Frogs Galore - 5/06/2016

I spent today watching frogs in the pond.  Most of the tadpoles which hadn't developed last Summer have now started turning into froglets and therefore there have been lots of little froglets in and around the pond during the last few weeks.

Lots of places to hideaway

in Wildlife Pond #2,

look close and you start to see

them climbing up the plants:

A closer view:

I watched a few of them

swim across the pond:

I must have counted
around twenty in total.

The frog in the following photo
is the biggest visitor to my pond as of late
and I think he must be from the first batches
of tadpoles I had back in 2012 or 2013:

Frogs & Butterflies - 13/9/2015

I was able to spend some time relaxing in the garden this morning and managed to get some photos of the froglets that have now left the pond.  Some are are bigger than others as you can see in the photos.

I can spot four in the photo below,

can you see them too?

The little frog below had just exited out 

of the pond and climbed onto the rock.

Whilst putting away some garden furniture I discovered that some of the frogs that have left the pond have moved into one of the little sheds at the side of the house.  I'm not sure if these two frogs are ganging up on this spider or are just happy to be in it's company:

My youngest daughter found

a butterfly in the garden:

I think it's a 'Speckled Wood'

Autumn Fast Approaching - 12/9/2015

It's hard to believe that 

Autumn is nearly upon us, 

where did the Summer go?

I know I spent June taking part 

in the 30 Days Wild Challenge,

but as for July and August

those months just seem to come and go.

I can't remember what I got up to

during those months but I do know

that I hardly spent anytime on

my home computer blogging. 

Here's a quick update 

on what's been happening:

Nearly all the tadpoles have developed into froglets and I've enjoyed spending many an evening watching them hopping around the garden or being chased by my cat!  I'm impressed just how many garden nooks and crannies have a resident froglet now.

They vary in size but it does look like alot made it out safely which is good news, although my Dad does warn me that sooner or later I'll be swamped with them!

I only have to sit near the pond for a few

seconds before I see movement in the grass.

The Water Mint in the

 Wildlife Pond Project #2

did well this year and flowered

for  the first time:

I've seen plenty of movement in the Bug Hotel

and insects do seem to be coming and going.

Recently I noticed a hole had been seeled over

in one of the wooden blocks I'd put in the hotel.

Not sure what has moved in

but I'm sure it'll stay until next Spring now.

The little wildlife pond seems to be attracting the more mature frogs and I think that might be due to the mosquito larvae that seems to be abundant in it most of the time.

I like to top this pond up with water regularly as without the top ups it tends to dry up thanks to the rather thirsty Irises.

Speaking of frogs, whilst taking some photos of the little pond, this handsome little chap decided he wanted his photo taken.

He's not one of the usual resident frogs as he's much smaller and I'm guessing he's one of the first frogs that developed from the spawn this year.

I was able to get a close up too:

It won't be long now before the leaves

begin falling and I will be forever

picking them out of the pond.

It's been a good year so far in the garden

and what great wildlife I've had.

I've had hedgehogs, newts, frogs,

tadpoles and for the first time goldfinches too.

Froglet Gathering - 24/7/2015

I took these photos a couple of evenings ago but was treated to more of the same this evening when I went out to my pond.

Whereby a few weeks back my pond was full of tadpoles, now the little rocky area at one end of the pond is full of little froglets.  I must have counted at least thirty or so of them and as I counted still they kept coming out of the water.

Soon they will all have left the pond and before too long Autumn will be here and the leaves will be falling.  I will keep my fingers crossed that these little froglets one day make it back to my pond but in the meantime I'll be left of fond memories of watching them develop from frogspawn.

frogs amongst the rocks

froglet

froglet on the rock

hopping onto the rocks

a closer view

seeking shelter

frog leaving the pond

Froglet Departure - 20/7/2015

During the last couple of weeks, 

late each evening I've been going out

to my pond and spending a little time

watching the froglets leaving.

Last night I decided to take

some photos of their departure.

I can't believe just how many

little froglets have made it to

 this stage and are now taking

their first leap into the unknown.

There are still some tadpoles left,

but nearly all have grown limbs now.

four little froglets in this shot

two froglets sheltering in

a damp nook and cranny

time to move on

Metamorphosis Underway - 04/7/2015

My two daughters went to Chester Zoo with their Grandad today so my Wife and I enjoyed a pub lunch, a walk around a Garden Centre and then some quiet time relaxing in our back garden.

The tadpoles were making the most of the glorious afternoon sunshine, grazing on the grass cuttings which had blown into the pond this morning when I cut the lawn.  Some of them are starting to resemble froglets now, whilst others have only just grown their back legs. For some there is no metamorphosis at all just yet.

Here are few photos

to show their development:

Tadpole Update - 12/6/2015

I've not blogged about the tadpoles for over a month now so I thought I'd post a little update. 

They appear to be faring well and seem quite happy swimming about in the pond.  Some have grown bigger than others but still no sign of any legs just yet.  I think I read somewhere that they usually start developing into froglets from about 11-12 weeks so I hope I see some development soon.

I can remember being slightly concerned when they first developed into tadpoles that the two newts would decimate them but upon checking  yesterday evening I'm happy to say that there is still a very good number of tadpoles in the pond.

As usual when checking the pond late yesterday evening, the resident frog was there to greet me yet again.  The other resident frog seemed more content in the the smaller pond tucked away behind the Yellow Flag Iris.

Evening Pond Watch - 16/5/2015

One of the best things about having a small wildlife pond in your garden is being able to go out late in the evening with a torch. This evening me and my eldest daughter popped outside to see what we could find. 

As usual I was greated with one of the resident frogs who doesn't seem to mind the torch.  In fact I could swear that it sees the torch and comes over to say hello.  

We spotted the other resident frog in wildlife pond project #1 (the smaller pond) where it seemed quite happy amongst the mosquito larvae.

It wasn't look before we spotted one of the newts, sneaking up on the tadpoles which seem to be taking their time developing into little froglets.  However I am happy to report that there are still a good few of them in the pond. 

Frog in the Sun - 18/4/2015

Whilst lying in sun today, 

we spotted this frog pop up 

from within the hairgrass.

Looks like the frogs

wanted to enjoy the sun too.

We had a good laugh watching some pigeons,

they're such clumsy birds at times.
This one was trying to
get food from the feeders.