Queen of my pond

[Anthony Darby]

You won't be able to touch it without a license then Ron? I got a license to investigate some old curling ponds at Kilmahog, north of Callander as there was a record of great crested newts. I think the record was false are I could only find palmates.

[ronm]

True Anthony.
Maybe its not realised but they are exceedingly common in the whole of this great county! R u 
I can understand Palmates and Smooths being confused but the GC is another matter.

[Anthony Darby]

The record stated that great crested newt eggs had been identified in the ponds. I visited several times, but only found palmate tadpoles. It's good that GC are common where you live.

[Jim McKenney]

The local amphibians should start to stir soon here in Maryland. We have a local newt, but it's not commonly seen. Our spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, should be heading for the breeding ponds soon.

Here's a link where you can hear our local toads:
http://mcwort.blogspot.com/2011/04/batrachian-chorus.html

Later this week the spring peepers (almond size tree frogs which congregate at local pools by the thousands to breed) should start to call. I'll see if I can post something soon so you can hear the incredible sound they make - up close it's a piercing whistle, from a distance and in their thousands they sound like sleigh bells.

The spring peepers, wood frogs and the local chorus frog are typically the earliest, followed soon by the toads. I'll try to post the sounds of these later.

[Anthony Darby]

I have fond memories of peepers in Jamaica. The locals insisted they were crickets.

[johnw]

Jim

Boy your spring peepers sing early there. From the local Museum website  - "Earliest spring record is March 22, in 1983, when 5 males were found on wet pavement during a light evening rain at Forties Settlement area, Lunenburg County, NS." The Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History has developed a Frogwatch to monitor the first arrival of the peppers, it's hugely popular here and more than 10,000 Nova Scotians report on the first peep of the year. (they can get rather large here  -see photo of one on the Museum).

johnw

[ronm]

Jim,
Enjoyed the frog song and your Blog page. 
Interesting views on Crocus,  , which is probably very good advice.

[art600]

He may not be as large and colourful as a Koi, Olga, but your wild fish is still beautiful.

And good enough to eat