Help with frogspawn sightings in Hampshire in 2011 please

[Purplepixii]

Greetings all

I’m currently halfway through my second year of a three year degree in Conservation& Wildlife Management. As part of year three I need to produce a dissertation and I need to start gathering data now for my chosen subject which is the phenological effects in relation to the Common Frog (Rana temporaria).

I am looking for willing WAB volunteers in the Hampshire area to help me by sending me their observations please. I’m not asking for anyone to go out of their way to do this but am hoping that WAB members with ponds in their gardens or members who pass ponds/lakes regularly (e.g. dog walkers) would be willing to provide me with the data I need.

The data I am after please is as follows:

1) Location of pond / lake (i.e. postcode or GPS or ordnance survey ref please)
2) Date frogspawn first seen
3) Number of clumps of frogspawn and whether they are small (e.g. handful size) or large (e.g. bucket size)
4) Date tadpoles hatch and can be seen free from inside the jelly but clinging onto it (this is when they are feeding on the jelly before becoming independent)


These observations can be sent to me either by PM on these boards, reply post on this thread or you can email me directly at sarah@contactsarah.co.uk This post will be sticky’d until May by which time I’m hoping the majority of frogs will have spawned.

If you submit your (real) name with your observations I will mention you in the acknowledgements section of my dissertation!

Many thanks in anticipation and please contact me if you have a query

Sarah

[Matt Smith]

Do you think Hampshire is a large enough area to show any effects due to differences in things such as temperature, or will you be looking at environmental effects over small areas such as individual ponds. My concern would be they there will not be enough differences between the north and south of the county to provide any statistically meaningful results for your project.

[Purplepixii]

Hi Matt

I'll be looking closely at the location of the pond, the size of it, the surrounding environment/microclimate and whether it's rural/urban/sub-urban amongst other things (which should keep me busy!) Topic & method have been approved by my lecturer

Cheers
Sarah

[Purplepixii]

Hi All

Just thought I'd post an update. My tutor spotted a single frog in his (Hampshire) pond last night and it is there again tonight. I've just checked my pond and I currently have 3 froggies in it! We're guessing that the current mild spell of weather has brought them out.

So, if Hampshire WAB'ers could start to keep their eyes peeled for frogspawn and let me know of any sightings I would really appreciate it please

Sarah

[Purplepixii]

Just thought I'd post an exciting update - there are 2 frogs in my pond "sharing a special kiss"

[Purplepixii]

This morning I woke up and there is a smallish clump of frogspawn in my smaller pond so if people can start to keep their eyes open now I would be very grateful

Sarah

[sbeau66]

so20 6en , 3 ponds normally busy by now with frogs and toads still quiet and no spawning or spawn

[Purplepixii]

awww I'll keep my fingers crossed for you

[Purplepixii]

mini update:
I've had a second clump of frogspawn laid overnight

[Matt Smith]

Basingstoke - Popley - SU63985483

1 clump of spawn laid tonight at some point between 7.15 and 8.00 pm, ie it wasn't there when I started my survey route and was when I came back. Approx 100+ frogs at this location, lots of activity and croaking, plus 1 or 2 balls of "wrestling" frogs. I expect to see a lot more spawn by early next week.

A postively balmy 11 deg C tonight, lots of amphibians about in and around the ponds and pools - Frogs, Toads, Smooth Newts and Great Crested Newts. The only amphibian species I didn't see which I know is on site was Palmate Newt. I very rarely see these doing the terrestrial surveys, but they do appear regularly in my bottle traps.