Yesterday I spotted a common frog I thought I would post a picture of a marsh frog I photographed last week to give a comparison of these two frogs, {common top picture}
Common v Marsh.
New Forest
Dipping!
This morning, a walk along a New Forest Stream with a good population of Golden Ringed Dragonflies. Many were “dipping” {depositing eggs into the stream}.
Waiting for lunch!
The Raft Spider. Dolomedes fimbriatus
Marsh Frogs.
Marsh frogs were regularly imported into the UK from the late nineteenth century and were introduced to the Walland Marsh in Kent in 1935, from Hungary. They originate from the eastern half of Europe into western Asia. There are established populations in the UK, which are now predominantly found in south-east England, with populations in other areas in the south are far west as Devon. Following seeing some in “captivity” in The New Forest Reptile Centre I wanted to see some in the wild as there was said to be an established population in the forest.
On a tip-off with my brother we last year looked at marshland southwest of the national park near Lymington. After unsuccessful trips, we tried again this year and spotted one solitary Marsh Frog last week. Yesterday we returned to look closer and were lucky to spot at least 6.
Some information on how to spot a Marsh Frog
- The colour is from brown to green with dark green blotches.
- Size of the females can be up to 13cm in length, and the males are normally smaller.
- Pronounced snout with a wide gape.
- Eyes are closer together than our native Common Frogs.
- There are two parallel skin folds on the back.
- The male has two dark grey vocal sacks, one on each side of the mouth.
- The skin is warty and granular.{like on a Toad}
- They can be noisy with a quacking or laughing sound more so in early summer.
- They prefer to stay in or close to water.
Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, makes it illegal to distribute or allow the release of Marsh Frogs into the wild.
Forest stream.
Another hot weather walk in the New Forest this morning found us following a small stream on the flat which helped us keep cool. There were many Dragonflies – Emperor Dragonflies were “dipping”. An action where they lay their eggs.
Another Dragonfly that was about in good numbers was the Golden-ringed Dragonfly.
A few bird spots.
Nuthatch.
Blue Tit.
A lucky spot walking back to the van was a young Grass Snake.
Bolderwood.
We went looking for deer in the New Forest today but were not very lucky only distant Fallow Deer. However, on a small pond, several dragonflies were buzzing overhead.
A female Stonechat.
Bee Hives are out in the Forest – As the Heather comes into flower Bee Hives are placed to take advantage of these nectar-rich flowers.
A lone Fallow Deer.
Along a New Forest stream.
A pictorial record of a short walk along a small New Forest stream.
Donkey.
Living History.
Lyndhurst is the largest village in the New Forest Hampshire, it became the natural ‘capital’ of the area when William the Conqueror established his hunting grounds in the forest. Lyndhurst was the haunt of royalty and nobility. Kings and Queens regularly visited Lyndhurst’s own manor house. Now known as Queens House, this former manor is still home to Verderers’ Hall, the meeting place of the ancient Verderers’ Court whose history stretches back to at least the 13th century.
Stonechat.
Male Stonechat New Forest.
Female Stonechat New Forest.
Continued Reflections from my World. 