Allotments 4 All
Produce => Ponds 'n' Stuff => Topic started by: busy_lizzie on February 08, 2006, 21:30:56
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Last year we had a sort of Frog Watch thread, and I thought it would be interesting to have another one this year, so we could track when they start to appear throughout the country. I have been up to my allotment today and re-lined our lottie pond, as the other liner we had there was leaking. Hopefully they will be more in evidence there this year now that we have more of a pond. Tomorrow I am clearing all the leaves and gunk out of our two garden ones, also in readiness for the frogs. I think it was early March last year that mine arrived, but it all depends on February and if we have any more ice or snow to come. So I hope all you frog watchers keep in touch. :D busy_lizzie
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I check every weekend to see if they've returned. ( well I would wouldn't I ) :) Will let you know as soon as the first one pops out to say hello.
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Me too. I'll need to clean out our ponds as well. Too busy to put netting down so they're full of leaves etc.
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I'll join in b_l.
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Great!! :D Thanks all for replying. Have cleaned out my garden ponds now but went out this morning and they are both frozen over as it is so cold here. So it is not going to be just yet they come out of their hibernation. :) busy_lizzie
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I've found that frogs go to sleep in the pond over winter so its a bit difficult to clean it out at that time of year. They seem to tuck themselves into the folds in the plastic until its warm enough to become active.
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I'm really worried now. We had 2 ponds on the allotment and one was in a really bad position so we emptied it and moved 30-40 frogs into the other pond :( Will they be OK? We really had to move the pond as it was right by the gate and we have a toddler.
Emma (feeling like a frog killer)
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I'll post here when I see the first frogs. Last year they were around early, it's been much colder this year. Was at the allotment on Thursday and had a good look in the pond, didn't see anything, pond was frozen over.
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We had fish coming up to be fed last week, then the temperature dropped again.
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Me too! Me too!!
We have two garden ponds - one a v. small preformed pond which had taddies and
frogs last year, the other is a larger pond (OH's baby) with waterfall and has koi
carp & goldfish.
Will the frogs return to the original small pond or both?
If they return to big pond, will fish eat the spawn ( if we get any)
Debs :-\
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In our experience they always seem to return to their home pond. A favourite haunt of our frogs in the winter seems to be the compost heap, it must still be nice and warm in there. It you dig it over you always come across frogs. One year though when I left the cleaning of the ponds late, I unfortunately stabbed a frog while I was cleaning it out. I felt absolutely terrible so I always have a general poke before I start now. I have known frogs to go into our pond and then we have had a freeze and they have been frozen in the water, but they somehow seem to survive. busy_lizzie
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I think fish to eat frogspawn so it may be worth moving some of the spawn into the smaller pond to keep it out of harms way.
The dangers are not all one way either, I've heard stories that sometimes male frogs can take quite a shine to fish and actually drown them in amplexus!
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I'll join you all but my pond is still completely frozen at the moment. I doubt if there'll be any signs of frogs just yet. :(
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I don't have a pond on the allotment,but would like one to encourage all the beneficial
frogs etc..
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I'm keeping a daily watch on my small wildlife pond It's in a very shady part of the garden which ice tends to linger in but has had frogs in it for 2 years
so this year being colder might be a issue. I think being a cold pond makes
the taddies slower to change, I read somewhere that it took afew weeks but mine took nearly all summer stilli'v lots there as i found scooping out the mud underneath the liner with my hands to shore the sides up I was
surprised how many different sizes and colours were there ???
Will report back first sign of life
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I had a chocolate brown frog leap out at me yesterday at plot happily going about his business , maybe from lottie 3 up as he keeps his water covered ! we are in the West Mids
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I just went down the garden with a torch and saw my first frog of spring, though I think its probably one that overwinters in the water since the temperature only went up today and there was ice on the water the night before last. - on the south coast.
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We have a shallow bit at the end of our "wildlife" pond where the tadpoles congregate because it warms up quickly, it's camouflaged by weed and the fish and frogs (also known to munch on the odd taddie) don't go there.
