Tipperary Frog

Cabragh wetlands outside Thurles is the place to go to view Frogs at the moment. In the front pond there could well be 60 individuals all fighting for the chance to mate, and by the amount of spawn there already many have. However it seams predation is impacting them aswell, as at least 6 have croaked it and are half eaten on the bank.

Frog predation

In this one area there were 5 half eaten frogs. I'm curious to find out what went on here and what predator was responsible. Surely Foxes and Badgers would have just eaten them whole. So was it our house Cats or perhaps Kestrels or Peregrines which iv'e seen around also. Any ideas? All frogs I found were eat from the head down with their back legs and lower body left.

Frog Spawn

Apparently it only takes 10 seconds for a female frog to lay a clump of eggs and there can be up to 2000 eggs in each clump. The NPWS are running a frog survey at the moment so get out there and start recording. http://www.npws.ie/en/CurrentResearchProjects/AnimalSpecies/Other/ .The info you submit adds vital data to build up a picture of the distrubtion of frogs in Ireland. About 1 third of amphibians across the globe are in danger of extiction. Numbers in Britain have dramatically declined also in the last 20 years. A chytrid fungus appears to be the main cause, but habitat destruction and water quality play a vital role in the little frogs demise.

Wildlife along Owenduff.

The mud game

It's difficult to see but there's an Ant on the newly formed Amphibian. I waited in anticipation to see if it's hunting skills were finaly tuned but the Frog let this opportunity pass. Tadpoles develop hindlimbs first then forelimbs as it's tail recedes and gills are replaced by lungs. The transformation from aquatic life to terrestrial life is truly amazing.

The Common Frog

The name may suggest they're common in Ireland but the naming of species happened a long time ago. Poor water quality and loss of habitat are their two biggest enemies today.