Marsh Frog Identification & Sightings
Printed From: Reptiles and Amphibians of the UK
Category: Alien & Naturalised species of the UK
Forum Name: Naturalised
Forum Description: Concerning non-indigenous species that are no threat to native fauna
URL: http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=452
Printed Date: 19 Apr 2024 at 2:09am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.06 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Marsh Frog Identification & Sightings
Posted By: administrator
Subject: Marsh Frog Identification & Sightings
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2003 at 11:39am
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A description and images of the Marsh Frog Rana ridibunda may be found at:
http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/marsh_frog.htm - http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/marsh_frog.htm
® Lee Alan Fairclough/ONEWILDWORLD LTD 2003 |
Replies:
Posted By: chas
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2005 at 2:08pm
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Does anyone out there have any info. on the earliest dates of calling or spawning in the marsh frog -- even approx. (it's to assist some research)? Many Thanks!
------------- Charles Snell |
Posted By: -LAF
Date Posted: 02 May 2005 at 1:33pm
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While speaking to a friend from thelincs trust I was given an interesting account about the presence of green frogs at Tophill Low (E. Yorks reservoir, Yorkshire water). A couple of years ago he and Chris Mattison were at the reserve at a bird hide when Chris heard "Marsh Frogs" calling. They saw frogs calling in open water but the range was considerable. Chris was addament that the calls were marsh frogs. A quick trawl on the NBN gateway placed a record of Edible frogs only a few miles from this site. To me this strikes as a likely source of the frogs at Tophill (the area is well linked by drains). So... does anyone know of the historic origins of the edible frogs there? (not far from Hull, the site on NBN looks to be in the area formerly north humberside). I'm basing this on the assumption that the calls of the lessonae, ridibunda, esculenta complex are similar enough to be easily confused as I've only heard marsh frogs.
Regards, Lee. ------------- Lee Fairclough |
Posted By: chas
Date Posted: 02 May 2005 at 3:31pm
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Lee, the calls are distinct - I expect Chris M. would have given a correct ID. There may be no connection then between the 2 populations. A marsh frog call can be heard at http://waterfrogs.csit.fsu.edu/PBhtmls/ridibunda.html#voice - http://waterfrogs.csit.fsu.edu/PBhtmls/ridibunda.html#voice This site has the other water frog calls for comparison ------------- Charles Snell |
Posted By: -LAF
Date Posted: 03 May 2005 at 4:22am
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Thanks for the info Chas. I'll be in that neck of the woods this month so will visit Tophill and keep my ears open.
Regards, Lee. ------------- Lee Fairclough |
Posted By: herpetologic2
Date Posted: 08 May 2005 at 4:54am
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Julia Wycherley's papers in The BHS Bulletin and British Wildlife may help
Regards Jon |
Posted By: soberhill
Date Posted: 26 May 2005 at 8:38am
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Hello I don't know anything about frogs, although I started to do some research when I heard a very strange noise from the vicinity of our garden pond earlier this week. I checked in various sources and the sound seemed to be like the recording of a Marsh Frog, but from what I've read, it was not likely in this area (East Yorkshire). However, I stumbled across this message thread and it mentions TopHill Low Reservoir in East Yorkshire. That is only a couple of fields away from our property (maybe 1 mile in a straight line). I have managed to see it (at a distance of about 10 feet) and have a couple of photos, but still don't know what type of frog it is. If anyone can identify it from the picture, I'd be happy to forward it by email. [ Incidentally - how long is it likely to keep up this noise !!! ] Cherryl
------------- Cherryl Smith Wilfholme, East Yorkshire |
Posted By: soberhill
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2005 at 7:53am
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Kristi - Thanks for your informative reply, it much appreciated and has been very helpfull with advice as requested.
