Most of the pictures are clickable
for an enlargement or a wider view
for an enlargement or a wider view
April Pond
April Pond
Frog of the Day
Frog of the Day
... or maybe something else!
April begins with and , with appearing during the month. The are done with their noise-making and egg-laying and are quiet – April 1 is the last time I heard them. The will arrive in May.
April 1
April 1
Spring peepers with spring fever !
April 2
April 2
Typical "bullfrog-in-the-shallows."
I see about 4-5 along the shore every night, and about 4-5 in the daytime. There will be many more as the weeks go by.
I see about 4-5 along the shore every night, and about 4-5 in the daytime. There will be many more as the weeks go by.
April 3
April 3
Spring peeper hangin' out in an acorn cap.
Notice that this one doesn't have the classic "X" mark on its back. To see more peeper patterns, visit the
page.
Notice that this one doesn't have the classic "X" mark on its back. To see more peeper patterns, visit the
page.
April 3 (continued)
April 3 (continued)
A bullfrog and ...
Click on the picture to find out what the surprise is.
Click on the picture to find out what the surprise is.
April 4
April 4
Easter bonnet.
The pond is sprinkled with maple tree flowers, and this bullfrog surfaced right up under one.
The pond is sprinkled with maple tree flowers, and this bullfrog surfaced right up under one.
April 4 (continued)
April 4 (continued)
Sky in the eye!
This is the eye of the bullfrog in the "Easter bonnet" picture above. The sky is reflected in miniature in the pupil.
This is the eye of the bullfrog in the "Easter bonnet" picture above. The sky is reflected in miniature in the pupil.
April 5
April 5
Pinto-bean peeper.
This guy's balloon was unusually speckled, and reminded me of a pinto bean.
This guy's balloon was unusually speckled, and reminded me of a pinto bean.
Painted turtle ... "Let me go!"
April 30
April 30
April 6
April 6
First green frog of the season.
You can tell it's a green frog by the ridge that goes from the eardrum partway down the back. Bullfrogs don't have this ridge. (There are other ways to tell, but this is the easiest.)
You can tell it's a green frog by the ridge that goes from the eardrum partway down the back. Bullfrogs don't have this ridge. (There are other ways to tell, but this is the easiest.)
April 7
April 7
April 8
April 8
April 9
April 9
April 10
April 10
April 12
April 12
April 11
April 11
Wood frog leaving the pond at night.
They arrive all at once in March to breed in the pond, then go back to the woods over the course of ... how long? This year I will watch for them crossing the road the other way on rainy nights. For more about wood frog spring migration, visit .
They arrive all at once in March to breed in the pond, then go back to the woods over the course of ... how long? This year I will watch for them crossing the road the other way on rainy nights. For more about wood frog spring migration, visit .
A surprise surfacing of a snapping turtle – several in the pond, but rarely seen.
Note added later, in July:
Rarely seen, that is, until this year! With a new camera that can shoot the far side of the pond, I have been looking for them, and seeing them often. See for an example.
Note added later, in July:
Rarely seen, that is, until this year! With a new camera that can shoot the far side of the pond, I have been looking for them, and seeing them often. See for an example.
Bullfrogs come out of the water when the the air is warm and calm (over 65F/18C).
The spring peepers are still going strong! For what they sound like, go to .
Next year's crop of spotted salamanders, growing in their Jello egg blobs. (A new page about eggs is coming soon.)
April 13
April 13
April 14
April 14
April 15
April 15
April 16
April 16
April 17
April 17
April 18
April 18
April 21
April 21
April 20
April 20
Just call me MISTER Bullfrog.
This guy must be several years old!
This guy must be several years old!
Spring peeper with a BIG balloon.
The noise from a big blower like this is ear-splitting when you're close.
The noise from a big blower like this is ear-splitting when you're close.
Bullfrog.
The pink flotsam in the distance is a fall of maple tree blossoms (see April 4's "Easter bonnet" for a closeup).
The pink flotsam in the distance is a fall of maple tree blossoms (see April 4's "Easter bonnet" for a closeup).
Any scoopful of water near the shoreline will catch a few tadpoles every time. These are very small. I suspect wood frogs, because they have come and gone and done their breeding already.
Click on it to see how big it is.
Click on it to see how big it is.
Spring peeper.
Bullfrog – classic profile!
Palomino peeper! Lighter than most.
April 19
April 19
Classic bullfrog headlights, out on the grass at night.
Big ears! Bullfrogs are all over the place ... I'm waiting for more green frogs to show up (the OTHER summer frog in this pond).
April 22
April 22
April 23
April 23
April 24
April 24
April 25
April 25
April 26
April 26
April 27
April 27
April 28
April 28
April 29
April 29
Same guy as April 12, hangin' out in his favorite place - the pond's shallow overflow channel. For a "surprise in the eyes", click to see the enlargement.
Salamander puppies! ... growing in their clear jelly eggs.
A cute spring peeper - and QUIET, for once!
X marks the peeper!
A classic marking on "Hyla crucifer" ... click to see the whole frog.
A classic marking on "Hyla crucifer" ... click to see the whole frog.
One of my regular pond citizens, shopping for the next meal. It's a bonanza "seafood" smorgasboard for any critter who moves into THIS neighborhood!
Spotted salamander "nymph" - a newly-hatched egg.
Bullfrog
Spring peeper – they're winding down, but still a few left.
Spring peeper, deflated.
Hop to another month:
Hop to another month:
2009
2010