Any Frogs Spawn in South East England

[posie]

Still can't see any spawn, didn't even see any frogs today, plenty of Water Boatmen, and some small very dark, even black, spiders, and some tiny things that looked like small black ladybirds (but obviously not ladybirds).I must say that the mosses, and lichens are beautiful,all across the wooden bridge, and on the sloping bank of the pond. There must be dozens of species of 'animal wildlife' on the banks, without what are in the water. I know there are some common mammals living in holes, meeces of some sort I suppose. There are water Voles only a paddock away, in the stream., but don't suppose they'll be interested in still water in the pond.....Posie

[posie]

Still no spawn, and no sightings of frogs today either, but did see water-boatmen, and several other little water-wildlife people. Walked towards the pond just as dusk started, and two wild ducks flew up off the pond, very noisily, and really startled me,( one mallard and one white duck, I've seen them before)... They are lovely, but I guess they'd eat frogspawn, and maybe even small frogs, HeyHo, nothing's ever simple, is it ?

[posie]

To all Froggers and spawners and ponders, take a look at thread'''Tadpoles'''...Posie...

[sbeau66]

Originally Posted by posie

Still can't see any spawn, didn't even see any frogs today, plenty of Water Boatmen, and some small very dark, even black, spiders, and some tiny things that looked like small black ladybirds (but obviously not ladybirds).I must say that the mosses, and lichens are beautiful,all across the wooden bridge, and on the sloping bank of the pond. There must be dozens of species of 'animal wildlife' on the banks, without what are in the water. I know there are some common mammals living in holes, meeces of some sort I suppose. There are water Voles only a paddock away, in the stream., but don't suppose they'll be interested in still water in the pond.....Posie

I have a query about water voles, do they hibernate and do they live in ponds with still water or only streams with running water? The reason i ask is that i found some chomped off vegetation which had been munched off in such a way that it looked like it had been cut with scissors, and also i was prodding about in some vegetation because i thought i seen a rat and a rat-like mammal shot out of the vegetation went plop into the pond, swam across to the other side, got out and scarpered before i could see what it was. Was it a rat? do they swim well, Any ideas??

[aeshna5]

Water Voles don't hibernate + will live in ponds/ditches. Rats are excellent swimmers too.

[sbeau66]

So it could be either, how do i tell?

[posie]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Water Voles don't hibernate + will live in ponds/ditches. Rats are excellent swimmers too.

Thanks for info. I'll keep a lookout to see if I have any watervoles. I did hear a very big 'plop' akin to the 'plop' Ive heard in the stream that I know does have voles, so I must find out what did that....Posie...

[sbeau66]

Just been looking in the pond, the frogs are there, but hiding and shooting about under the water, not croaking or looking like mating yet, i reckon its too cold and when i check last years records, i got spawn on 6th march, so it's still not too late, i'll have to check every day

[posie]

No spawn in my pond yet, but the Heron has been very persistent today, several visits in spite of me clapping my hands each time to shoo him off. But two of my friends who lives near Southampton have seen spawn today, and another one has very active frogs. I think my pond is too deep because of the wet weather, also being fed by a spring, maybe with the water table being so high, it affects the depth......But not giving up hope yet !.... Posie..

[frog123]

Pond Froze over last night the frogs are still there but not very active