A Proud Toad Daddy ~ With Pictures!!!

On Thursday when Ginger told me she was going to water the pot trellis I jumped up, grabbed my camera and assumed the position assigned me the previous day.  With the zoom already set and tested on a flower I was ready for the little guy to jump right out there like he did on Wednesday.

Ginger started to water.  I watched.  Ginger watered.  I watched and waited.  Ginger watered.  I watched, waited and fiddled with the camera.  Ginger watered.  I gave it up.  No toad sighting this Thursday.

Friday.  Once again I assumed the assigned position for toad watching.  This time the little guy jumped right out from under some plants.  I was armed with my trusty digital camera.  As soon as I attempted to take the first picture the little guy jumped and was gone.  I was left with a rather nice picture of a flower but no baby toad pictures.

I risked the wrath of the position gods and moved closer.  I reached out and moved a plant to peer around it's base.  There he was... but I was too close to take his picture.  I handed the camera to Ginger and asked her to give it a try.  She didn't have her glasses on.

Ginger handed the camera back to me and reached toward the plant to hold it back so I could move away and take the picture.  As soon as I moved our baby once again jumped and was gone.

Humph.  I stepped back and Ginger grabbed the hose and started to water again.  Immediately she saw movement and pointed.  TARGET IDENTIFIED!

I took a picture.  I took a few more.  The toad moved.  I saw where it went.  I took more pictures.  So here are the best two pictures.  If you like you can click on the pictures to see the full sized version.

It's hard to discern this little guys actual size from these images.  At the most he is 1 1/4 inches long.  If I had to buy it a suit I would get something smaller than a Tinker Bell size.

If you look closely at the left picture you can see a dark tube just above and to the right of the baby toad.  This is a 1/4 inch driper hose... maybe that will help with the perspective.

This ex-toadlet is doing just fine in the feeding department and looks very healthy.  I imagine it will spend the winter in/near the pot trellis area.  Maybe even sing'n a tune next spring

I Spied a Baby Toad

It seems like everyone has seen one of the baby toads. Everyone but me that is. On Wednesday about 4 PM that officially changed.

On Tuesday Ginger was watering and rousted a baby toad from it's niche under the pot trellis (remember the yellow pot trellis?). So on Wednesday when she went out to water, she instructed me to follow her and told me where to stand and proceeded to water.

Sure enough after just a few sprinkles this little green toad hops out from under these plants and is sitting on some ground cover. It was small but had not residual tail. I would estimate it's length at about 1 1/4 inches from head to rump. Just a little miniature toad.

I even had my camera with me. I am sorry to report that I was only able to get three shots of the toad before it disappeared into the plants. The pictures were blurry to the point that you wouldn't know it was a toad or a green rock.

The next time Ginger waters I will assume my toad observation post and try again.

Stay tuned 'O loyal followers....

Feed me!! Cheep - Cheep

I have 3 birdhouses along the back fence.  I've mentioned them a few times but pretty much they are just there.  On Tuesday morning I was in the yard when I hear the sound of baby birds vie for the attention of the mommy bird.  This must be the third or fourth batch of birds hatched this season in this one birdhouse.  From the looks of the mother she might have been born in the first batch as she looked hardly mature enough to have hatched eggs.

As I watched the mother approach the birdhouse I noted she was carrying a green insect of some type in her  mouth.  Ever so cautious she alit on the branch of a nearby tree.  Looked around and up and down and then looked some more.  After about a minute she moved to the fence below the birdhouse and again she looks around.  Ever so cautious.  Then she moves along the fence to another spot and looks some more.  Geez, that bug is going to dry out and turn to dust before she feeds her babies.  Finally after about 4 or 5 minutes from when I saw her in the tree she flew up to the nest, landing on the perch that sticks out below the entrance hole.

Once again she is looking around with the bug securely in her beak.  Now the little baby birdies can see her and are going crazy with their cheeping and, maybe, the first inkling of a chirp every now and then. 

To my surprise, she starts feeding the insect to the babies via the air-vent above the entrance hole.  I could make out the mouths and eye circles of a couple of babies.  Mama finally released the insect and the babies disappeared to fight over the delicacy.  Mom was off in search of more food... I wonder where Daddy bird was hang'n.

Baby birds are cool to have in your yard.

A New Pond Plant Container

With Joe still missing and the loss of so many of the toadpoles, things are a bit slow out back.  We are, however, still smile'n about that crazy squirrel.  The hummers are still very active and drinking the sweet water like there was no tomorrow.

I was wondering around the yard and spotted a cinder block.  This thing was left over from the initial pond construction days.  Just what does one do with extra cinder blocks? 

I decided I would make a plant container for the pond.  It turns out the cinder blocks are great for this as they aren't prone to break or melt and definitely don't float away.

  I got some landscape fabric and cut a couple of pieces to fit the bottom of the block.  This covered the holes and would hold the dirt in while also letting water in.  I glued the fabric to the block and broke out the paint.

Today I installed what used to be a cinder block but is now a planter in the pond.  Of course it will be up to Ginger to plant something in the thing.

Like I said, things are slow around here.

A Lone Survivor?

 Ginger was watering plants Tuesday afternoon and noticed a very small toad trying to escape the stream of water.  It had been sitting on some ground cover.  She came and got me.  I grabbed my camera and headed out to the backyard but the little guy had disappeared.  I've looked a couple of times since then but so far haven't found him.  I want to document this LIVE one with a picture.

It seems to me that if one survived there is a good possibility that there are more. Ginger said it was pretty small so a whole plethora of 'em could easily be missed if your not looking at 'em.

While looking for the ex-toadpole I noticed an ant hauling a spider over the rocks.  Then there was the little black bug zooming in and out of the rocks.  I also saw a wasp like insect that was purple... kinda pretty.  It would appear there are things going on in the mini world that I don't notice very often. 

When I lived in Texas (1995 - 2004) we had a bunch of tropical creatures living around us.  One of my favorites was the little green Anole.  This little lizard reminded me of one of those little dogs that thinks it's a bull-mastiff or something.  They were pretty brave and would take on bugs that I thought were too big for them to eat.  One day I set a bucket next to the garden and just watched.  Pretty soon I noticed an Anole here and another there.  Actually there were a whole bunch of them but for some reason you have to sit and watch before they are visible.  They were eat'n insects left and right.  I couldn't believe the amount they ate.  I hope these toads are just as ravenous and successful in finding food.

Your probably not surprised the squirrel has not returned.  I'm not.  Also interesting is we haven't see the gang of hummers that were here on Monday.  Just passing through I guess.

Some good news on the toad front.  Woody's live!!!!

Humming Birds with Attitudes

Hummers, like dynamite, TNT and C-4 are explosive and come in small packages... all packages of this gender require respect and care or bad things happen.  The squirrel in our yard this afternoon obviously missed this part of the lesson when attending suburban squirrel etiquette class.

Here's the story... Outside our back door is a patio.  It's a pretty big slab of concrete and part of it is covered.  Under the covered part I have a wooden box about 5 feet long by 2.5 feet wide and about 4 feet high.  Also in the covered part we have a hummer feeder hanging from the eves.

This squirrel comes running toward the wood box and skids to a stop just before crashing into it.  Hot on it's heels is a hummer.  The hummer is darting in and out... obviously pissed at the squirrel.  The squirrel is backed against the box and finally crawls under the box.  The hummer continues to dart around looking for the squirrel.  After a short time the hummer abandons the search and moves on.

The squirrel, apparently feeling brave, jumps on top of the box and is looking around.  The hummer spied him and zooms in, pressing the attack.  The squirrel is intimidated by the little hummer and again seeks refuge under the box.  The hummer takes a graceful exit moments later.

Enter this 'ol phart.  I don't want that squirrel around my storage box as that's where I store my birdseed.  Squirrels like birdseed.  I had visions of the squirrel chewing it's way into the box and doing what squirrels do when in a box full of birdseed.

So I decided I wanted to scare the squirrel away.  It says in the latest book about scaring squirrels away that you have to be careful that they don't bite your toe when they panic because you scare the bejesus out of them.  So armed with a rake and my normal amount of testosterone I approached the box.  Heart beat about 140.  Perspiration abundant.  I'm wearing clean underwear just in case we have to call 911.  I approach the box.

