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)