Last frog of the season

See the tadpole here? Hope he makes it through the winter to become a singer in the spring!


Autumn's color dazzle has actually come and gone. I took these photos just last week, but a strong-winded storm raged through two nights ago, ripping the leaves from the trees. They now stand stark and gloomy. The pond has a blanket of leaves, too, rippling gently when the windmill produces rings of bubbles on the surface. The turtles and frogs will hibernate through the winter, and hopefully we will have good ice for skating.

Fluttering by

Mourning Cloak

Monarch

Black Swallowtail

Great Spangled Fritillary

These lovely creatures--little works of art-- flit near the pond, and stop for nectar in the flower garden nearby. The Mourning Cloak prefers tree sap to flowers, though.

Sunday frogs

Fascinating froggies meditating at the pond today.

Munching Bunch

Dining at Frog Song Pond:

A lone sandpiper searches for snacks along the muddy bank, dragonflies dart for dinner, and a dozen or more Cedar Waxwings soar for supper.

Blowin' in the Wind

The newest addition to Frog Song Pond is a very cool way to aerate the water. Tiny bubbles generated by the new windmill will add much-needed oxygen so that the microorganisms will break down the heavy leaf matter that has accumulated at the bottom of the pond. The frogs and turtles will be SO happy!

We hired a very smart pond biologist and his equally smart (and strong!) wife for the job. The multi-talented Jesse & Stacey Coleman also own and operate Gorham Fitness Studio. Check out their blog, too, for great ideas for healthy families.

Frog time

Seems like awhile since a frog appeared here. This fellow was near the dock yesterday.

Another Pond

Gorgeous, isn't it?

Frog Song Pond is too small for loons. I recently had the good fortune to spend some time again at a friend's cabin on a pond near Lewiston, Maine. Two loon pairs, but no sign of chicks this year. I managed to record the calls! Click on the video (of the lake from my kayak, but you can't see any loons) and turn your volume up to hear these amazing creatures.