Frogs Only Please.....

[CountryEscape]

I wish I had a camera set-up with some type of night light, where I could go out at night and take a video of how many bullfrogs are hanging around on the edges of the ponds! I went outside few nights ago to double check the color of flowers on my Obedience Plant, and thank goodness I took along a flashlight! I was half a step away from stepping onto the large stone that is my "bridge" of the stream, and there was a huge bullfrog sitting right where I would have stepped. That would have surprised me enough, so then I went scanning with the flashlight and could not believe how many frogs I spotted. This heat wave we are having has them all hiding during the day now, so they don't even come out until closer to dusk. I did see several in the goldfish pond this evening. Here are a few pics I took one evening a few days ago.

 

[tengbells]

Ribbet! Our frogs aren't quite that cooperative this year...last year I got loads of good pics. Our main frog (the one we see the most) has doubled in size from last year...I told my hubby when I first saw him this spring and he didn't believe me til he went to clean out the skimmer basket and "Mister Big" (my hubby's naming, not mine) as hanging out on the shelf.

 

[CountryEscape]

My frogs will jump if I move too fast, too. I just know where to look for them and have a good zoom on my camera, so kinda like cheating. Depending on the temps and weather, I've seen as many as 11 or 12 at a time between the two ponds and stream. Now there are several that hide in the stream, which is pretty much covered up by Karly Rose grass on one side, and Zinnias on the other side, leaning towards the middle. Also, I know there are a bunch in the goldfish pond bog, which is TOTALLY covered with penny wart, and I see 3-4 every morning in the koi pond bog, which is more "tame". But, at night, that's when they ALL come out, and that's when I realized I had far more large bullfrogs than I thought!

 

[j.w]

CE you need to invest in a new camera that has night vision. Bet they aren't cheap tho! Oh it's worth it tho for the pix you will get right?

 

[CountryEscape]

Well, all I need is my regular camera, set on slow shutter, with a bright flashlight. LOL That's far cheaper .... but the skeeters are horrendous in this heat and humidity, so I dare not go outside after dark unless slathered in bug spray. If I do that, then I have to take yet another shower. Yuck I despise mosquitos, so that's a no-go. Maybe some other evening, when it's cooler ....

 

[j.w]

Oh gosh no don't go out there, those skeeters will eat ya alive and they carry those bad diseases too.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Found a 3rd Bull Frog tonight! This one is very small. Love having frogs, but I wish they were green Frogs though.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

...and of course, I got a pic of it... actually, all three. the newest one is on the lily pad

 

[CountryEscape]

OK, frog story for all you frog lovers. Sure wish I had it on video to prove it, but you will just have to believe me. ;-)
I went into my ponds tonight to prune dead or dying lily leaves. In the goldfish pond, there were maybe 4-5 frogs that jumped in as I got ready to go into the water. I was in there on the upper ledge and then went into the deeper water (it's only 36" deep) in front of the skimmer. Something had knocked the skimmer into the pond (mine is on a ledge on the edge of the pond) so I needed to get that set back up on the ledge. While I was getting ready to reach down to grab the skimmer off the bottom of the pond, I see a HUGE bullfrog swimming on the top of the water toward me. I talked to him, moved around a little, to be sure he knew I was there. He kept coming. That sucker swam right in front of me, and then got out on a rock right next to where the skimmer was going to be put. I was within arms reach. Didn't try to touch him, just talked to him as I reached down to grab the skimmer and bring it up to the ledge. All this time he sat there not 2' from me watching. I was amazed ... and in love. LOL I put the skimmer back on the ledge, and he stayed for a bit longer, then jumped in. When I moved to the other side of the pond to put the pump back on it's shelf, well there that big boy was, on the edge of the pond where the penny wart hangs into the water. He moved up onto the ledge under the penny wart, then climbed on top of it so he could watch me. He was partially blocked from my view so I took a chance and reached over and moved the PW, and my hand was less than 6" from him, and he just watched me. Now, that's confidence, huh?! He sure was a curious boy tonight. Here's a pic I took after I got out, and noticed a big boy on the edge of the goldfish pond. Not positive it was him, but it's likely. There are lots of big ones this year, it seems. The turtle statue next to him is at least 12" long, maybe 14", to give you some perspective of his size. Keep in mind the turtle is turned on an angle, so that makes him look bigger, too.

And, did you know that bullfrogs make pretty good sized poop? I've never seen poop before, but thinking this must be from the frogs. I see it on the ledges and on the lily pads. It's about the size of a large grub. LOL Hope this "poo" pic doesn't offend anyone.

 

[Lisaebetten]

OK, frog story for all you frog lovers. Sure wish I had it on video to prove it, but you will just have to believe me. ;-)
I went into my ponds tonight to prune dead or dying lily leaves. In the goldfish pond, there were maybe 4-5 frogs that jumped in as I got ready to go into the water. I was in there on the upper ledge and then went into the deeper water (it's only 36" deep) in front of the skimmer. Something had knocked the skimmer into the pond (mine is on a ledge on the edge of the pond) so I needed to get that set back up on the ledge. While I was getting ready to reach down to grab the skimmer off the bottom of the pond, I see a HUGE bullfrog swimming on the top of the water toward me. I talked to him, moved around a little, to be sure he knew I was there. He kept coming. That sucker swam right in front of me, and then got out on a rock right next to where the skimmer was going to be put. I was within arms reach. Didn't try to touch him, just talked to him as I reached down to grab the skimmer and bring it up to the ledge. All this time he sat there not 2' from me watching. I was amazed ... and in love. LOL I put the skimmer back on the ledge, and he stayed for a bit longer, then jumped in. When I moved to the other side of the pond to put the pump back on it's shelf, well there that big boy was, on the edge of the pond where the penny wart hangs into the water. He moved up onto the ledge under the penny wart, then climbed on top of it so he could watch me. He was partially blocked from my view so I took a chance and reached over and moved the PW, and my hand was less than 6" from him, and he just watched me. Now, that's confidence, huh?! He sure was a curious boy tonight. Here's a pic I took after I got out, and noticed a big boy on the edge of the goldfish pond. Not positive it was him, but it's likely. There are lots of big ones this year, it seems. The turtle statue next to him is at least 12" long, maybe 14", to give you some perspective of his size. Keep in mind the turtle is turned on an angle, so that makes him look bigger, too.
View attachment 74884
And, did you know that bullfrogs make pretty good sized poop? I've never seen poop before, but thinking this must be from the frogs. I see it on the ledges and on the lily pads. It's about the size of a large grub. LOL Hope this "poo" pic doesn't offend anyone.
View attachment 74883

I love the penny wart I got from you! When we where on vaca and the dog wasn't outside a ground hog helped himself, now I have tall topless stems! New ones are popping right up thou!

 

[Lisaebetten]

While working on the pond today I had a little buddy inches from me overseeing my work! One of his buddies was nearby and figured they really are curious. But really I think they are in Awe of the great Froggy in the sky behind me!

 

[j.w]

CE you should try to feed that friendly frog like Mucky does his.

 

[koiguy1969]

my outdoor pond is overrun with froggies.... no pics just the statement!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

A 4th Bullfrog showed up tonight. Has to be the season they look for new homes. Surprised its all bullfrogs though.

 

[Rushdoggie]

my outdoor pond is overrun with froggies.... no pics just the statement!

Jealous...its very dry where I am so no frogs or toads in my yard. I even made rock piles and put out toad houses in teh garden near dampish spots where I water the veggies but I never see any.