Would you believe that little hummer is still guarding the box!  No, the hummer didn't attack me but it was hang'n around. 

I pounded on the box in hopes of scaring the squirrel out the back side.  No movement.  So I moved to the open side and slid the box out from the wall.  After I moved it about a foot the squirrel made a run for it. 

I remember the first time my dog got zapped by an electric fence.  This was many years ago.  When that happened the poor creature cried out and jumped at the same time.  When he landed his legs were already churning and his tail was tucked between his hind legs so far it was pointing in the direction of flight.

That's kinda how it was with this squirrel only the tail wouldn't point in the direction of flight.  But the little guy was move'n out.  The squirrel ran toward the pond, didn't take the bridge and didn't slow down when it got to the water.  A mighty leap toward the other side.  A splash.  It didn't make it.  A short, frantic swim.  It was out.  It's tail no longer fluffy, just wet and clingy.  The last I saw of the scared squirrel was it haul'n his little behind in a northerly direction.

Wow!  That was funny and I didn't even lose any blood in the encounter.

Algae Lives for July and August

The summer heat is upon us like it was July or August.  I remember one 110 degree plus day in Las Vegas when I was riding with my nephew in his beat-up 'ol station wagon.  His AC didn't work... in fact there were a lot of things in that car that didn't work.  Anyway, it was hot and there was no AC and I said to my nephew, "How can you stand driving around in this heat without AC?"  His reply, "Uncle Jimmy, it can only get so hot and then that's all it is... just hot.  It doesn't make any difference if it's 105 or 115 it's just HOT.  So I don't worry about it." 

So I guess it's just HOT here in river city.  I worried about it a few years but nothing changed so I don't worry about it.  That's how it is around her in July and August.

The heat and sun (they do go together don't they) have warmed the pond to the point were the algae has turned the water a dark color.  In addition, the string algae is growing like weeds.  We see this every year for about 6 or 8 weeks,some years worse than others, and then it starts to cool and the days get a bit shorter.  Then the water starts to clear until next July/August.

I guess the water isn't good enough to keep the Woody's around.  I reported they were here 3 nights in a row and then appeared to have left.  I was wrong.  They were back a couple of times but didn't stay long.  I would hear them sing a short song and then all was quiet.

I had hopes for another batch of toadlets but I realize that is probably not going to happen.  It's just too late in the year to start a toad family.  So I'll hold out for the off chance that Joe will bless us with an August return.

In the meantime I'm taking it slow and venturing out only when the temperature is below about 95... unless my wife makes me go outside for something.

We're UP ~ We're Down ~ Woody's Gone

The Woody's were here long enough to give me hope and get me out of the funk of losing all the toadlet's.  They stayed around for 3 nights.  There were at least two of them sing'n their tunes but we never saw them.  The pond has been silent the last couple of nights so I think they have moved on.  It is late in the season to be making toadpoles.

Still no sign of Joe.  To alleviate some of the sudden withdrawal from seeing Joe every day, on Wednesday,  Ginger and I, lead by our Granddaughter, headed out to the Botanical Gardens.  They have a really nice pond with lots of fish, lilly pads, anacharis grass and bull frogs.  They even have a turtle.  The turtle was pretty shy and took a dive when we arrived and never exposed itself enough for us to identify it.

The bullfrogs were different looking than Joe.  Joe was darker and the pattern on Joe's skin was not as pronounced as the frogs we observed on Wednesday.  They were of good size but not as big as Joe.  I first thought they might be green frogs but I'm now pretty sure they were bullfrogs.  I regret I didn't take my camera.  I did consider grab'n one and bringing it home with me but fought that urge.  Didn't want to go to jail for frog-napping.

In Joe's absence the birds are having a grand time playing in the waterfalls and hang'n next to the water.  The daytime temperatures are nearing 100 now and I think the birds like the refreshment of taking a quick bath.

The Humming Birds have been visiting the sweet water more often.  In years past that usually happens when they prepare to migrate south for the winter.  We have also noted that some of our plants are getting tinges of fall colors.  All this is too early we think so have to assume it will be an early winter.  It certainly has been a wet spring and summer.

That's what's going on in pondville.  Nothing exciting... sometimes things just go like that.

Fake Rock ~ Moving Along

I know all you Frog Blog Readers are on pins and needles waiting to hear the latest on the Fake Rock Camouflage Exercise. Here is the latest.

Saturday morning I mixed more mortar and started slapping it to the lathe. You know, the more I do this the easier it gets. There is a knack to putting down the mortar.  It seems you "throw" the "mud" versus placing it and it goes along much easier.

Anyway, I put down the mortar, pressed more rocks into it and then the small gravel into that and stepped away from the platform.

I still have to hide the edges of the platform. Then find some appropriate rocks to place around the platform to, hopefully, blend in with the fake rock. Once complete it will only appear to be a fake rock if you look at it.

Can anyone define a "chunkini?"

Did You Hear That?

I'm excited! Last night about 10 I was shutting down the 'ol 'puter when I heard the call of the Woodhouse's Toad. I couldn't believe my ears. I had to open the window and wait for another call just to confirm. Yessiree, that was a Woody.

Maybe... just maybe they will get together and create Batch IV. No guarantees of course but at least half of the equation was calling out last night.

So this morning I gathered my string algae rake and cleaned the pond as best I could. Not taking a chance on using algae eradication chemicals. I'll rely on the old fashioned methods until we know if the Woody's are here to procreate.

Yesterday we also had what my grandfather would have called a "Toad Strangler" rain. The picture is of the detention area next to my house and the road beyond. The water is muddy because they are developing a new neighborhood up the hill from my place.

As you can see it was coming down pretty good. Then about 4 hours later I heard the Woody. Do you think the rain chased it out of it's home? I don't hear them in the detention area at night.

What ever the reason the Woodhouse's Toad was sing'n it's song last night. You can bet I'll be listening tonight.

There is hope!

Fake Rock - Slow Progress

I guess this rock thing isn't that high on my priority list. Just because I have to kneel on my knees, work one handed, sweat streaming into my eyes and those damned gnats crawling on my face and in ears. Drives me crazy!

I did, however, get started with the mortar. I mixed some up Friday morning and started to apply it to the lathe. Squish it into the lathe, build up the thickness of the mortar, lay rocks on top and squish them in to the mortar. Then, in an effort to be thorough I add some small gravel. Small being about a quarter inch.  My hope is to cover the areas between the rocks.

I haven't finished with the mortar and rocks. I only did about half and then quit because I ran out of mortar (mixed mortar that is) and was sweat'n like I had been working.

It looks good now but the test will be when I tilt the base up so I can access the mechanics.  That's when my work demonstrated it's flaws last time around.  If you recall, most of the mortar and rock slid onto the ground.

Saturday will be a new day and I hope to finish this portion of the project.

Fake Rock ~ No Progress

On Wednesday before discovering the demise of all the toadlets I reattached the particle board with fake rock and lathe to it's designated position. Not earth shaking news.

I had planned to mix-up some mortar and get that going but was interrupted by being called to take the granddaughter to her tennis lesson. That was interesting as this was her last lesson and my first time to see the goings on. They had a good time especially when they substituted water balloons for tennis balls.

By the time we got home it was too hot to work on the fake rock so I gave that up until Thursday. Heck, why do today what you can put off till tomorrow?

So Thursday came. I didn't do anything with the pond or fake rock. I think I'm a little down because of the toadlet fiasco. Guess I'll go drown my sorrows in diet Pepsi... it must be Pepsi time somewhere.

The weather is HOT now and if I don't get going early enough in the morning I'm just not going to get going. When it's this hot I don't do much after about 10 or 10:30.

Maybe tomorrow I'll get going on the fake rock. One smart SOB once said: "Why do today what you can put off till tomorrow!"

The Toadlet Season is Over!

All the toadlets in the pond are dead!

On Monday afternoon I noticed that I didn't see any toadlets, toadpoles, polliwogs... none of the batch II or III Woodhouse's Toads hatchling.  As noted in my July 2nd post I haven't see any batch I toadlets either.

