pm the temperature out of the sun is 6 C
Still no frogs but the garden is all a flutter with the sight and sound of birds and we have blue-tits and great-tits already taking an interest in the various nest boxes.
Last year two of our bird boxes provided shelter for nests of a different kind - wasps! One of these was just a few yards from my back door and it gave me the chance to watch them more closely. I began by leaving my tripod a few yards from the nestbox and each day I gradually moved my tripod and camera closer until I was no more than a couple of feet away. They appeared quite happy with this arrangement and left me alone. Besides, I think they were on too much of a mission to be interested in me!
There was always one wasp 'on duty'. I presume this was the lookout and it would sit outside the entrance, constantly vibrating its wings. After a while it would fly into or away from the nest box and another wasp would take its place. If anyone knows more about this behaviour, please add to this thread.
The only time I felt uneasy was late one evening. It was well after midnight and I had a moth lamp in the garden to attract these beautiful night time visitors - the best moths seem to arrive after 1am! Unfortunately it also seemed to attract the wasps: either they thought daytime had come early or they were checking out the night-time intruder - me! A couple of scouts came to investigate. At this point I had visions of the whole colony waking up so I made a hasty retreat indoors!
Curiously, after a few weeks both nests suddenly stopped being active and all the wasps disappeared. I've heard that if the queen dies all the wasps leave. If that's the case, it seems strange that it should happen to each nest. Anyone know ... ??
On the good side, the grubs have provided welcome food for the blue tits during the winter months.
If this warmer weather continues I would expect the frogs to return any day - or more likely any night!
Ttfn A :0)
At 2pm the temperature out of the sun is 6 C
Still no frogs but the garden is all a flutter with the sight and sound of birds and we have blue-tits and great-tits already taking an interest in the various nest boxes.
Last year two of our bird boxes provided shelter for nests of a different kind - wasps! One of these was just a few yards from my back door and it gave me the chance to watch them more closely. I began by leaving my tripod a few yards from the nestbox and each day I gradually moved my tripod and camera closer until I was no more than a couple of feet away. They appeared quite happy with this arrangement and left me alone. Besides, I think they were on too much of a mission to be interested in me!
There was always one wasp 'on duty'. I presume this was the lookout and it would sit outside the entrance, constantly vibrating its wings. After a while it would fly into or away from the nest box and another wasp would take its place. If anyone knows more about this behaviour, please add to this thread.
The only time I felt uneasy was late one evening. It was well after midnight and I had a moth lamp in the garden to attract these beautiful night time visitors - the best moths seem to arrive after 1am! Unfortunately it also seemed to attract the wasps: either they thought daytime had come early or they were checking out the night-time intruder - me! A couple of scouts came to investigate. At this point I had visions of the whole colony waking up so I made a hasty retreat indoors!
Curiously, after a few weeks both nests suddenly stopped being active and all the wasps disappeared. I've heard that if the queen dies all the wasps leave. If that's the case, it seems strange that it should happen to each nest. Anyone know ... ??
On the good side, the grubs have provided welcome food for the blue tits during the winter months.
If this warmer weather continues I would expect the frogs to return any day - or more likely any night!
Ttfn A :0)
Monday, 1 March 2010
A gorgeous day! But pond frozen again
What a beautiful day - bright blue sky and sunshine. The temperature this morning at 10:30 is 5 C but that's in the sun. The pond is frozen over once again so still no frogs!
Whenever they are late back in the spring, I worry that something's gone wrong: have they all perished from some frog virus or other? Have they all frozen to death during the hard spell? So far, year on year my worries have always been unfounded, so fingers crossed for this year.
Ttfn
A :0)
Whenever they are late back in the spring, I worry that something's gone wrong: have they all perished from some frog virus or other? Have they all frozen to death during the hard spell? So far, year on year my worries have always been unfounded, so fingers crossed for this year.
Ttfn
A :0)
First Proper Thaw since Christmas and still no frogs
This weekend has seen only the first full thaw in my pond in Helmshore since the new year. On a previous occasion the ice melted for one day, but other than that it has fluctuated between slush and solid ice for over two months now.
