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Wildlife pond resident

EsspeeEsspee Posts: 274
in Problem solving

Last year we dug a little pond which has given us a great deal of pleasure. Two tadpoles survived to become frogs but this year there had been no sign of them having survived the winter until this weekend when a little frog hopped out of the long grass into the pond.  I am now wondering if this is a new frog or possibly one from last year.  I would have expected last year's ones to be bigger but it seemed much the same size as I remember.  My question is, given the time of year is it likely to be a new frog or a one year old? (I did introduce spawn both years) 

Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906

    Esspee, I would hazard a guess that the little frog is one of this year's youngsters.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • EsspeeEsspee Posts: 274

    Thanks ladybird, I would have loved to welcome back one from last year.  This may be the first this year and there are scores in various stages in the pond.  Reckon the spinach helps them develop faster than the lettuce I fed them last year.

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906

    The fact that you have a little frogs means that frogs HAVE returned to your pond. Remember that once tadpoles start to develop their legs they become cannabalistic and will happily eat their younger brothers and sisters! image

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    What size is it? If it's really tiny (baout an inch in total)  - it's a froglet, ie one of this year's spawn. If it's bigger, it's one from last year. 

    In any case - brilliant! image

    I lost all this year's spawn to the magpies image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • EsspeeEsspee Posts: 274

    I did introduce frog spawn both years (rescued from a nearby building site). I'm in the city so little hope of a passing frog finding my tiny pond.  (Though a neighbour did open their curtains to find a deer in their garden a while ago!)

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Brilliant - although a nuisance once they start chomping!

    Amazing what can happen though - you'll be surprised just how many frogs there could round about you too, but it's great that you're encouraging them.

    I had a little returnee last year in the garden. The garden's young and the pond is only a few years old, and tiny, but I had loads of froglets the first summer, soI think he was one of those. I bring the spawn back from whichever hill I've been on - so they're from different parts of the country! Perhaps next year , I'll get one of my originals spawning instead  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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