On Wednesday afternoon my granddaughter and I started searching in earnest for any toadlet.  We found one laying on some string algae.  Confirmed it was a toadlet and was dead by netting the poor creature.

We then moved our search to the skimmer pond.  Just a few days ago there were many hundreds of the little guys scarfing the algae from the walls of the pond.  I took the net and started to stir the water in the pond.  Soon a few little toadlet bodies were brought to the surface by the current.  I netted a dozen or so.  All dead.

Later my granddaughter saw a couple of the batch I toadlets in the Bio-falls.  These were also dead.  I took one out to get a picture. 

The batch I guys were pretty big.  I would estimate a little over 1 inch in length.  As you can see in the pictures their legs (gams) were quite developed.  I was surprised their tails were still so long. 

We only found 4 of the batch I toadlets so I would like to think these might be late bloomers, so to speak, and their sibling have actually moved out of the pond. 

Besides the dead toadlets we also noted a number of dead snails.

We don't know what caused this pond catastrophe.  In our discussions we talked about the possibility of the pond oxygen being depleted but we don't know what would cause that to happen.  Possibly something to do with water temperature and algae?  We just don't know.

We have considered that possibly something from all the fireworks on the 4th may have settled into the pond.  We don't think that likely but I suppose possible.

We have also thought about someone maybe spraying a tree, bushes or weeds and the poison getting into the pond.  This seems more likely to me. 

We don't know if this somehow ties in with Joe's disappearance.  There is a whole lot we don't know.  But Joe has been gone for a long time and these toadlets died just a couple of days ago.

Answers to this mystery I don't expect to find.

With feelings of melancholy we close the story on this years toadlets.

Fake Rock ~ Round 2

On Tuesday I removed the particle board base for the fake rock... or is it faux rock?.... I removed the fake rock from the particle board. In fact, I trashed the particle board because I got mad at it.

So I had to cut a new base for the fake rock. Any guesses on what the new base is made of... yep, you guessed it, particle board. Lets just say we're starting off with a clean slate... so to speak.

I drilled holes for the hinge attachment using the old board as a template.  I covered the board with wire lathe which is a metal mesh held onto the base (particle board) with a gazillion screws.  The lathe will hold the mortar.  On top of the lathe I secured the fake rock. 

That's all I did Tuesday. 

More work to do on Wednesday with mortar and rock and screws then I will update this fascinating blog so y'all can just follow along with me.

I just can't believe how exciting this is... can you feel it?

I Ain't Sing'n No Swan Song For Joe... Yet

My daughter, Janine, asked me about importing turtles to my pond.  A fortuitous question as I had looked into just that possibility this past weekend.  I like turtles.  I would like to have them in my pond. 

Years ago, way back in about 1970 I lived in San Jose, California.  In our backyard we had a bunch of ivy growing around the edge of the yard and then a small amount of grass.  The whole thing was maybe 20' X 20'.  One day a small Red Eared Slider showed up in our backyard.  It was small and seemed happy there so we fed it here and there but mostly left it alone.  In the late fall it disappeared and was back in the spring.  The little guy grew rapidly and over the course of a couple of seasons it had more than doubled in size.  Not a lot of bother but fun to have around.  When we moved from there to Colorado he stayed with the back yard.

So I was considering getting one or two of these critters and introducing them to the pond.  I started reading about them.  The only negative thing I found about owning a Red Eared Slider is they tend to wander.  If you don't have a fence to keep them in you can expect them to leave. 

They also need water and they need to be able to get out of the water.  They enjoy basking in the sun.  In the winter they hibernate and will bury themselves in dirt at the bottom of the pond.  In fact, if you don't have dirt you should provide it, possibly by putting clay kitty litter and sand in a plastic tub and submerging it in your pond.  Kinda like a bed.  Goodnight John Boy.  Goodnight Mary Ellen.

They, like bull frogs, breath through their skin during the winter hibernation.  Once the water temperature gets into the middle to low 50's they should not be fed and will start slowing down until they start hibernating.

All this is well and good and I would actually get a few except for the wandering business.  I have no interest in putting up short fencing around my pond.  The pond is too big.  It would look crappy.  It isn't going to happen.

So I was thinking about Joe and the similarities between her and turtles.  Then I remembered that last year, in fact it's less than a year, it was August actually, when Joe showed up in the pond.  Yep, go look at the first blog post, August 14, 2008.  With this in mind and my optimistic outlook, I'm going to keep the door open for Joe to return. 

I've mentioned the Swan Song a few times now so I'll tell you the short version of the story:
The phrase "swan song" is a reference to an ancient belief that the Mute Swan is completely mute during its lifetime until the moment just before it dies, when it sings one beautiful song.

The well-known Orlando Gibbons-Madrigal (The Silver Swan) states the legend thus:

The silver Swan, who living had no Note,
when Death approached, unlocked her silent throat.
Leaning her breast against the reedy shore,
thus sang her first and last, and sang no more:
"Farewell, all joys! O Death, come close mine eyes!
"More Geese than Swans now live, more Fools than Wise."

Fake Rock Ahead 1 to 0

What could be so hard? I just want to cover the 3/4 inch particle board with some rocks. Rocks that will stay when the particle board is tipped 90 degrees

Since the fake rock comes with holes to screw/nail/stake through it was pretty much a no brainer to attach it to the particle board. Attaching the rocks is another matter.

My first try and so far my only try was to mix up some thin-set mortar, slop that on, pile rocks on top and squish them into the mortar. I figured it was going to work pretty good as a bunch of the thin-set actually stuck to the plastic bucket I mixed it in so I though surely it would stick to the particle board. WRONG!

I allowed the thin-set to dry for 2 days and then lifted the cover. The thin-set and rock combination just slid off the board like it was Teflon. Maybe I should have used the yucky pucky as I originally planned.

Not to be undaunted I will go to the store and purchase some wire lathe. I'll attach that to the particle board and then apply thin-set or maybe just regular mortar, pile on the rocks and see what happens. I ain't scared!

For an exciting outing on the 4th of July Ginger and I stopped by the rock yard. It was closed but we walked around the place. We saw some huge granite boulders that would look wonderful in our yard but you would need a crane, a front loader and 6 burley guys to move something like that. But we did have a grand time just seeing the various rocks. Man oh man, it was a great day.

If anyone has and suggestions on camouflaging the fake rock please post them in the comments section.

Should We Sing the Swan Song for Joe?

Thursday last, about 10 AM, marked 1 week that Joe has been missing.  I've searched the ponds for submerged bodies... nothing.  I checked the skimmer... just some leaves and some alien looking insects.  I've walked the backyard from low to high... nothing.  I even laid down on the bridge, schooched myself over the edge so I could see under and saw nothing.  That could have been because when I got my head up-side-down my glasses fell off... had to fish them out of the pond.  No sign of our heroine.  I guess I might as well step up to the obvious.

I'm backing away from the supernatural.  Pushing back from the devil worshipers.  Embracing the tried and true ways of Mother Nature. 

Maybe the dead bird was really a piece of mulch blown against the fence.   The toadlets lifeless bodies floating toward the skimmer were probably casualties of the pump/pipe/waterfall ride.  The first batch of toadpoles probably did get their land legs and move on.  And Joe... well, Joe was so fat she couldn't hop more than a foot or so.  She was a glutton. She preyed on those cute little poop machines we call sparrows and finches which didn't endear her to many be they human animals or regular animals (I think that's the technical term). 

So Joe is gone.  Maybe she is dead.  Maybe a victim of a B-52 fly-by (still dead if this is the case).  Maybe called by Mother Nature to fulfill her calling and become a mother and, to that end, living with some rich bullfrog in the storm drain. We will never know.  We just know she is gone.  It was very interesting... very.

Who will now rise above normalcy?  What typical creature will become atypical?  Will another unique creature fill the void and become the next hero/heroine of my backyard?  Will we have to rename Joe's Pond and Joe's Station?

Hey, Mama N. bring 'em on!

4th of July

Happy 4th of July

Please remember why we celebrate the 4th of July.
Information about the United States Flag.

