Marsh Frogs, Smooth Newt and Dragonfly Larva.

[JaySteel]

Hi Everyone,
I visited a pond in Kent yesterday to try and photograph some Marsh Frogs. It was pretty cold (4 degrees) when I got there at 9am so it took a couple of hours before they started to make an appearance. By 11am it was 14 degrees and in the next couple of hours I saw 10 of them. No grass snakes yesterday though despite the sunshine. Them frogs are a nightmare to catch! They're so quick! It took me ages to finally catch a couple with my 10ft net and they were only sub-adults. I only saw one decent sized example all day and I couldn't get anywhere near it before it fled. I did accidentally catch a very attractive smooth newt whilst trying to catch a frog though. I also caught a scary looking dragonfly larva. It was pretty big but I have no idea what species it might be.
I thought I'd share my photos with you.


Regards,

Jason


























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[JaySteel]

Does anyone else think this dragonfly larva's head looks a little snakey?










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[monitor mad]

Great to see and really first class photo's

[JaySteel]

Thanks very much. I hadn't even seen Marsh Frogs until a week ago when I was introduced to this site by a friend.


Jason

[JaySteel]

Here's one more of the Marsh Frog:





Jason

[Testudo Man]

Cracking photos as usual

We've seen a few of those Marsh frogs too, they are noisy buggers come summer.

[JaySteel]

Thanks mate. I've heard they are much easier to find and catch once the weather warms up.


Jason

[henry415]

Cracking smoothy male! That dragonfly looks like some sort of Hawker, you were lucky to see him so early in the year!
Did you place him there or was that how he was found?