New torch! My pond!

[vole-woman]

I recently bought a really bright torch, 1600 lumens, and tonight I took it out to the garden pond. The views I got of the bottom were amazing, and where I thought we didn't have many frogs this year, I actually counted 30, plus a stack of common newts. There is all sorts going on in that murky water!

Obviously the frogs weren't that happy about being spotlit so I didn't spend more than a minute in all searching round the pond, but it was such a fantastic moment I wanted to share it with you.

Also, while I'm here, our frogs have been mating for about three weeks now off an on, but no spawn yet I assume because of the cold weather. Can frogs alter the length of their pregnancies, so that if they mate in a warm spell and then the weather drops colder, they can hold onto the spawn to stop it getting frozen?

[Littlesparrow]

I think you must be right, my frogs have been paired up for a while now but still no spawn, somethings making them wait this year.

[suntrecker]

We have a load of frog spawn in our pond and the frogs have been croaking all night for the past few nights, so much so we have had to close the window for the noise and its been very cold with frost in the mornings. We have never had so much as this year. We are Worcester based.

[vole-woman]

I've just come back from Kenilworth/Leaminton Spa, only an hour and a half below us, but friend's pond full of spawn and temps noticeably warmer than here in n Shrops.

[toadpole]

i want to hear more about your amazing torch !!!! is it a special one ?? I use a wind up torch every night when i have a nose in the pond ...but to be honest i cannot see as much as you and my water is very clear ...Marion

[vole-woman]

It was a 1600 LUMENS T6 6*CREE Q5 LED TORCH FLASHLIGHT W/ CR123A and I bought it off a well known internet auction site for about £40. I know you can get cheaper torches, but this is so bright it's amazing, and because it comes with has a charger and rechargable batteries, that will be a saving over the next couple of years.

I'm looking forward to using it as the weather warms up and more wildlife apprears in the garden.

[dampflippers]

If you are using it close up, then wrap it in a hanky or similar to dim it a bit so they don't turn tail and swim away.

[bigdave60dog]

I look into the sea from off of our slipway most evening when the tide is right.
I have found that LED`s don`t penetrate the water as well as ordinary torches. there may be difference with Seawater. (last night I slipped on the Slip and smashed my torch)
More to the point there have been posts about frogs in the mating position during the hibernation period. Just keen I reckon. There may be a market for a diet of flies.
Dave

[vole-woman]

Thanks for the tip.

[toadpole]

and thank you for the info on the torch marion