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Hey BL, saw my first one in the pond 4 days ago, he was croaking away and looking rather lonely! :'( I am sure all the others are still hibernating and he is just a young-un raring to go! ;) ;D
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We have frogs in the pond!! :D OH went out in the garden tonight to chop some wood for our "romantic glass of wine by the fire", when he heard a deep croaking. I have just been out with a torch and there is activity in the pond. Lots of frogs making lots of bubbles. I just hope we don't have a cold snap now as they are here much earlier than last year. :) busy_lizzie
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Can I play? :) Usually have trillions of frogs doing their thang amongst the fish in one of my ponds but so far, they are staying hidden. So I predict a further cold spell to come around these parts (No fools these lancs frogs :) ) . Having said that, the pond hasn't been frozzed over once this winter which is very unusual and the younger dimmer fish have been up begging food on sunnier days (Which I've hardened my heart to honest! ;D )
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Mine were seen errrmmmmmmmmmmm, how do I put this delicately, having a group "hug" 3 days ago! :o :o Bit early, but maybe it has been a long winter and they just needed cuddles! ;) Last year I didn't have spawn in the pond till the middle of March, none in there yet, but with those goings on I am surprised we haven't got any ! :)
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That's great news, means I should have frogs soon too, will have a check again next week when I'm there. :)
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No sign of frogs for the last few days. They seem to have disappeared. Wonder if we are due for some cold weather and they know something we don't. If they had started doing their "Orgy thing" ;D it would have been a lot earlier than last year, which was middle of March too. busy_lizzie
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We had a big bowl of orgyness last night........what a racket.
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I dug a small pond on my plot in Middlesex last week. We've had quite a bit of rain and I have been scooping up the water that's been pooling on the plastic sheeting which covers some of the plot, so it's two thirds full now.
To make the pond child-safe I have covered it with wire link fencing which is anchored into the ground with 3ft steel bars bent into a U shape and hammered home.
I am a bit worried that the mesh will discourage frogs. I have built a pebble "beach" at the shallow end in the hope they will be happy to crawl down the stones and through the gaps in the wire.
So, do you think I can expect frogs any time soon?
Stork.
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Stork I shouldn't worry, frogs n water are inseperable! ;D
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My pond has only been up and running since May last year, so I have seen no signs of frogs as yet, keeping my fingers crossed, or do you think I will have no visitors this year, Orfe and Godfish doing well though
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I'm sure they will find it sooner or later Wassisname. They have a very good sence of smell and as soon as the weather warms up they will be zipping about all over the place in search of new water to do the deed in.
I didn't think there were any in my pond last March and then I went out with a torch. I pointed it at the water and they were there in the bottom, just sitting it out until the weather warmed up a bit. I really surprising what turned up uninvited, dragon and damsel flies, water beetles, all kinds of stuff just seems to find its way there.
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We built our first pond here in 1995. We put the water in on 18th August and by the end of Auguat there was a huge frog population. We were totally gobsmacked.
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thanks John H. I will keep looking
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b_l,
Nothing yet!
Cold as a frog in a frozen pool,
Cold as the end of an Eskimo's tool,
Cold as Charity- and that's bl**dy freezin'
Not as cold as our Fred,
He's Dead!
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Nooooooooooooooooooooo not 'fred' again ;D
No sign of any froggies in either of my ponds, although I haven't
shone (?) a torch to the bottom to have a sneaky peek.
Debs
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I have been shining my torch Debs, as although I raked all the leaves out, I thought they might be lurking at the bottom of the pond somewhere, but they seem to have completely vanished. Probably scrambled back to the compost heap to tuck up somewhere nice and warm.
Telboy, am sorry to hear about poor Fred!. Erm! nice poem!! ;)
busy_lizzie
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Hugging frogs? Pft, must be the effect of Valentine's Day..
I keep thinking I've heard the odd bit of croaking in the garden, but not seen any frogs yet..
Melanie
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We saw a little frog on the allotment on Saturday, kids loved it. Last one I saw would have been in November on the lottie again.
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Mine are just starting to show their faces albeit still underwater ;) I did see one couple ermm 'snuggling' 2 days ago but only single males since :-\
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Still Nuffink'
Frozen solid!!
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Today, frozen solid, covered in snow, still netted, with fish snugly sleeping at the bottom.
..which was lucky, given that there were heron footprints in the snow this morning! Looks like he had quite a good walk around our garden. Can't think of anything else bird-like that'd leave footprints about 8/10 inches apart, anyway!
Melanie
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Here too. Frozen solid with a thick layer of snow on top. Intend to melt a "borehole" tomorrow if it doesn't melt meantime. The dogs even walked over the ponds on their garden inspection this morning, so it must be pretty solid.
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We saw a frog on our allotment field (in Suffolk) this morning - unfortunately it had the frog virus.
We have two ponds on our allotment wildlife area but no sign of frogs in them yet - usually we get the first frog spawn about 12 March but I think it will be later this year, as the ponds are still frozen. The diseased frog was about 500 yards from our ponds so we very much hope there's still some healthy frogs about.
