February 26th 2020
The onset of Spring caused rapid changes along the rivers bringing new sightings just about very day. During the previous survey it was noted that common frogs had been very active in producing frog spawn in ideal conditions. This attracted Grey Herons which could often be seen flying south from Warnham Local Nature Reserve to a small pond several kilometres away to find a good source of food for their young at the heronry there. The rivers had been flowing fast and muddy for many weeks, hindering their usual spring foraging trips, leaving them hungry.
Frog spawn in the shady shallows of the pond margin.
Adult frogs spend most of the year safely hidden in vegetation on the land - but are easy prey when they enter ponds to mate and spawn - and then growing tadpoles and young frogs in turn are predated as soon as they grow and become visible. Pond margin vegetation is essential to allow young frogs to leave their pond and find suitable habitat. It is essential that ponds have dense vegetation on the margins and vegetated routes out from the pond to the cool damp shelter of undergrowth, roots and stones outside.
Smaller birds prey on amphibians too, and can usually be seen foraging in the area in spring.
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