Frogspawn!

[JennyS]

This has got to be daft - there's frogspawn in my pond!!!

[Wild-Woman]

Not totally surprised to be honest. This mild winter (so far) is messing with phenology.

[aeshna5]

I did read of some in Cornwall about a month ago. Let's hope for a reasonably mild winter though I believe it's turning colder next week.

[Dogghound]

This is not common behaviour, but is recorded in warm/mild winters like this one. Areas like South West Ireland, south western England around Cornwall and the Bristol area often get spawn earlier than the rest of us although usually February in an average year, Late December and January in a mild year. Hopefully it will not suddenly come in cold as this will not only damage the spawn but will almost certainly kill the adult frogs which layed this.

Out of interest have you noticed what kind of night time temperature you have been getting? has it been quite wet and mild? and is the spawn fertile (i.e. is there black embryos inside it)?.

[werdnal]

We've had some before Christmas before down here, but always gets caught by frost before it hatches. Not looked in the pond this week as weather has been too wet to get out there, but I'll check and post if we have any. Did hear frogs calling last week!

[JennyS]

has it been quite wet and mild? and is the spawn fertile (i.e. is there black embryos inside it)?.

Yes to both - its been mild and wet and the spawn must have been there a while as many of the embryo's have gone from dots to commas

[werdnal]

Originally Posted by werdnal

We've had some before Christmas before down here, but always gets caught by frost before it hatches. Not looked in the pond this week as weather has been too wet to get out there, but I'll check and post if we have any. Did hear frogs calling last week!

Had a look last night after I posted above, and no spawn showing, but a couple of frogs calling so won't be long now!

[GCN lova]

Im not expecting any spawn soon because i only have one male frog and two nearlly one yr old froglets. AND my garden is surrounded by fences and the only way out is under the car port gate AND the road is home to lots of cats AND this is a new housing estate BUT i know that they must have drained a pond which had frogs in it when they built it because my uncle who lives in the estate also found a frog in his garden. So it will take a while for the wildlife to move in.
But im not surprised that you have spawn because our pond was only frozen lightly about twice and it only snowed once! Im hoping to go out to the pond today and won't be surprised if my frogs croaking.
I haven't seen frogspawn that earlly (around march but it was hatching at bedfont lakes cp a few yrs ago) but the latest ive seen is april in a shallow pool in a park in Southall. Good luck with your frogspawn spotting!

GCN lova

PS: Will the mild winter have affected the hibernation of the amphibians? I know my frog was active in Late October.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by GCN lova

PS: Will the mild winter have affected the hibernation of the amphibians? I know my frog was active in Late October.

Your ideal winter would be a cool one with stable temperatures. Winters which fluctuate tend to result in higher rates of mortality. Due to this winter being mild but quite stable it may not have been that bad. It is certainly more complex than just that though and different species fare better or worse and use different sites which alters mortality rates.

[GCN lova]

Thanks dogghound. Despite the mild weather today my frog/s have not been seen.