More Disappearances From the Pond

• Anomaly is defined as:  Deviation or departure from the normal or common order, form, or rule.
• Omen is defined as: A phenomenon supposed to portend good or evil; a prophetic sign.

I actually do have a friend.  Well, actually I have a number of friends.  The friend I'm writing about is who I call "Over the Hill Teri."  It isn't that she is superannuated, it's that she lives over the hill from me.  Anyway, Over the Hill Teri emailed me and asked when I was going to post some pictures of the toadlets gams.  I thought for a long time about some smarty-pants response.  At the end of this "long time" I gave it up and went in search of toadlets with gams.

The short story goes like this: Do you see a picture of toadlets with gams? 

The longer story is: I grabbed my camera and net and set about the hunt.  Remembering how easy they were to spook when I tried to catch one just 10 days ago I was careful to approach the pond so no shadows would darken their path.

I closed in on the pond via the Mulberry Tree.  Peeking around the edge of the tree, ignoring the mosquitoes that love my body, I searched for the dark shapes resting on rocks.  Hmmmm, just little toadlets from Batch II or III.  So with the utmost care I moved toward the skimmer pond.  Nothing but more of the Batch III or II guys.

I gave up on the stealth and just started looking for a good sized toadlet.

There are no Batch I toadlets in the pond!

Having been recently spooked just by rehashing old bejesus sucking movies like The Exorcist and Omen and considering the events leading to these revelations, I now add the disappearance of the Batch I toadlets!

So is this an Anomaly?  Is this an Omen?  Did you bring your dog inside to sleep in your bedroom last night?  I know, I know... you probably think these little creatures actually grew legs, developed lungs, and began their trek for a better life... a natural thing you might say. 

Maybe your right but it seems pretty odd to this 'Ol Blogger.  A disappearing dead bird.  Joe disappears.  Toadlets dead and on their way to the skimmer.  Now, not just one or two toadlets disappear... the whole batch is gone! 

 I'm sorry Over the Hill Teri.  I couldn't find any toadlets with gams.  I'll watch closely with Batch II/III to end the speculation about what is going on in my backyard be it Omen (the evil kind) or Anomaly or none of that nonsense.... unless whatever it is takes me too...

Did I tell you I was going to name my dog Whoohoo?  Of course...

Can You Find the Fake Rock?

The cloud of doom and melancholy continues to shade the frog-less pond.  Still no clues to Joe's current status.  Be she frolicking in a new pond with tastier birds or flattened on the highway we will never know.  My optimism is just about depleted.  I find myself looking every time I pass the window.... looking for Joe.  The effort is for naught.  But... maybe, just maybe, tomorrow she will find her way back home.  I haven't given up completely... yet.

Not missing Joe in the least are the birds.  They are bathing and fluttering in the waterfalls.  They love their new birdseed and have invited their friends and neighbors over for breakfast.  I've started spreading the seed around the yard.  I put some on different rocks and on the patio.  The birds don't disappoint and spread out to eat it all.  It's still a circus with high flying acts, clowns, gymnastic stunts and just good overall entertainment.

On a positive not there were not sightings of lifeless toadlets on their way to the skimmer or any deceased birds.  No rottweilers or little boys in suits either... whew.

In an effort to move along without Joe in my life I've taken on another pond project.  I've decided that I need to cover or camouflage some of the mechanical stuff by the skimmer.  The challenge here is I need access to this area but I don't want to see it.

To this end I decided to cover it with a plywood board and a fake rock.  Currently it's not very camouflaged me thinks.  On the other hand I have more to do.

I plan to paint the exposed plywood black.  Use some of the Yucky Pucky that I used to build the new waterfalls to attach some gravel to the plywood.  Then I'll add some rocks around the plywood base to breakup the outline.

I think that it will work out OK.

I've attached the plywood with a couple of hinges to a 6X6 pressure treated post.  It is secured to the ground with 3 foot re-bar.  It seems very secure and I don't think it is going to blow away.

It seems like it would be a good place to hide a stash of something.  I laugh because at my age I don't have a stash and I don't have anything that needs hiding.  Maybe when I win the lottery...

An Omen?

Back in 1973 a movie came out that scared the bejesus out of me... The Exorcist.  I went with a friend to see the show and that night, when I went to bed, I heard sounds in the attic and the basement.  Every time the house creaked I freaked.  I knew it was silly to be scared... geez, it was only a movie.  I wanted my friend by my side but that wasn't happening.  The damn (pun intended) movie wasn't real for crying out loud.  So I went outside and got my dog and made him sleep in my bedroom.  That helped.

Then, in 1976, the first of the Omen series had it's debut.  Yep, all the accumulated bejesus, 3 years of it, was again scared out of me.  Since seeing this show I've avoided rottweilers and young boys in suits.    I've avoided them like the plague.

The Poltergeist series were not so bad but I think I'm more of an E.T. kinda guy.  I did enjoy John Denver and George Burns in Oh, God.  George Burns was much nicer than the unseen devil that was invading Regan (played by Linda Blair) in the Exorcist.

But I didn't bring all this up just so everyone would know what a scaredy-cat I was and that I had lost all my bejesus twice over movies.  I brought this up because I'm starting to see a trend in my back yard.  Maybe it's an OMEN.  As you now know OMEN's are very scary.

I didn't write about it but last week Ginger found a dead bird next to the fence in the back yard.  She told me about it and a few hours later I went out to "dispose" of the creature lest my granddaughter find it.  Not that she would be shocked or anything like that... it's just that if she found it we would have to have another funeral and burial.  I searched for the bird but it was gone.  Ginger came out and searched.  It was still gone.

Then Joe disappeared last Thursday.  She hasn't been seen for 6 days now. 

Then just yesterday on two different occasions a dead toadlet was seen floating slowly toward the skimmer.  It's easy to assume the toadlets were killed taking their joy ride through the pump impeller followed by the water pipe and the big finale of the waterfalls.  I made just that assumption when I first saw the deceased toadlets.

But now that I consider all the events together I may have stumbled on a demonic plot.  Maybe my dopey neighbors are conjuring up spirits.  Maybe my house was built on a long abandoned Boot Hill or Indian Burial Ground.

Whatever the case, that bird was dead and then vanished.  Joe hasn't been seen lately.  Dead toadlets have been observed floating in the pond.  Even the rescued toad has not been seen for 3 days!

Go ahead and laugh.  When you go to bed tonight take a moment and listen.  Do you hear that?  I think it's coming from the attic?  What the hell is that?  I hope you have a dog...

Joe is MIA AGAIN!!!

On Thursday morning Joe was sunning herself in the Bridge Pond. I took that opportunity to introduce Joe to the lady who cleans our house. I don't think either one of them were impressed.

It must have pissed Joe off that I was bringing a strange woman around because I haven't seen Joe since then.

Of course she has done this in the past...Joe, not the cleaning woman... just a few weeks ago was the last time. I'm still holding out that she will return but as more and more time passes more and more of my optimism leaks out of my belly button leaving what looks like a snail trail. Not pretty... not pretty at all.

In the mean time I did capture a Batch I toadpole and inspected it's rear for legs. Yep, they be grow'n. Probably about 1/8th of an inch now. Still looks like a thin straight tube growing from right next to the tail. No sign of feet yet... or knees for that matter. These little guys have become very paranoid in their old age.. what, maybe 6, 7 weeks? They are getting hard to catch.

We also started using the "NEW" and cheaper bird seed this morning. The birdies seemed to love it. I hope it stays that way as it's cheaper than what we were using.

That's the news direct from my backyard.

Nice Gams Woodlet!

Woodhouse Toadlet Update:
The oldest toadpoles or pollywog's or toadlets or, my new term, woodlets are developing legs.  I caught a few this afternoon and, upon close inspection, find there are little nubs sticking out from each side of their tails.  I believe these to be future legs.

Toadlet batches II and III have moved to every pond.  There are literally thousands of them.  Easily 2000 but probably 3 to 4 thousand.  You can't tell any difference between the batches as they are all pretty much the same size. Two days doesn't make much difference after a week or so.

