At a local pond today I saw more frogspawn than I've ever seen - I'd estimate 10 to 20 square meters of the pond surface was covered in continuous sheets of it.  It was visible from 50 meters away.  A picture of the largest area (there were several more) attached. 

I also saw two toadspawn strings and many toads gathered in and around the frogspawn - including some with frogs attached (I'd have thought the frogs might have had enough...). 

wow!

peter, that really is amazing.

tim

Similar things happening at a few sites local to me as far as frogs grabbing hold of toads is concerned, maybe because the two species breeding times are overlapping more these days?

That`s a healthy amount of spawn Peter.  Have you reported it to HCT?

Hello Peter

I am in the process of putting all my records over the past few years onto MapMate for submission to the county reptile and amphibian recorder, who will forward them the county (Hampshire) Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC).  I am sure that HBIC in turn shares its records with national networks - but whether those include HCT I do not know for certain, I would hope so.

I agree that it is important to record and report, as it may not be safe to assume that even a "well known" site is necessarily on decision-makers' radar.

Returning specifically to frogspawn, in addition to the record above, there is a single clump in the very small pond in my back garden - the first since that was first put in place ten years ago! 

Peter

Peter Vaughan wrote: I agree that it is important to record and report, as it may not be safe to assume that even a "well known" site is necessarily on decision-makers' radar.

Absolutely.

Peter Vaughan wrote: Returning specifically to frogspawn, in addition to the record above, there is a single clump in the very small pond in my back garden - the first since that was first put in place ten years ago!

That WAS a long wait.   Congratulations on their delayed arrival.