It’s hard to sneak up on a frog.

Looking at this, it makes sense that I can’t come up from behind to get photos easily. Those eyes have near 360-degree coverage! This is Cave Frog, and right afterwards he jumped forward, swam under the lilies, and stayed out of sight.

The names of our frogs evolved quickly and unlike the fish who sometimes get renamed these have stuck.  Brave Frog was named first, because he was the one who was out the most and who didn’t care when I brought out the camera. He was also the first to move out so I suppose it was even more apt than we first thought. Cave Frog was named next, because of where we could (at that time) most reliably spot him – in a little area where a basalt boulder and the rock walls make a small cave on the side of the pond:

tucked into my little private space

I was able to move around and get a better view before he dove deeper into the cave to hide:

Cave Frog has nosy neighbors.

He still hangs out there sometimes, but he is even less likely to wait for a photo-opportunity before heading underwater now.

I was (am!) a handsome frog.

Another archival picture of Brave Frog, hanging out in the sun on an algae covered rock. Such interesting markings!

hanging with my brothers

Yes, another historical photo. Brave Frog is, ironically, hiding under the rock to the left – Cave Frog is the one out in the open. It’s weird – as the remaining frogs (Cave Frog, Eyeballs, and Uptown Frog) get older – they also are getting more and more shy. Often the only evidence they continue to inhabit the pond is a “sploosh” as they dive under water when I open the door to try for a new photo. But I will continue with my archive and intersperse new photos as I can – after all, people tell me they enjoy this!

where the wild things are

I am fast developing a new favorite cute thing – a floating frog where you can see his webbed feet under the water. The only thing that could make this better is if you could see little fingers hanging onto the lily pad to hold him in place. He didn’t need to do that, however. The way he facing, the flow in the pond would keep him in that position. It’s when they are facing with their back to the skimmer that they have to hold on.

Plant pots are a handy perch.

Cave frog particularly likes jumping into the plant pots and using them as a hunting platform. At least, I assume that is what he is doing. Mostly I just see the frogs sitting or jumping away to swim out of sight. It’s always nice when things are so still that the photo of the reflection of the frog is nearly as crisp as the actual frog.

My neighbors are so nosy.

No doubt Uptown Frog is very tired of me peeking into his otherwise nicely private area behind a plant and upstream from the pond. He usually dashes under the water immediately. He probably wonders why I haven’t taken the hint that he doesn’t want to be my friend.

Hanging out. It’s what I do.

Most likely this is Eyeballs. This is also a forewarning that after over a month of daily frog postings, I’m not certain how much long this can go on. Many of the times I have spotted frogs and headed out for a photo I got perhaps one, and often none – which is frustrating as it’s not like I’ve ever done anything to them (beyond scooping them out of the skimmer as tadpoles – but I was saving them! I think, anyway.) In any case – just wanted to give warning. I’ll keep this up as I can, but at some point (even if I’m super lucky) they will go under mud for the winter – and I don’t think any of us want a picture of mud daily for a few months…

gone but not forgotten

Yes indeed we do miss Brave Frog. He was the first we spotted and was the one most often out – plus he had such distinctive markings. I hope he is happy wherever he moved. This photo combines several of my favorite things – Brave Frog flattened out on a rock, frog with head just above water, and frog face-on. What a handsome devil!