I was looking at the Bio Container at the top of the ponds.  This is where the first waterfall originates.  The little Woodlets were popping up from their thrill ride through the pump and water pipe so they can take the plunge over the falls.  I was seeing probably two dozen every minute appear and then almost immediately take the waterfall ride.  There were a few that had found safe refuge in the mesh bags of rocks kept in the Bio Container to help grow beneficial bacteria.

Rescued Toad Still Here:
That male toad that I rescued from the skimmer on Wednesday of last week is still hanging around. He has remained in his burrow most of the time. Yesterday he was sleeping on his right side. That looked odd. Usually he has his legs folded up next to his body, his fore legs or arms (if you will) are also tucked in close.

Every now and then he disappears but always has found his way back to the burrow sooner or later.

There has been no sight or sound of any of the other Woodhouse's Toads.

Joe Update:
Joe must have found a new safe haven.  I'm pretty sure she still hangs out under the bridge but no one can find her when she goes under there.  We have looked high and low but her safe haven is safe from our prying eyes. 

This afternoon she was out sunning herself in the Bridge Pond.  She pulls up to the edge of the pond with her back to the sun and just sits there.  I took a pretty good look at her and she is fat.  Compared to what she looked like when she arrived this spring she is immense.  Sorry no picture.

I'm think'n Joe has a pretty sweet life in my pond. 

Summer Solstice & Fathers Day

Summer Solstice & Fathers Day on the same day. The solstice is celebrated all over the place. In many circles it is considered a "pagan" holiday. I don't know about that but for the folks living at the greater longitude like Alaska and Siberia and points north will experience very long days and short nights. Now the days will begin to get shorter until we reach the winter solstice in December. This 'ol world just keeps rock'n along.

I've decided the best thing that a father can get for Fathers Day is a hug or an "I love you," or both from any of his kids or grand kids. Don't need that new tool or BBQ or computer game. Just a hug. Just an "I love you." What could be better than that?

Not a lot of news in the frog, toad or pond arena. Joe was hunting this morning and did get breakfast. I have slowed my reporting of her hunting successes as it can get redundant. She has perfected her hunting style and pretty much does the same thing. It's when she misses that it gets interesting and sometimes comical.

The drama is still there but your ever so humble author isn't talented enough to relate that drama to this blog.

So happy Fathers Day to all you Dad's out there. I hope you get your love hug. May the sun shine on you and warm your spirit.

New Pump Working ~ Joe on Vacation?

My pond guy said I would have the new pump on Friday. He was correct. I just love it when things go like you planned.  Thank you Lilly Pad ~

Friday morning I gave the skimmer pond the last once-over to remove what remained of the black stinky goo that had settled on the bottom over the past couple of years. Nasty job.  I'm still Thor.  After removing my bucket and tools I opened the 3/4 inch filler pipe and let the water run. It took almost 4 hours to fill the pond.

The picture on the left is the deepest part of the skimmer pond. To the right of the bucket is the 10,000 GPH pump and plumbing. To clean it I shoveled out most of the rocks and underlying crud. Then I added water until the pump was submerged and ran the pump. Add water (that stirred up the crud I couldn't shovel) and run the pump. Repeat as required.

Once the shoveling and hauling and water pumping was complete it was just a matter of filling the pond, installing the new pump in the skimmer and watching the water flow again.

One interesting event happened while I was cleaning in the Skimmer Pond. Mama Mallard and Daddy Duck were coming in for a landing while I was cleaning the deep end of the pond.  I stood up. I guess it scared them because I heard all the flapping and looked up to see them aborting the landing and heading out at top speed. Kinda funny.

The new pump, like the old pump, sits on the bottom of the skimmer. Here is a picture of the skimmer with everything removed. The pump connects to the white PVC pipe. Just above that is the 3/4 inch filler pipe and that little black thing on the lower left is the overflow. At the top of the picture is the hole where the water enters the skimmer. Not shown is the skimmer basket and filter mat.

Probably a bit too much info here.

The toadpoles didn't mind the pump being out of commission and took advantage to rest on rocks and soak up the warm rays. 

It was probably a rude awakening for them when the water started to flow as some immediately got washed over the falls at Joe's Station and became the first inhabitants of the Skimmer Pond in it's new pristine condition. Of course the pristine conditions lasted about 3 minutes as the "seasoned" water flowed into the pond.

In the meantime I've lost Joe. Well, I didn't lose her it's just that I can't find her. The last I saw of her she was under the bridge recuperating from her ordeal of being trapped in the Skimmer Pond. I couldn't find her on Thursday afternoon and she was not to be seen at all on Friday. Maybe she went to visit a cousin or uncle in Schenectady.

I'm having flash-backs of last year when I drained the Bridge Pond and Joe was gone until this spring. Hopefully she will hear the sounds of the waterfalls and return home.

The pictures to the left are the oldest toadpoles. These guys are now about 1/2 inch wide and 1 1/2 inches long. Considering they were only about 1/8th of an inch long a month ago speaks well of them doing their current job... growing.

Joe Update: When I went out Saturday morning to feed the birds I looked high and low for Joe.  Nothing.  Then, as I sat at my station having my morning java fix, these two eyes appear at Humpty Dumpty Falls.  IT'S JOE!  Whew, I'm glad she is back... I wonder where she was. Our gain and Schenectady's loss.... of course the birds don't see it that way.

Joe Trapped ~ Pond Leak ~ I am THOR

Before I tell you about Thursday there is something I wanted to share that I saw Wednesday and forgot to put in the previous post.  A black bird showed up and had something in it's mouth.  I put the binoculars on him and saw he was carrying around a dragon fly.   Apparently he was having a problem eating it so was doing what I consider either odd or possibly ingenious.  The black bird was dipping the dragon fly in the water (do you think they learn this from watching hot dog eating contests?).  The bird hopped down to the water, dipped the dragon fly and then tried to get in into it's mouth.  Back to the water, try to eat, back to the water....  It finally flew away with it's prize firmly in beak.

Thursday:
As you know from my previous post the 7500 GPH pond pump died.  I fired up the 10,000 GPH pump to keep most of the water moving while awaiting the delivery of the replacement pump scheduled for Friday AM.

When I got up Thursday morning I found the skimmer pond had lost more than half of it's water!  That's around 1000 gallons of water.  HOLY MOLY!!!  Of course I turned the pump off and easily found a trail of water leading from the far side of the bridge.

My theory is the 10,000 GPH pump raises the water level in the bridge pond about 2 or 3 inches higher than when the 7500 GPH pump is in service.  This increase in water level reached someplace that either has a hole or the liner has slipped down below this "new" water level.  I'm not going to get excited about finding and fixing it right now but will put it on my "to do" list.

I also found our heroine Joe trapped in the skimmer pond. With the water level so low she couldn't crawl out. I took my hoe and gently slid it under her and she just sat on it while I played elevator and moved her to the rim of the pond and she slowly moved into her pond. It was almost like she expected me to rescue her.  Later that morning she was resting under the bridge no doubt a little put our with me for scaring all the birds away.  WOW, two rescues in two days.

The Woody that was rescued Wednesday is still in it's burrow.

Since the skimmer pond was now close to empty I decided this was a prefect time to clean it.  Well, actually not perfect but an opportune time since I had lost so much water.  The down side to doing this now was the toadpoles living in the skimmer pond.  I didn't want to wash them away.

I finished draining the skimmer pond and in the 6 inch deep puddle that was left were about 75 toadpoles.  I got a bucket and started catching them.  I caught most before I moved ahead with the cleaning. 

The pond was in need of cleaning... really needy.  It stunk down there.  There were inches of black muck that had built up over time and lots of rock, my screwdriver.. a bit rusty now, the remains of the original waterfall that fell off two winters ago and some of the dead mats of string algae. 

So I got the hose and buckets and shovels and rakes and hoes and jumped in.  I squirted and shoveled muck into the buckets.  Hauled it away.  Shoveled rocks into buckets.  Hauled it away.  I squirted some more and pumped out the crud.  I worked at this for about 6 or 7 hours.  I finally quit as the pond was looking pretty good and I was tired and Thor.

