First spawn

[werdnal]

Looked in our pond a couple days ago as hubby said he'd heard a frog calling previous evening, and there was no sign of any spawn.

Just been out to shut our chickens in, and I heard several frogs, so went up with the torch to investigate. Counted about a dozen frogs scattering in all directions, and there is masses of spawn there now. Just hope we don't get a cold snap and the frost gets it like it has in the past. We have had spawn as early as December before, but this is the first I've seen this year. Anyone else seen any yet?

[Wild-Woman]

That's good news considering the toll the winter must have had on the frog population.

[Littlesparrow]

No frogs in my pond yet, but its still quite cold up North in Cheshire.

[Malcolm Banks]

I did see a pair in amplexus on 11th Jan but nothing ensued. Has been warmer for last week and several frogs in pond at night, but still nothing in the way of spawn. Newts have been active by day and I did see a pair of backwimmers in copula today. Spawning started in last week in Feb last year, so plenty of time yet
M

[Malcolm Banks]

Forgot to congratulate Werdnal on the first spawn report of the year on WAB (so ar as I can see). Surely a greater accolade than the first Beaujolais Nouveau??
M

[Ladywell]

That is great news! You are a lot further south than us! We normally get first spawn in our farm troughs at end of Feb. I know it can vary throughout the country. Make be this should be made a 'sticky' so that we can all record first spawn?

[freestone]

My pond had 3 croaking frogs yesterday.I dug it in October 2009 and it had no frogs in spring 2010 so I added a small amount of borrowed spawn which produced maybe 20 young frogs.I'd be interested to know whether the current croakers could be last year's youngsters or must they be new colonists,as I had heard they take 2-3 years to reach maturity.Can anyone tell me?
Thanks.

[werdnal]

Welcome to the forum.

I think you are correct, that the frogs you hear croaking at the moment will not be last year's young, as they take about 3 years to become sexually mature.

However, one thing I would point out that although it may be very tempting to move frogspawn, tadpoles or even adult frogs, toads and newts to stock a new pond, please do not do this. There are infectious diseases that can be fatal to frogs, and transferring creatures between different ponds can spread this by introducing contaminated specimens to an otherwise clean area. It is always best to let nature take its course, and as you have seen by the appearance of adult frogs in your pond this year, they will find it given time.

I hope you are lucky enough to get some spawn this year.

[Pigeon feather]

I really hope I get frog spawn in my pond for the first time this year, there are plenty about or were until I heard my neighbour threw 9 in the bin as they were white and 'dead' when she found them in her pond earlier in the year after the cold snap we had

[freestone]

Thanks werdnal-you are right about introducing stuff to ponds.I would have known for sure that these are local frogs if I hadn't done it.Feel guilty now but at the time it was an offer I couldn't refuse.Hopefully no harm done-thanks again.