Signs of Spring

Although Winter is not yet officially over, there are definite signs of Spring emerging at Foxglove. The birds have started to sing and Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been heard drumming in the tree tops. Earlier this week the first frogs of the year were spotted. These amphibians vary greatly in colour and 'hop' rather than walk as they head towards the ponds to breed. 

Frogspawn has already been found in one of the ponds in the Scrapes. Frogs can spawn as early as December and as late as April depending on the weather and an individual female can lay up to 4,000 eggs in one Spring! The spawn is jelly-like and forms big 'rafts' unlike toad spawn which is layed in long strands. 

After hatching, it will take the tadpoles around 14 weeks to metamorphose into froglets.