Defensive behaviour in frogs.

[kayleigh]

I was in my garden today when I saw what I thought was a toad as it was crawling and I only got a quick look so ran to get my camera.
It was a frog I moved it out of the undergrowth to get a better pic and it cowered then covered its eyes with its feet..
There was a cat in the garden last night ( the dog chased off) so maybe it was a bit traumatised I have never seen a frog do this before I have the pics but can't load them..
The frog is full of spawn I felt it when I moved the frog..

[billypilgrim]

Originally Posted by kayleigh

It was a frog I moved it out of the undergrowth to get a better pic and it cowered then covered its eyes with its feet..

I'm sure there's a joke somewhere here but I wouldn't dare

[paul m]

Yes, we've had a couple of frogs out and about during sunny, warm spells. One, sadly, must have been hiding under a car in the street ..... I won't put a picture up ....

[kayleigh]

Originally Posted by paul m

Yes, we've had a couple of frogs out and about during sunny, warm spells. One, sadly, must have been hiding under a car in the street ..... I won't put a picture up ....

Aww poor thing..There are ponds across the road from us and sometime I see them making a beeline across the road..They seem to live in my garden most of the year then go back to the neighbours to breed..I only get toads and newts breeding in my pond but get frogs all through the summer.

[kayleigh]

I managed to get a pic to load..So here she is..

[Capall Dubh]

Gosh Kayleigh,Well done for spotting this,Oh im quiet upset looking at her little feet covering his face.Maybe she is traumatised?and was it the cat?Oh please keep us updated.They are just the cutest creatures..

[kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Capall Dubh

Gosh Kayleigh,Well done for spotting this,Oh im quiet upset looking at her little feet covering his face.Maybe she is traumatised?and was it the cat?Oh please keep us updated.They are just the cutest creatures..

I know it was so sad to see her like this I put her in my barrel to keep her safe for the night and have not seen her since..

[Capall Dubh]

Originally Posted by kayleigh

I know it was so sad to see her like this I put her in my barrel to keep her safe for the night and have not seen her since..

Gosh Kayleigh,Your greatBut when you say not seen her since,maybe the TLC helped her on her merry way!

[kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Capall Dubh

Gosh Kayleigh,Your greatBut when you say not seen her since,maybe the TLC helped her on her merry way!

Yes, I hope she is safe in the pond where she will spawn. I keep looking in mine but no luck yet.

[paul m]

Originally Posted by kayleigh

Yes, I hope she is safe in the pond where she will spawn. I keep looking in mine but no luck yet.

Walked by our 'pond' yesterday and there were a lot of noisy frogs in it.

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus

[kayleigh]

Originally Posted by paul m

Walked by our 'pond' yesterday and there were a lot of noisy frogs in it.

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus

Every time I look in the pond there a lots of plops and water swirling but I never see the frogs..
They never spawn in my pond but I'm hopping one day lol..

[paul m]

My 'pond' is now full of spawn (and frogs still at it). The earliest I've known this century; but only beating last year by a couple of days. In previous years spawning has been in the second or third weeks of March except for 2001 and 2004 when they waited until April. Don't know why; and it's been cold today although very sunny.

[Capall Dubh]

Originally Posted by paul m

My 'pond' is now full of spawn (and frogs still at it). The earliest I've known this century; but only beating last year by a couple of days. In previous years spawning has been in the second or third weeks of March except for 2001 and 2004 when they waited until April. Don't know why; and it's been cold today although very sunny.

Lucky you paul,I wonder if the weather has any influence? Lucky i dont have a pond(yet)another to my list alan Titchmarch.But we have had heavy snow since yesterday!most unusual for this part of Ireland....

[paul m]

Originally Posted by Capall Dubh

Lucky you paul,I wonder if the weather has any influence? Lucky i dont have a pond(yet)another to my list alan Titchmarch.But we have had heavy snow since yesterday!most unusual for this part of Ireland....

More to do with sunlight than ambient temperature, I think. Amphibians, like reptiles and insects, get a lot of their body heat (and thus activity) by absorption of radiant energy through their skin.
Interesting today that I've seen hover-flies active:


I use the term 'pond' very loosely. I dug up the roots of a tree, causing a hole, which filled up with water and was almost immediately taken over by the frogs of the neighbourhood!

[Yogi]

That frog reminds me of very young children, who covered their eyes with their hands thinking that if they couldn't see you, then you couldn't see them.

[kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Yogi

That frog reminds me of very young children, who covered their eyes with their hands thinking that if they couldn't see you, then you couldn't see them.

Yes, I thought it would make a good caption..

[kayleigh]

My barrel keeps freezing over so the frogs cant spawn in there..We had spawn in there three years running and the winters were milder but wet.
I don't know if we will get any spawn this year..

[paul m]

Originally Posted by Yogi

That frog reminds me of very young children, who covered their eyes with their hands thinking that if they couldn't see you, then you couldn't see them.

.... or an ostrich: Flanders And Swann - The Ostrich - Free MP3 Stream on IMEEM Music for anyone who oesn't remember the words to the Flanders and Swan classic ,,,,,,

[Bouncytigger]

Originally Posted by kayleigh

Every time I look in the pond there a lots of plops and water swirling but I never see the frogs..
They never spawn in my pond but I'm hopping one day lol..

A Plop would be nice in my ponds?!

[kayleigh]

aaaaaaaawwwww bouncy I really feel for you...I wish they would come to you then we can all celebrate....