------------- Cherryl Smith Wilfholme, East Yorkshire |
Posted By: administrator
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2005 at 10:31am
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Hi Cheryl, People often report marsh frogs as a noisey species, mail me the picture using the link 'contact admin' at the top of the page and I'll get an ID for you. PS Not sure what Kristi's problem is, but I hope they won't bother to rejoin RAUK |
Posted By: Mick
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2005 at 10:54am
| I didn't realise, until recently joining this great site, that Marsh frogs are apparently in water bodies, reservoires, or whatever, around Heathrow airport. Seen as aviation is pretty much my only other big interest, besides wildlife & railways, i wouldn't mind knowing which is possibly the best populated Heathrow site to go & take a little look on my next visit to Heathrow. Is it around about now that Marsh frogs in this country spawn, & if so, about when are they froglets? On Med' holidays i love the noisy racket of frogs such as Marsh frogs. I presume at places like Heathrow they're likely to be in full chorus during this hot weather, are they? |
Posted By: rhysrkid
Date Posted: 29 Jun 2005 at 9:49am
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Mick Marsh frog are still calling at the moment at Heathrow but are starting to calm down now, although the recent rain has brought on a new bout of activity today. There are various sites which we own and manage which support marsh frog but the majority are closed access. However there is one site in particular where they are common and which is open to the public. The site is called Two Bridges Farm Conservation Site and is located off Hatton Rd where the road crosses the twin rivers. On site there is a well established old farm pond which has good numbers of MF. Also this is an excellent site for common toad in the spring. Happy hunting! ------------- Rhys |
Posted By: Mick
Date Posted: 29 Jun 2005 at 7:14pm
Thanks rhysrkid, i'll maybe check that accessible site out when i next - hopefully soon - nip down to Heathrow. I presume that would be about the closest site to me here in Banbury, north oxfordshire? Anyway, i look forward to that. 
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Posted By: Martingr
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2006 at 2:58am
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I have just picked up on this site. It follows our finding of Marsh Frogs at a couple of ponds near us. We found them last year and again this year. During the past year the frogs seem to have moved about 1km to take up residence in the new site which is about 50 m from our house. We think this is a genuine new record for this nearby pond because we watch this pond closely and would have heard the frogs in previous years if they had been present. We are in south Worcestershire close to the border with Gloucestershire. My questions are: 1. How rapidly do marsh frogs spread? Would a 1km jump between ponds in a year be typical? 2. Is there a current UK distrubution map for this species? the forum articles mention sites in south east England and Yorkshire but are there any other records for the West Midlands? |
Posted By: Martingr
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2006 at 6:13am
| Many thanks for the distribution information. We are in SP03 and a look at the map showing a single 10km square conatining Marsh Frogs in the west Midlands seems to show a site that is north and possibly east of us. |
Posted By: Martingr
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2006 at 4:52pm
| I have tracked down the Worcestershire marsh frog record to a site about 30 km north west of our location in SP03 . So what is the status of my new record? How do I get it into an official data base? |
Posted By: Matt Harris
Date Posted: 29 Jun 2006 at 10:25am
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Marsh? frogs heard calling in Somerset south of the Mendips just west of Glastonbury. Large numbers heard calling and heads seen bobbing up on 31st May this year. Are there any other records of marsh/edible frogs in this general area? (none show up on NBN)
Matt ------------- Local Authority Ecologist |
Posted By: lalchitri
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2006 at 5:14pm
visited that pond today, as its local to me. sad to say it was completely dried up with no signs of life at all. previously visited it in may, when MF's and newts were present in good numbers. same goes for a large pond in uxbribge which has a good population of CF's, toads and GCN's - when i was there last week it was also as dry as a bone. |
rhysrkid wrote:Posted By: Peter Sutton
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2006 at 8:33am
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I have just returned from a trip to the Somerset Levels where I caught up with the 'Green' frogs at Shapwick Heath NNR. I found them there in 2003 during an entomological survey. There is a large population in the two ponds immediately to the right of the entrance through the trees and bushes, and a correspondingly good population of grass snakes. They looked like Edible Frogs at first sight, with dorsal stripes etc, but the 'heel' of the hind leg easily extended beyond the tip of the nose, so I am assuming that they are all Marsh Frogs. (Also dark eardrum). When were these populations first discovered? They are not in the BRC Atlas or the NBN Gateway maps. Peter Sutton |
Posted By: chas
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2006 at 12:29pm
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Re. query (Peter Sutton). Whilst researching the pool frog, in case any were still left somewhere in the wild, I was sent a reference to "edible frogs" in or near the levels in ------------- Charles Snell |
Posted By: Peter Sutton
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2006 at 12:26pm
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Thanks Chas, I have studied the Somerset Levels for some time now and accumulated a great deal of literature, but have not come across any reference to the Green Frog tribe. Bernard Storer wrote a Natural History of the Somerset Levels which is described as "one of the most important twentieth century books on English natural History" and does not mention Green Frogs. (That said, he claims that Natterjack Toads were present on Sedgemoor which I find highly dubious! .....could it be that someone had heard the Green Frogs' quacking call and misidentified it?!) I look forward to receiving any further details that you might find. Best regards Peter |
Posted By: lalchitri
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2008 at 4:15am
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I currently have 5 marsh frogs in my pond. emerged mid may, started calling june upto about 2 weeks ago. you can see 2 in the first pic, and another in the second. http://xs.to">  http://xs.to">  ------------- Reformed Teetotaller |