March 2009

Once again the frogs spawned in the pond, giving us 3 clumps of spawn (increase of 2 on last years total). This year however 2 clumps arrived on the 8th and the other on the 9th of March rather than the 30th like in 2008. Frogs started showing up in the pond from the start of March even though we had a very cold winter (one of the coldest most prolonged winters in possibly a decade). The pond was frozen solid for at least two full weeks without hint of thawing and it was still cold even on the 3rd of March (after the Frogs were back in the pond) becuase we had some snow. The cold didnt seem to stop the Frogs enjoying the "spring" and the Males set about trying to get a Female.

I managed to get lots of good pictures of the frogs in the amplexus (mating) this year. Last year I didnt even see it taking place.

 I couldnt resist putting these 4 on, they cover the 3 best views of a frog.

Small male frog hoping to get a mate.(I like the rings made by a drop of rain hitting the water on the left of the pic)

Morning of the 8th.

Very fresh spawn. Only a hour or two old. Annoyingly i didnt bother with my camera when i went out and it was still a tennis ball size clump this is still smaller than normal becuase it needs to take up water from the pond.

You can see the size difference between the new clump (middle) and the day old clumps on the right and left.