Frog spawn mystery

I awoke this morning to find a big clump of frog spawn had been dragged from the pond and was on the path nearby. (Approx 7.30am) The pond is slightly raised 30cm from the ground, and the water level about 8 cm from the top of the pond

The spawn had been dragged out over the wall (wet patch visible) and the clump was on the ground nearby, stretched away from the wet wall. (trailing water patch visible). When I had observed this clump a couple of days ago, it appeared to be about 15 cm at its longest point).

This was the only clump of frog spawn near the edge of the pond that was completely submerged and free floating. The other clumps of spawn, easily accessible from the vegetation had been laid partly on the vegetation and stuck fast (I tried to move them into the water, but could not dislodge them without fear of damaging the eggs).

Any ideas! My thought was a fox; we do have foxes that pass through our garden late evening and early morning. We also have lots of cats around this way and they do take a lot of interest in the pond, but do little more than dip their paw in - and not really enjoying the sensation. We also have lots of herring gull, but I can't imagine them being able to drag a clump of spawn out either.

The spawn still looked fairly fresh and the water patches had not dried up, so it must have happened. I managed to pick the clump up carefully using a dustpan and put it back in the pond.

Queen Buff-tailed Bumble Bee

I saw the first bumble bee in the garden today. It was a queen buff-tailed bumble Bombus terrestris.

After flying around the window boxes it settled on the window frame sunning itself.

Queen Bumble bees usually come out of hibernation in March to start a new colony as only the queen survives the winter. The pollen baskets on the legs were empty.

Rescued spawn

The frog spawn that I rescued a few days ago, that had been laid on the path, has now absorbed water and swollen as normal. As I expected, many of the eggs, that were stuck to the path, are not viable.

The eggs at the top look normal.

Icy weather

The pond has frozen over today, including parts of the spawn clumps exposed above the water.

Spawn accident

I noticed this morning a clump of frog spawn on the patio. This was about 20 metres from the pond.

I scooped it up as well as possible, not easy as the spawn had stuck to the ground. I placed the spawn in an old washing up bowl of water.

Maybe some of them will survive.

More frogs action

The pond is full of frogs atill and the rain seems to have inspired the frogs to burst into chorus during the day.

Frog courship and mating

Frog courtship and mating is now in full swing. I counted at least 20 frogs, but its only an estimate as they are not all at the surface at the same time and they are still easily spooked, even by a movement of the curtain.

Here are a sequence of pictures tken thrpough the conservatory window, a few feet from the edge of the pond.

I went outside after dark and discovered these two late comers.