You can find information of the frog virus on the 'froglife' website.
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I saw frogspawn today! In Manchester!
In a bucket being carried by two kids, presumably from a tiny pond in the local park.. Surprised any frogs would've wanted to be so energetic in the cold Manc weather we've had lately.. but I'm anticipating some here soon!
Melanie
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I went out into the garden again last night and there they were - three little sets of eyes peering out of the water.
Two in amplexus and one lonely heart.
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;D John, send the lonely heart my way, a positive orgy going on in my pond this morning! :o
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Nothing starting up here yet. Our ponds are still defrosting. Waiting to hear that resonating croak we usually hear that means they are "at it" :) busy_lizzie
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Saw one crossing a border in my garden at home this afternoon. I am in Shropshire.
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Out walking the dog this early morning (6.20a.m.), I almost stood on a frog sitting on the footpath.
Debs
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Big fat one spotted in Oldham yesterday, although he/she's not been seen since???
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Solid ice here. Need to get out and defrost a breathing hole.
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Just been out into the garden to look at our ponds and there they were, blowing bubbles on the surface - the frogs are back! :D bussy_lizzie
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Still nothing here in South Cheshire, but I don't have a pond and I'm at work during most of the daylight hours. Fingers crossed this weekend as my residents sunbathe on the rockery and snooze under the woodshed. Some of my neighbours have small ponds so the frogs may be about just keeping close to the water while erm, the mood is upon them?
Best barometer of frog presence is my neighbour - she shreiks at the sight of them and shoos them towards my garden, bless.
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I heard a deep froggy croak last night when I let the dog out, and saw something shuffling around in the pond when I went out earlier today (and the fish are way too lazy to be up yet!)
Yay, the frogs are awake in Manchester!
Melanie
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saw a pair of frogs this morning on the allotment, heading towards the ponds, is spring finally here
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I heard a familiar plop as i approached the pond today, so we definitly have life here in Cheshire ;D
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Woo, am I the first Northerner to have frogspawn? Went out today, and a couple of weather-resistant frogs have started, even though it's 5 degrees, cold, rainy and horrible out.
Can't see it surviving a frost, though. You'd think they'd learn - they did this last year, too.. :(
Melanie
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Don't have a pond but have 3 frogs that live in the garden, disturbed one at the weekend while I was moving some logs. Tried to put them back in exactly the same place, hope I didn't scare it off.
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I built my rather large pond in my new garden in the middle of last year, but as yet have no 'fibs adopting it. Have seen a couple of small ones around the garden, but none actually IN the pond. However, I am on the committee of a local wildlife reserve, which is tied closely to a Natterjack toad project, and I am getting frog & common toad spawn which has been removed from natterjack breeding areas - so if no other 'fibs move in, I should have a local 'adopted' population for next year.
Unfortunately, though I live in the prime natterjack area, my pond is not suitable, so I am not likely to attract any yellow-stripe immigrants.
JeremyB
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Hi all though its been pretty cold up here in Edinburgh at the beginning of the week I saw the first activity of the frogs with a bit of splashing but now I can count at least a dozen of them. I only have a small pre-formed pond and last year they totally covered the water, so hopefully a lot more to drop in. According to my diary almost to the day the frogs have started appearing. Unfortunately I am moving house in may so I will be taking a bucket of spawn with me. jock_edin
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Would a dog deter the frogs from their aherm...activities.
Don't know whether ours will keep them away.
Debs
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We have two Debs (dogs that is). The frogs seem to be quite unafraid of them, leaping around while the dogs lie out in the garden "protecting" their territory.
I've even managed to train the dogs to ignore birds (quite something for cocker spaniels) but they still can't contain themselves when the grey squirrels come to call.
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Debs, Our frogs have always been very unmoved by our dog (when he was with us), and our two cats, who used to hang around the pond very curiously, wondering what was going on. :) busy_lizzie
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Still no sign of frogs here although there were some fish lurking when I went out earlier.
Mind you our ponds are so full of vegetation that it's hard to tell. Fish are easier to spot.
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After making my last post, I discovered the following morning that we had our first batch of home-produced spawn.
Had one of my fellow natterjack wardens round this morning, bringing me a load of 30 litres of frogspawn, plus a heavily pregnant female, all removed from our prime natterjack breeding pond.
JeremyB
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Wooohoooo!
frogs in South Cheshire at last.
