Get it on

 

Get it on.

Froglets

It's that time in the wheel when the slow flowing ditches and watery spots which saw frog spawn earlier in spring are now thronged with dozens and dozens of baby froglets. Man, are they fast too. I suppose they need to be. 

Frogger

Checking past posts recording when I've first see frog spawn, they've all been between 28th of January and 4th of February. That's quite a tight grouping. I always think it's too early, with the chance of devastating frosts still too high. But hey, what do I know, frogs have been about since at least the Paleocene (66 million years ago), so they must know what they're doing.

Frog chorus

I was back in the west of the forest again today.  On the whole, I tend to rinse an area for a few days or a week, and then move on to another and do the same there, that way I get around the forest and everywhere is always fresh.  The afternoon was fading, as was the light as I crossed the open, and wet, land between Denny Lodge and Denny Wood; it's where waterways, ditches and streams, converge in an area of extensive seasonal standing water and permanent bogginess. Like several areas of the forest there are bridges for ease of crossing the streams, though getting to the bridges and remaining dry is harder. Upon reaching the final bridge on the edge of Denny Wood I took time to pause, when I was struck by a sound, it sounded like a deep low cat purring on loop, then amplified, it filled the air. At first I thought it must be a machine or something in the distance, though as I focused on it, it was clear it came from close by. As far as could, wetland restricting me, I followed the sound and then it's origin became clear. The wetland in front of me was teaming with frogs, who themselves moved and furiously hopped in 'water' teaming with spawn; no, really, there was more spawn than water. It was an incredible sight to match the incredible sound. I've never seen as many frogs, nor as abundance of spawn. My photo doesn't do the scene justice, though if you look closely you can just see what I'm talking about. And this is only a tiny area of the much bigger wetland, although indicative of the rest. Quite amazing.

Spawn

Saw my first frog spawn of the year today, though I think the frogs have been a bit previous with hard frosts coming and going. The missed the water by a few feet too.

Frogger

This little fella came hopping through the undergrowth and crossed the path in front of us, pausing to inspect us, seeing if we were a threat or not. We've weren't. Although I was surprised to see him out and about in the afternoon sun and so far from any discernible water source; the nearest is Highland Water and that's about 100m or so away. Maybe that's not so far for a frog, after all he was moving at a good pace. It's always nice to meet nature.