Garden Wildlife UK

It's Nature's way, isn't it. Probably the taddies have eaten said frog, and glad of it . Any protein is good protein after all.
Makes a change from salad for them .

It always seems to be the same every year for my ponds that some of the tadpoles just never mature. This year is no different. I still have a few who are just at the size where you expect to see legs sprouting. I'm not sure how much food they can find or if they will ever mature.

The first blob of spawn appeared this morning. 4 days later than last year.

That is good news jacksparrow. Hopefully more will appear.

Willpar wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:11 pm

That is good news jacksparrow. Hopefully more will appear.

More has appeared today. I seem to be down on frog numbers compared to recent years so I may not get the quantity I've become used to.

The earliest of the spawn is now showing the first signs of maturing. The black dots are becoming short black worms

Good news jacksparrow.

I saw a free swimming tadpole today but most of them are still emerging from the spawn jelly. I also saw a newt. They always turn up to feast on the spawn and the young tadpoles.

That is good JS. Pity about the newt but all part and parcel of life in the wild.

My current assessment is that this year's spawning has been a failure. I still have few free swimming tadpoles but nowhere near the number I would expect to have enough survive through to turning into an adult.