As I posted some pictures of the newly-hatched frog tadpoles in my garden pond last week I thought I'd take some more to see how they're getting on.
They've grown rounder and the larger ones have much less conspicuous gills. Filaments of blanket weed have also started to grow in the warm weather.
Their eyes are more distinct. This one seems to have lost a piece of its fin.
Most of them have kept in a tight group around the empty egg mass but a few of the most well-developed are definitely 'tadpole shaped' and swimming strongly here and there, apparently exploring their environment.
I hope to post an update each Sunday till they leave the pond.
A tiny fly resting on a water hawthorn leaf
A snail munching on the vegetation at the edge of the pond. It kept putting its head under water but withdrawing its eye-stalks first!
A damselfly larva which seemed to be tackling a white worm.
Looking forward to the updates Julian. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteNice pictures as usual Julian. That reminds me I must top up my pond from the water butt, though I can't see much in it for the blooming duckweed! The taddys are at least developing.
ReplyDeleteI think Barley Straw was supposed to be a good way of keeping (something) down in the ponds - or is that to combat algae. Just a thought !
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