Yes, Thor was the intended word.  Back when frogs had tails and ruled the world, Thor, the God of Thunder, went to a party.  At the party Thor got hooked up with Venus, the Goddess of Beauty and Love and Fertility.  They danced and drank and had a great time at the party.  About 2 o'clock in the morning they left the party headed for Thor's pad.  Once there one thing lead to another and they wound up making mad passionate love until the sun had risen.  Thor gets out of bed and as he passes a mirror he looks at his muscular body. He flexes his muscles and admires his physique.  Consumed with narcissism he roars, "I AM THOR!"  This of course gets Venuses attention and she peak out from under the covers.  She says, "Your Thor, I can hardly walk!"  

That's what I meant when I said I was tired and Thor... what she said.

Trapped Woody Freed ~ Pump Dead

Wednesday my 7500 GPH pump died.  No fanfare or noise.  It just quit.  The motor wouldn't turn... probably a bearing froze up.  In my mind I keep hearing "Bones" from Star Trek fame saying, "She's dead Jim... she's dead."  OK, maybe your aren't a S.T. fan... how about this:  Did you hear about the woman who backed into an airplane propeller?  Disaster...  Queue the drum roll.  Moving right along... no more groaners.

This could have been a disaster but it turns out to be good news in more ways than one.  The first good news is the pump is under warranty and will cost me nothing (they are expensive too) but time to replace.  Since I have plenty of time I consider this good news.  February 9, 2009 was the installation date. Can you believe it?  That was only 4 months ago!  The replacement pump has to ship from Denver so I won't have normal water flow until Friday.

In the meantime I'm using my 10,000 GPH pump that sits at the bottom of the skimmer pond to circulate water from the skimmer pond to the bridge pond.  This is not ideal but a lot better than letting the pond water sit stagnant.  The bio-falls and no-name pond have no circulation since they are above the bridge pond.

More good news.  When the water suddenly quit flowing Wednesday afternoon I had to get into the strainer to remove the pump.  After removing the strainer I discovered one of the male Woody's trapped.  He was holding onto a PVC pipe and looked pretty spent.  No telling how long he had been in there.  I surmise he got trapped in the strainer and crawled up the side in a effort to get out.  He then fell behind the strainer, winding up trapped with no chance of escape.  If the pump had not died I probably would not have found him in time for him to recover from his entrapment.  I guess the Toad Gods were look'n out for this guy.

I picked him up and placed him in the skimmer pond and proceeded to remove the pump from the bottom of the skimmer.  After testing the pump and assuring myself there was nothing that I could do to save it I went to cleanup my mess at the strainer.  That Woody was back in there again!  Maybe it's the dark hole that attracts him...  Anyway I removed him again and we kept an eye on him until it looked like he was going to crawl out of the pond.  We left for the pond store to get the replacement pump ordered.

After returning from the pond store Ginger looked around for the Woody.  She found him in the burrow as pictured in this post.  Hopefully he will recover and move on to where the others have gone.

I'm a happy camper for saving the Woody from certain death.  I'm happy I'll get a new pump at no charge.  I'm also laughing about the lady who backed into an airplane propeller.  I haven't thought about that story for many years.  Humm, maybe I should share some of my "Little Johnny" jokes....

Toadpoles Batch III Hatched

What hopefully is the last batch of toadppoles has hatched.  Just before adding this post to the blog I checked on them and about half are free swimming.  The rest will be out and about within a few hours. 

After hatching they don't really do much.  Swim a little but mostly stick to the rocks.  I was reading about toadpoles just this morning and the article said their mouths don't open right away.  For a day or two after hatching they sustained by their "yoke sac" and once their mouths open they will start to eat algae.  Apparently they have a special "tooth" that is used to scrape algae from stones. 

One thing in the favor of those born in batch II and III are their size.  Being small they will be able to get to algae that their older cousins can't access.  That may be their saving grace as there are a lot of mouths to feed and only the pond to provide the food.

I received the following comment/question in the previous post:  How many tadpoles do you estimate there to be from the first batch? What percent actually have made it so far? Answering this question reminds me of the huge jar of jellybeans and you have to guess how many there are.  My estimate of survivors from batch I would be about 150 to 250.  They are spread out over all the ponds and some days they seem to be appreciating the sun and others they must be hiding so it's hard to guesstimate.  The number that hatched from the eggs has to be over 1000... maybe over 1500.  I've read that Mama Toad will lay in excess of 3000 eggs but I don't think I saw that many.

While checking the new toadpoles I spotted a bird I haven't seen in our yard before.  A Downy Woodpecker was eating seeds from the sunflowers.  A petite looking bird with nice black and white colors and she(?) did in fact look downy or some might say fluffy.

Joe didn't make an appearance this morning until well after sunrise.  I had errands to run so wasn't home to observe what was going on in the pond.   She did score a meal Tuesday morning so I wouldn't be surprised if she just wasn't that hungry.   When I got home Joe was once again cooling her heels under the bridge which is her safe haven.   At least I think that was Joe... it's kinda dark under there.

Still no sightings or sounds of the (adult) Woodhouse's Toads.

Toadpoles Hatched ~ Ma & Pa Woody's Missing

Yesterday, Monday June 15, 2009: It's official, the second batch of Woodhouse's Toad eggs has hatched.  As of the afternoon they are free swimming and able to move about the pond.  Compared to their month old cousins they are tiny. 

So 2 batches hatched and 1 batch to go.  The third batch should be along about Wednesday or Thursday.

Again Monday night the pond was quiet.  No Woody's singing their off key songs.  No more wooing and courting the Big Mama Toad.  It is probably a good thing they aren't laying more eggs in the pond.  While interesting to watch I doubt if the pond can support all the toadpoles, current and pre-hatched.

I've watched closely for signs of predation by Joe and the older toadpoles.  I've seen nothing that would indicate that is happening.... so far.  I see the toadpoles swimming around Joe like she was a magnet to them.  Joe of aloof and pays them no mind.  I see the older toadpoles resting, the small newly hatched swimming around them and like Joe they ignore them.

The picture to the right is the third batch of future toadpoles.  The eggs are still round but will become oblong as they mature.  Once they hatch everything disappears except, hopefully, the new toadlets.

Humming Bird ~ Bath or Breakfast

It's a beautiful morning.  The temperature is almost 60, the sky is mostly clear, a slight breeze from the southwest.  The coffee smells good and the birds are sing'n.  I've already filled the bird feeder.  I said good morning to Joe who is scouting the flat stones for breakfast from her station.  I'm at my station having some coffee.

I notice a humming bird flying close to Joe's station.  I've never seen a hummer approach any portion of the pond in the past so I'm curious as to what this little guy is up to.  The hummer comes close to the waterfall and then zooms away only to return a few minutes later.  Once again the hummer comes close to the waterfall and once again zooms away.  Joe turns toward the place the hummer was hovering.

A few minutes later the hummer returns.  This time the hummer lands in the water just about 4 or 5 inches from the edge of the waterfall.  It's taking a bath!  WOW!  I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the hummer likes to bathe like the other birds, but I've never seen it actually happen before.

This little guy is having a good time and fluttering away making the water fly.  This, of course, has put Joe on high alert and she is slowly approaching the hummer.  It wouldn't be much of a meal for Joe as the hummer is about a 100th the size of Joe... not even close to Joe's usual meal be it finch or sparrow.

The hummer continues to bathe and Joe is about a foot away.  POW! Joe springs from the water with her mouth wide-open.  Now airborne, Joe is committed.  The hummer zooms back and to the right.  Man oh man those hummers are fast.  Joe misses by feet and is still flying through the air as the hummer vanishes in the distance.  Joe flies over the edge of the falls never touching the water or stone.  SPLASH... ripples in the skimmer pond radiate out from the landing zone.  It was a belly flop.  If this were the frog Olympics I would have given her 2 points... only because of the size of the splash.

Joe crawled out of the skimmer pond and was back on station within a few minutes.  She's no quitter... of course she doesn't have much choice but to keep hunting or starve.

