catas's Journal

I've seen one or both of and on

May 12, 2015
Last week we had several days of dry and warm weather. Starting yesterday morning, the drizzle came back and it's been damp and gray ever since. This coincides with last time but I saw any of the frogs. The second photo was taken yesterday morning, when the rain began, and was the last sighting. It must be moist enough for them to continue their journey to wherever they're going. I wish them luck. The nearest creek is less than half a kilometer away but they'd have to cross two roads and a high school campus to reach it. There are no adjacent parks, woods or water bodies. No sort of riparian corridor.

5-10-15
Surprised to find frogs in teensy pond. todd says he first noticed them a week ago.
the weather has been warmer and drier recently. from what i've read on the species, location and timing seems off for breeding.

5-12-15
haven't seen frogs since it started raining yesterday morning. curious as to how they found their way here in the first place. The nearest creek is xkm to the east and they'd have to cross two roads to get here. i wish them luck on their journey to...
POND is maybe 100-150 gallons and 18 inches deep without the substrate (6" of river rock covered with detritus, which has accumulated significantly over the years (installed 5-7? years ago). approx. 6 feet long and 3 feet wide. todd pulled out the weed war (which was probably used as cover and foraging for the beginning of their stay) just after he told me there were frogs in the pond. not enough time for me to think of having him hold off. there is no longer vegetation in the water.
TIME i've spent staring at the pond has brought about a few interesting observations.
observed several tiny creatures swimming in the pond. appear to be the shape of a grain of rice, but a third of the size. light-colored - tannish white. manner of locomotion not apparent. seem to be quick and adept swimmers, propelling themselves forward. can't see any fins. primarily stay at mid to bottom of pond. seen them active both day and night. too small to photograph plus underwater.
also spotted an eel-shaped creature that reminds me of a khuli loach. 2 to 2.5 inches long, quarter of an inch tall. flattened laterally. light in color. no apparent appendages or features. locomotion is forward through lateral undulation. relative to the snake, amplitude seems low, frequency a little higher. stays mid-depth. too difficult to photograph.