Yesterday, a couple wrapped around each other well camouflaged against the pebbles in my sunken seating area, and had to move another lass on so I oculd turn my compose heap. I knew there was a good chance as my frog averse shreiking neighbour came out to warn me she'd been accosted by several in her garden on Saturday. Can start counting down to a new batch of froglets for the rockery now. :-)
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Our neighbours told us that their garden was full of "our" frogs and promptly built a pond of their own. Takes all sorts...
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Have been worried about our frogs and their spawn during all this snowy weather, but checked on them earlier and they are fine, still "at it" and still producing lots of frog spawn. All our snow has magically disappeared, though we have had lots of hail showers tonight. busy_lizzie
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Jean,
Tell your frogs to take a walk up to my pond please ;D
I still haven't seen any 'activity'
Debs ???
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I built my pond last week and put some water in just to hold the liner in place till I could get down the lotti again. when I went down 3 days later there was a frog in my pond ;D I am so chuffed! Must have been desperate for a home because I haven't furnished it yet ;D ;D ;D
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Debs, I have been out this afternoon to look at the pond, and I think the poor frogs mustn't know if they are coming or going with the on/off snow conditions we are having. We have six clumps of frog spawn in the pond, but no frogs to be seen now. Don't know if they have finished or having a break in between the wintery weather. Perhaps your frogs have got more sense and are waiting for more stable weather before they start producing. :D busy_lizzie
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Hope so BL or children will be very disappointed.
Shall wait and hope :)
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Frog activity seen today despite the cold. No sign of spawn however
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I got Spawn! Horrah, they are all out there going berserk in my pond! 5 days later than last year!
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Debs, if yours don't produce any, you are welcome to some of ours. :) busy_lizzie
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Today I saw our first tadpoles OUTSIDE the spawn bubbles, but still feeding on it. Also got a couple of strings of toad spawn.
JeremyB
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During that 'springlike' day we had last week, they all came up & started pairing.
Now they've all disappeared again as it's so cold I suppose.
Still, there's a promise of mild temps. this W/E so hopes raised!
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Our ponds are frozen solid this morning. Poor frogs, they must be very confused about this "Spring" weather! busy_lizzie
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Absolutely no sign whatsoever of any of 'my' frogs yet. :( Mind you the pond only thawed out for two days. ::) It's frozen solid again now as we're getting severe frosts each night. :'( :'(
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Mine have now fledged and are airborne, or at least one poor s*d was this afternoon. Frog averse neighbour found one strolling about & had her hubby repatriate it into my garden over the fence.
Thing is, I'm sure it's the one I lifted over the fence into mine at the weekend. it'll need counselling at this rate.
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At last we've got a frog in our garden in Suffolk! Just one solitary female so far. But hoping for more .....
The two allotment ponds had ice on them up until Friday so now that the weather is warming up and the ice melted hoping to see frogs there too. Lots of children up on the allotment wildlife area yesterday morning looking at the ponds hoping to see frogs and frog spawn, but they were disappointed. But maybe in the next few days they'll arrive
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I'm in worcestershire and have small wildlife pond in garden,last week we had 2 frogs or possibly toads mating :o on our patio,they sat there all day one on top of the other,in the rain,and only hopped off (or walked if toads ) when it went dark,i have seen frogs like this in the pond but not in the garden which is why i wondered if they could be toads,as i'm sure they walk along in this position to the spawning site,does anybody know,i have also seen two frogs in the garden today,but no frog spawn in the pond yet.Becky x
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At last the frogs have arrived at our allotment ponds (Suffolk). Overnight Sunday / Monday morning we have twelve lots of spawn in the larger pond, four lots in the smaller pond.
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My frogs have been busy overnight and I now have clumps of spawn in my pond!!!! 8) ;D ;D ;D
Spring has arrived in Scotland at last!!! :D
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We've got spawn tumtitum we've got lots diddlemedee tumtitum ;D ;D
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...and I am still waiting ::), tiddleytumdedum tralalalalee!!!!
Debs
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Saturday morning they were all thrashing about and shedloads of spawn!
There's never enough females, so every time one moves now, 20 others decend on the movement - they must be knackered!
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I have a small wildlife pond that is only 1m x .8m and around .3m deep. Full of plants.
On Sunday - 4 frogs
Tuesday afternoon - 16 frogs, some spawn and a lot of noise. As telboy says, females in short supply, if it moves..
Clifford
Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
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We should start a spawn bank ;D
2 frogs having cuddle in filter settlement tank for ages and then loads of spawn. rescued about 100 tads before the pump got them with a spoon!
NOW WHAT? What dimensions etc do I need for a weeny pond on allotment? a have a few ridge tiles I could use as a roof?