Toadlet's, Batch II are Hatching

I don't know if "hatching" is the correct terminology for toadlet's emerging from the strings of toad eggs.  I'm thinking that if they are eggs and if toadlet's come out of them they had to hatch.  In any case, I was looking at some of the eggs that were laid on June 10... that was my post about "8 legged toads".  The eggs have changed from round "beads" on a string to small oblong shapes and still attached to the string.  I noted that some of the "eggs" are moving and I'm sure I could detect a tail wiggling.  If you recall the first batch of eggs took 5 days from when they were laid until the toadlets were free swimming.  I expect to see a plethora of toadlets on Monday and will consider the toadlets "hatched" when they can swim free.

I was looking around the Internet and reading about toads.  I found a new term for toadlets that I thought was pretty neat... toadpoles.  I like it.  It belongs to Robyn who hosts http://www.fishpondinfo.com/.  So thank you Robyn... cool name.

I've been researching what may happen to all the toadpoles that are here and on the way.  I've read conflicting things about toadpoles eating each other.  Some articles indicate the toadlets will eat only algae and detris.  Other articles say they will eat their brothers and sisters.  Yet other articles say they will die if there are too many in the pond because they will run out of algae.  So many conflicting stories...

I must say these little algae eaters have made a difference in my pond by reducing the algae.  They don't seem to like the string algae very well but even that has been reduced significantly.  I don't know if all this can be attributed to the toadpoles but there is no doubt in my mind that the pond is nicer looking since they hatched.

The last two nights have been silent.  None of the Woody's have screeched and once again I'm tempted to tell you they have left.  I don't think I'll go on record as saying they have left the pond but I will listen for them and report back what I hear or don't hear.

Prolific Woody's are Make'n More Toadlets!!!

Prolific is the word that comes to mind when I think about the Woodhouse's Toads.  It took most of the day but we now have more egg strings along the edge of the pond.  CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?  I have to assume this isn't the same female that was laying eggs just 2 days ago.... I can't imagine. 

There were 2 male Woody's that were "sing'n" all night long and past sunrise.  This morning I discovered them along with the female.  Of course it was odd toad out.  This couple laid the eggs about the same place as the first pair way back in May.

I was wondering about the consequences of this population explosion when the second batch of eggs hatched and now we have a third batch. Still have no idea how this will resolve itself as the toadlets grow.

New subject.  Joe was up early and on station when the sun came up.  She apparently didn't eat on Thursday so was attentive to the birds this morning.  She did eventually ambush one and retired for the rest of the day.  This was after a failed attempt where she sprung out of the water onto the flat stones, missing her target (well, it moved... no fair) and doing a nose dive into the rocks.  OOF!  It's the sudden stop that gets ya.  She's a tough one.  No blood.  She just crawled back into the pond and started to hunt again.

Earlier she was trying to stalk a pair of Who-Who Birdies, it was very amusing to watch.  They caught her attention by drinking in Joe's Pond.  Then they moved to the top of the rocks between the pond and the bird feeder.  Joe ever so slowly crawled up the rocks until the toes on her hind leg just left the water.  She wouldn't go any farther and the birds were far enough away so as not to feel threatened.

Even more news.  The bird seed I buy is called "No Mess" which is pretty expensive... about $1.75/lb.  It is mostly shelled sunflower seeds and millet.  The idea is the birds will eat everything with no waste (like shells) and thus leaving no mess.  It works fairly well but not a great as they lead you to believe.  It is better than the feed with husks and shells and stuff these species don't eat.

I decided to check out a feed store here in town to see if I could find a better deal.  I waited in a short line and when it was my turn the woman at the counter asked what I wanted.  I explained about what I had been using and that I was shopping for a like product hoping to save some money.  She informed me that they had a similar product but I should just go back to the other store as their product was very expensive.  I appreciated the honesty.  I also asked what the cost was.  It turned out the cost was $9.00 cheaper and the bag held 5 additional pounds of seed!  Cost is less than $1.00/lb.  I left with seed and the feeling that the sales lady thought I was nuts to spend so much money just to feed wild birds.

Now to find out if the birds like it.  If they come across seeds in the feeder they don't like they just dump that stuff on the ground as they search for seeds they do like.  That is what makes the mess and the mess draws other creatures besides looking terrible after a while.  Cleanup is tough and more of a job for Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame.

So a busy day.

Snake Sighting II

On Monday last we saw another snake.  This one was by the fence in the backyard and headed to the detention area on the east side of the house.  I got a quick look at it and believe it to be a Coachwhip Snake.

The snake was a light tan color all over except for the belly which was yellow.  It was without noticeable stripes or markings of any kind.  It's scales looked smooth and the tail narrowed to a point.  I would estimate the length at around 30+ inches and the thickness of the body to be, more or less, a 1/2 inch.

My Granddaughter wanted to search for the snake so we all went to the detention area to see what we could see.  She found the snake hiding under some 6 X 6 treated lumber that is used as a short retaining wall between my property and the detention area.  To our surprise also hiding under the lumber was a Woodhouse's Toad.  Snake and toad crammed together to escape the huge 2 legged predators... us.

We were recently at the science museum that we are lucky to have in Grand Junction.  One of the exhibits was a Milk Snake.  It was very pretty but according to the young lady exhibiting the snake it was grumpy as it was about to shed it's skin.

We sure seem to have a diverse cast of characters in our ongoing circus.

Look Gertrude... An 8 Legged Toad.

Now here is something you don't see everyday, an 8 legged toad.  Can you believe this?   Was radiation the cause?  Maybe there is something in the water.  Probably global warming (have to ask Al Gore).  I just can't imagine what could possibly cause the Woodhouse's Toad to have 8 legs.

WAIT!  After close study and consultation with knowledgeable, but not quite ready for "Jeopardy" friends, I may have an answer concerning the multi-legs.  Yep, I think I've got it.  I'll just post the picture.  Please study it closely.  There are indeed 8 legs although you can't see them all in this picture.  I think the thing that gave it away was when I counted the eyes.  Four eyes and not wearing glasses.  It's so obvious... I'm sure y'all have it all figured out now.

OK, moving right along.  While the picture is not one of my best it clearly shows these Woodhouse's Toads creating more toadlets.  As they watch the sun peek around some clouds the two "strings" of eggs are being fertilized as they exit Mama Toad.  You can just sense the excitement this couple is experiencing by looking at the picture.

When I first noticed these lovers I accidentally spooked them and they swam down into the depths of the Bridge Pond.  The smaller toad, the male, must have a good grip as they moved like one creature or maybe it's synchronous swimmers.

About 30 minutes after taking this picture I went out to see what was going on.  They were both submerged but maintaining the same configuration.  There were strings of eggs all over this area of the pond.  I would estimate at least twice as many eggs this time around than when reported the first time here on May 16, 2009.

I try really hard not to count my toadlets before they hatch but the begging question is what is going to happen when all these toadlets grow up?  We're talking about serious over crowding here.  I'll be keeping my eyes open.

I'm curious and if your also curious then just keep read'n this Frog Blog.

Beauty Sleep?

The previous post told the tale about Joe picking up breakfast.  Shortly after scoring food Joe disappeared to her safe haven under the bridge.  She didn't come out for the rest of the day.

On Monday I expected her to be out and about but she wasn't to be seen.  Finally I stuck my head under the bridge and found her lounging around like a rock.  Relieved that that B-52 or Blue Heron hadn't also found a meal.   I left her alone.

Later Monday afternoon I saw Joe had crawled out from the shade of the bridge and was sunning herself.  It would have been a great picture so I went back to the house to get my camera.  As I approached her I switched the camera on and I guess the start-up sounds it makes spooked her as she jumped and fled back under the bridge.  That was the last sighting of Joe on Monday.

This morning Joe was back on station as the sun peeked over the Grand Mesa.  After 2 days of rest and digestion she looked ready to even the "score" to 2-all.

Once again I was at the table reading my novel, drinking coffee and semi-watching Joe and the circus.  I missed the drama but saw the movement of Joe on the flat stone near Joe's Station.  She had caught breakfast.  That was fast I thought. 

Her breakfast must have been pretty small as she remained on station apparently finished with the appetizer and looking for the main course.

