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Seattle. August 12, 2011.
Twp species of frog live in the restored wetland just south of here, Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) and Pacific Chorus Frog (Pseudacris regilla). I've previously mentioned the Bullfrogs, who aren't native to these parts but have found a nurturing habitat in the wetland pond. They've bred well this year. Many of their tadpoles have been present over the past weeks, scouting just under the surface for buggy prey. I saw none this week, but was amused at the number of little Bullfrogs squeaking with alarm at my presence as they splashed into cover. Two hidden adults garumphed back and forth from the pond edges.
I've visited the wetland regularly for about ten years without seeing a native Pacific Chorus Frog. I know they're there, look forward to hearing their tenor voices on mild days in late fall and early spring, but they hide themselves very well. Even the most cautious approach silences them from yards away. They go completely quiet in the summer, possibly intimidated by the Bullfrogs, perhaps lethargic in the relative heat.
Tuesday's wetland bird count was pretty slow, 14 species total. The sky was heavy with clouds. Ever the optimist, I made my way to the best place for viewing dragonflies. There were no dragonflies. However, there was this dark lump on a leaf of Wapato.
Dark Lump on a Wapato leaf.
My initial thought was that the lump was the shed husk of a dragonfly. A quick view through the binocs proved me wrong.
Pacific Chorus Frog (Pseudacris regilla) resting on a leaf of Wapato.
This guy was not alone. I found more than a dozen more hiding in the Wapato, many of them just shadows clinging to the other side of the leaves, a few resting in full view, one peering over the edge of a leaf. Pacific Chorus Frogs metamorphose between June and August here, often in immense numbers. One late July years ago I found myself covered with tiny Chorus Frogs while wading in a pond up in the mountains. Those were all about the size of my little fingernail. The individuals at the wetland were bigger, perhaps an inch or so long and within the 3/4" - 2" size range of adults.
I'm not sure why I saw so many this week after never seeing them in the past. Perhaps these are this season's maturing juveniles, which are known to mass in their breeding grounds before dispersing. Perhaps the maturing wetland vegetation has provided them with perches that are more accessible for viewing. Perhaps I was just there at the right time.
(More here about Pacific Chorus Frogs. This account is from California, but the basics remain true for Washington state.)
August 9, 2011. First sighting of Pacific Chorus Frogs at the wetland.
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Where are you and what are you seeing? I'll be in and out all day.