Any Frogs Spawn in South East England

[frog123]

Frogs Outside croaking now

[posie]

Originally Posted by frog123

Frogs Outside croaking now

That sounds promising , nothing my end yet, not even my 3 skinny frogs tonight because it's colder here again, so they've moved again.

[Deer Stalker]

Found some more spawn on the New Forest this afternoon & found some in the pond at home this morning.

[frog123]

Originally Posted by posie

That sounds promising , nothing my end yet, not even my 3 skinny frogs tonight because it's colder here again, so they've moved again.

Yeah Its Getting colder again here i checked the weather tha days are going to be fairly mild 7-10c but the night are going to be cold 2--2c which is bad as frost is frogspawn worst enemy

[frog123]

Also posie are you sure
the frogs aren't just hiding somewhere in the pond as i
thought that the frogs had left my pond when it got cold
but they wall all hiding in an overturned pot

[Malcolm Banks]

Comforting to hear so many others on stand-by for the first spawn. I live in Surrey and I had my first two lots yesterday, then another 4 lots today, but nary a frog to be seen - against my predictions was exactly a week earlier than last year.
M

[posie]

Hello Malcolm and Frog123, I've not had experience of frogs in a pond before, though had some in old disused water troughs, large puddles etc., so I don't really know what to expect. I daren't walk near the pond because the surrounding area is just dead vegetation, and is very wet, so I'm frightened to tread on something alive. It is a largeish pond, about 55 strides by 30 strides, and has a shallows one end, but not the other, and is very deep in the middle, under a wooden bridge.It has loads of pond plants, bullrushes, pond Iris, and some others.All the plants around the pond that died off in the winter are lying more or less flat on the ground, so as I can't get close it's not easy, and there could be loads of frogs etc under the wet dead vegetation.Guess it's just a case of wait and see. Also one long side is fenced with chain link, which I think frogs could get through, but the other 3 sides are fenced with chicken wire, with smaller holes, which the previous owners put up to keep their little dogs out of the pond, I have left it 'cos of my dogs, but I did wonder if I should cut some small holes in the chicken wire at ground level, or do frogs climb fences, (It's waist height).Posie..

[Malcolm Banks]

Hi Posie, your pond sounds really large, I'm envious, mine being a mere, sorry poor choice of words, mine being only 2.5 x 3.5 meters (I wish it were a mere!!). I am not an expert in frog behaviour, but although I doubt they would climb wire fences, from your description of the environs of your pond I would expect you to have lots of amphibian visitors/residents.

The temp in my garden fell to -1.3degC last night, and a 2mm sheet of ice covered the pond early this morning. This is now almost melted - I seem to remember this happened when spawn was in the pond on one occasion last year, and there appeared to be no negative sequalae.
Would be great if Frog 123 could expand on the statement that "...frost is frogspawn's worst enemy" since I have little info on this.
M

[posie]

Well chaps I've heard of people floating a large plastic ball on their pond to stop freezing over, but I can't see the point 'cos it won't help the temperature, in fact could do the opposite, methinks. However it is probably meant for times when there is going to be thick ice on top of pond and perhaps this would be a benefit, but I would have to have an 'expert' opinion before I do it. Yes it is a nice pond, with a weeping birch and a goat willow, I wish the weeping willow (that is 12 strides outside of pond area) was closer to the pond, but they are easy to grow from a piece, must do that. There is a rustic (thats another word for rotting) 3 seater garden seat sort of under the weeping birch, which is handy to sit on with a cuppa (or whatever is your wont) and binoculars set at short distance.I'm gonna set up a little shelter too so I can sit there and observe even in rainy and/or breezy weather.Will keep lookout for design/plans for something that would be 'in keeping', probably 'rustic' would again be the order of the day..........I was wondering if, if anyone with frogspawn in their pond had REALLY bad weather, whether it would be an idea to take in some spawn in a suitable container, and replace it into the pond when the temperature improved.That's what I would do anyway, but the situation probably wouldn't arise this end of the country. I know that generally it is best to leave Nature alone, but I can't see that that would do any harm.I forgot to say that the chicken-wire around the pond is on rustic frames, so is quite ' good to look at.'(can't spell Aesthetic). I can't wait to hear 'Croaking' from the pond'. ......Posie......

[Malcolm Banks]

I think the concept of a ball left in, to be removed when the pond is frozen, thereby giving a small ice free area, is now debunked providing the pond has sufficient oxygenators, but others may correct me.
I have seen suggestions of removing spawn away from severe freezing etc but wouldn't think indoors is the best place, probably a frost free greenhouse or shed might be better - and then replace as soon as weather improves. There is a strong thread of leave alone in many posts I have seen on this issue.
Incidentally, saw my first butterfly of the year today, a peacock,
Alors Printemps c'est ici!!!
M