During the last 10 years or so I have watched each spring for the first siting of frogs in my pond. Call me sad, but I never lose the child-like excitement of looking out of the window to see 50 or more heads bobbing around in the water. Yet I never see this grand arrival. I imagine a parade of frogs moving in from every corner of my garden, and beyond, but I have never seen it happen. Suddenly they are just there, as if by magic!
I know some people think that frogs spend the winter tucked up at the bottom of the pond but I don't think this is so. Twice I've had reason to drain my pond during the winter months and I've not found a single frog! Another reason for thinking this ... A few years ago I ran garden netting along the boundary of my garden to stop my dog and rabbits from excaping into neighbouring gardens. That spring, I halved the number of frogs in my pond at a stroke! I had unwittingly fenced out many of the returning frogs that came from neighbouring gardens. Instead of the marvellous colony of around 100 frogs, I was reduced to about 60. I therefore know - at least in my own garden - that frogs do not overwinter in the pond but spend the winter hiding under rocks, compost heaps, piles of logs, etc. They spend only a brief period of time in the water for the purpose of spawning.
The pattern for their arrival is always the same, but the timing varies hugely and is dependent on temperature. Following a cold spell, all it takes is a warm day - and this can be either sunny or wet - to stir the frogs from their winter rest and bring them back to the pond. This is anytime from the end of January to the middle of March, but whilst this date may vary, the spawning time does not. Despite popular talk of spring getting earlier, the time the frogs lay their spawn has remained consistent during the last ten years. The earlier the frogs return (say January/February) the longer they play around in the water and still don't lay their spawn before mid March. When they arrive later, then the mating and laying of spawn takes place in a mad frenzy of activity and is over and done with in 2 or 3 days.
Pushed into activity by a sudden burst of mild weather, frogs will often arrive at the pond - only to disappear if the weather turns suddenly cold again. They then re-appear when the weather warms up.
Well, it has just gone midnight as I write and I've looked outside but can see nothing in the darkness. Note for tomorrow - replace the outside light!
Ttfn :0)
During the last 10 years or so I have watched each spring for the first siting of frogs in my pond. Call me sad, but I never lose the child-like excitement of looking out of the window to see 50 or more heads bobbing around in the water. Yet I never see this grand arrival. I imagine a parade of frogs moving in from every corner of my garden, and beyond, but I have never seen it happen. Suddenly they are just there, as if by magic!
I know some people think that frogs spend the winter tucked up at the bottom of the pond but I don't think this is so. Twice I've had reason to drain my pond during the winter months and I've not found a single frog! Another reason for thinking this ... A few years ago I ran garden netting along the boundary of my garden to stop my dog and rabbits from excaping into neighbouring gardens. That spring, I halved the number of frogs in my pond at a stroke! I had unwittingly fenced out many of the returning frogs that came from neighbouring gardens. Instead of the marvellous colony of around 100 frogs, I was reduced to about 60. I therefore know - at least in my own garden - that frogs do not overwinter in the pond but spend the winter hiding under rocks, compost heaps, piles of logs, etc. They spend only a brief period of time in the water for the purpose of spawning.
The pattern for their arrival is always the same, but the timing varies hugely and is dependent on temperature. Following a cold spell, all it takes is a warm day - and this can be either sunny or wet - to stir the frogs from their winter rest and bring them back to the pond. This is anytime from the end of January to the middle of March, but whilst this date may vary, the spawning time does not. Despite popular talk of spring getting earlier, the time the frogs lay their spawn has remained consistent during the last ten years. The earlier the frogs return (say January/February) the longer they play around in the water and still don't lay their spawn before mid March. When they arrive later, then the mating and laying of spawn takes place in a mad frenzy of activity and is over and done with in 2 or 3 days.
Pushed into activity by a sudden burst of mild weather, frogs will often arrive at the pond - only to disappear if the weather turns suddenly cold again. They then re-appear when the weather warms up.
Well, it has just gone midnight as I write and I've looked outside but can see nothing in the darkness. Note for tomorrow - replace the outside light!
Ttfn :0)
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