Back in March I discovered clumps of frogspawn in my garden pond which was built 3 years ago in the spring of 2016. You can imagine my excitement as this was the first time I might have my first tadpole nursery!
Before I knew it the tadpoles were appearing, and as they grew I noticed how they would graze on the algae growing on the stones in the shallows. I like how they have gradually turned from black blobs to these rather beautiful bronze speckled creatures. I was also quite surprised by how their eyes are so pronounced. They not only feed on algae but water fleas. It will take 16 weeks for them to grow their back legs, then their front legs, and eventually they will absorb their tails to emerge from the water as froglets. It will take them 2 to 3 years to reach breeding maturity. Rinse and repeat.
Click and click again on the image to get that little bit closer …
May 2019, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Nature Journeys 
Amazing, I havent seen any frogspawn since my childhood even though I have looked.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. I don’t even recall seeing any frogspawn in my childhood, or tapoles for that matter.
LikeLike
I found some yesterday in a pond in the peaks. Fun to watch 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely photographs – and an interesting experience for you to be able to document the changes in your own pond!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sure is Anne, and thank you. I find it quite fascinating and beautiful.
LikeLike
Exciting development, Pete….literally and figuratively!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sure is, and more to come I hope!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do you know what kind of frogs you will have?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe it is the Common Frog. You can see them here if you like:
LikeLike
it will be fun to see their progress!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sure will Marilyn! I pop out most days to check on them, and they are getting a little bigger.
LikeLike
What a thrill to watch them develop.
I vaguely remember my older brother and I trying to catch tadpoles from a very old overgrown pond in a thicket of natural bushland opposite our first family home (which my Father built I might add).
It must have been from some very old house in the area well before that outer suburb/town was established as to find a round brick-edged pond about 9 feet in diameter was such a strange sight in full natural bushland (thick woodland if you were in the U.K.).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed it is Vicki! Now that pond of your childhood sounds like one great pond!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exciting … and wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sure is!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love to find spawn in my pond and observe the metamorphosis.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is quite amazing to watch. Perhaps you will eventually.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How exciting! I have yet to build that pond… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember you was thinking about it at one time Jude. The time and the effort is well worth it. Large Red Damselflies are emerging from the pond now, and the birds love to drink and bathe there. Quite an exciting time for the pond. I hope you get to build yours some day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope they get on well. We had frogspawn in our garden for many years, but recently the annual spring ‘gang bang’ in the pond has ceased, and there are very few frogs around. I understand that frog populations are in severe decline, so I hope your new environment provides a great safe haven for them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you barryh. I checked on them today and I have seen some with the back legs now, so they appear to be developing nicely at the moment.
LikeLike
Takes me back to my childhood when we use to watch these little creatures in the water – we called them “Tadpoles.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
How exciting to watch them develop. Excellent photos too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Belinda 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person