Score: 2 to 1 ~ The Birds are Ahead

All we need to complete this circus is a BIG TOP and an elephant or two. 

I got up this morning before the sun, before Joe and even before the birds.  It's a crisp day so I hurried as I filled the bird feeder.  The only sounds I could hear in the gray twilight yard is wind whistling through the trees and the water falls. 

Assuming my position at the dining table armed with a cup of coffee and a Jeffery Deaver novel I semi-read and semi-watch the yard come to life.  I noted that Joe was not on station.  Wondering if she was under the bridge I went out to take a quick look. 

As I stood hunched over trying to see under the bridge, out of the corner of my eye I see two dark things falling from the sky.  I looked up to see Mama Mallard and Daddy Duck coming almost straight down with wings spread.  They plopped with a decent splash into the bridge pond... literally dropping in it seemed.  I retreated to my station, the dining table.

The ducks swam around for a few minutes and then crawled out and inspected the yard.  They wound up at Joe's Station.  The male started a subtle quacking and the female answered.  He would quack a few times.  She would answer.  He would quack.  She answered (are you get'n my drift here?).  Then both took off at the same instant headed south east for points unknown.  It was like Daddy Duck was saying, "Let's get out of here... go over to Johns."  Mama Mallard would answer, "OK with me... you ready?"  He says, "Yep, on the count of three.  One... Two..."  She says, "Three!"  And they're off.

In the mean-time Joe appears at Humpty Dumpty Falls.  As she sits on high looking over Joe's Station she can't help but notice the birds are all over the place except at Humpty Dumpty Falls.  It didn't take long for her to dive off the falls and swim to Joe's Station.  Of course the birds see her eyes pop out of the water and leave.  Undaunted she takes up the watch. 

There were a few enticing approaches by sparrows but no one stayed around long enough for Joe to act (pounce).  Then a Who-Who Birdie (Mourning Dove if you haven't been following the blog) approached.  I watched closely as she neared the water.  I wondered if Joe would give such a big bird a try. 

Joe must have been hungry because she flew out of the water landing on the flat stone, mouth wide, hitting her target... well, kinda.  The bird of course jumped and tried to fly away.  Joe had only caught her by her left wing.  Joe held on and it looked like the bird fell onto it's back.  Then the bird righted itself and pulled Joe across the rock, but only a short distance, before pulling it's wing out of Joe's mouth thus freeing itself from Joe's grasp.  As soon as the bird was free it was out of here.  Joe, slowly and with dignity, crawled back into the pond. WOW... intense.

It wasn't but 15 minutes or so later that a sparrow approached the very same rock.  As the sparrow got close to the water Joe, again, sprang from the water with mouth wide.  The bird was too fast and escaped.  Joe did a belly flop on the flat stone and then bounced a little.  If I had been closer I'm sure I would have heard a "Oof" as well as a "Splat".  Once again Joe, slowly and with dignity, crawled back into the pond.

I watched for a while longer and then gave it up.  An hour or so later I saw Joe, on station, moving around in an unusual manner.  I went out to look at her and sure enough, feathers were sticking out of her mouth.  There were puddles on the flat stones at Joe's Station.  The third time was the charm for Joe. Thus the title of todays post.

Oh the drama. It makes you tired. I can't stop watching.

Yikes!!! It's a B-52

Ginger and I lived in Corpus Christi, Texas prior to moving to Colorado.  We lived on an island where our back door opened to the Intercoastal Waterway.  The place was alive with more wildlife than you can imagine.  From the airborne all the way to the denizens of the deep.  Everything from Curlew Birds and Skimmers, Harvester Ants, Coyotes and Foxes to Dolphins, Sting Rays and Jelly Fish.

One of the more common and interesting birds is the Blue Heron.  One of our neighbors decided he would try to make a pet out of one so he started catching these little fish that were in abundance.  The fish were called, locally, Piggy Perch.  He would catch one and put it in a bucket, catch another and add it to the bucket.  Once he had 8 or 10 he would set the bucket on his patio and go inside the house.  His "pet" heron would go to the bucket and snatch each and every one of those fish.  Then he would retire to the railing of the deck and wait for his next handout.

This ritual went on for weeks until my neighbor came down with the flu.  It hit him hard and he was down for a few days.  During this time the heron had no handouts.  On the second day of "fasting" this heron approached my neighbors window and started pecking at it.  He kept this up until my neighbor hauled his sick body outside and caught a few Piggy Perch for his pet.  Ha, guess you better be careful what you sign-up for.

The point of this story is to introduce you to the Blue Heron.  They are adaptive creatures and are also prevalent here in Colorado.  They fish the streams and lakes.  They also fish the ponds in peoples yards! 

Yesterday morning I was having my coffee while watching the circus in the backyard.  I saw this Blue Heron circling down and then landing on top of the pergola.  As the Heron approached Joe made a hasty retreat.  The Heron surveyed the yard and must not have found anything tempting enough to warrant a longer visit and was flying away after only a half minute or so.

Joe must have great eyesight.  These wild creatures must always be vigilant not only for prey but also predators.  For that Heron Joe would only be a nice hors d'oeuvre.

Not long after moving to Texas we noticed these white streaks down the road.  They were anywhere from 15 feet in length to 30 or 40 feet in length and always about 2-3 feet wide.  One day I approached a neighbor (not the same one who befriended the Heron) and asked him about it.  His reply was a story about him and his wife standing on their deck enjoying the sunset one evening when a Blue Heron happened to fly over their deck. --Let me interject here: As you might expect, if you happened to think about it, a large bird like this that has aquatic creatures for breakfast, lunch and dinner, might also leave a large smelly mess when it relieves itself. This brings us to the B-52 part of the story.--  That is to say, fly over them.  This heron dropped his load or dropped his bomb covering both of them in a white, sticky and very stinky substance.  This is the same substance  that makes the streaks down the roads.  The bomb of course is Heron crap and thus the name... B-52.

Nice to look at and interesting to watch.  This pond owner hopes it finds better things to do than come back to our place for any reason.

Woody's are Back!

I was surprised to hear the Woodhouse's Toads singing their screechy song for the past 2 nights.  While they are certainly welcome I thought they had left because of Joe's arrival.  Guess it ain't so.

I've read the American Bullfrog doesn't get along with others very well and will consume just about anything it can get into it's mouth.  This would include other amphibians as well as birds, mice, insects... you name it.

I can't explain Woody's return.  I hope the toads make more toadlet's.

Speaking of the toadlet's.  I've been watching for them and find that there are actually quite a few still around.  They seem to have become aware of and afraid of shadows.  They dive to the bottom of the pond when they see my shadow.  I find if I approach so my shadow doesn't cross the water I can observe them or I can sit still awhile then I'll see them swimming from here to there.  Cool.  Makes this Toad Daddy rest easier knowing some of the kids are doing OK.

They have grown.  They are still a black oval with a short tail.  The largest is about 1/2 inch in length and the head about as wide as a #2 pencil.  My granddaughter and I caught a few in a jar about a week ago and checked them out.  They have a small mouth that I would describe as "puckered" as in it looks like the are going to kiss you.  Just 2 eyes and the small mouth on this little black oval.

When they get bigger I'll work at getting a photo to publish on this blog.

Stay tuned for introductions to the "B-52."

Pollywog Update

It was May 11th that I saw the toad egg strings. Then it was May 16th that we sighted all these little toadlet's swimming around. In the days that followed it was evident there were thousands of these creatures that resembled giant sperm.  They were everywhere.  Not long after that we saw some toadlet's in No-Name Pond and marveled at their tenacity just to survive the trip through the pump and pipe, through and across the Bio Falls only to end up in the fast moving water of No-Name Pond.  From there most would be swept over the falls to Bridge Pond completing their circumnavigation of the pond.

These events started just 16 days ago.  The pollywog population has diminished to the point were you have to sit and watch just to spot one.  As a Toad Daddy I have to wonder where have all my children gone? 

I still am holding out for a few to grow into sizable toadlet's, possibly one to morph into a toad and somehow escaping the watchful eyes of Joe.  It is an uphill battle and if won by only a single toadlet I will consider that to be another miracle from Mother Nature.