Our talented but lonely pond denizen

Thought I heard some lyrics coming from the pond early this evening, so I got a little closer, and sure enough, I heard them quite clearly ...

"Long distance call I got today
She sounded lonely so I'm on my way
Hitchin' a ride, hitchin' a ride
Gotta get me home, keep her satisfied

Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride ..."

(70-200mm  f8.0  1/15 sec  ISO200)

(Day 298) Bugs beware big bullfrogs

In between bouts of rain this afternoon I went out to check the pond pumps since the fallen leaves tend to get sucked into them and they get clogged. As I walked around the edge of the pond, a number of frogs in succession leaped into the pond, out of harm's way I suppose. However, at the far end sat 3 of them, seemingly oblivious to my presence, but keeping a good eye on my movements.

I quickly went back in the house to get camera and tripod, and to put Sasha on the porch - her favourite pastime is hunting frogs ! Slowly I crept up on them, but they just sat there unperturbed. I think though, that despite their apparent disinterest, had I been a bug that strayed within reach, I would have met my end rather quickly. After all, they didn't reach this size without a steady diet of unwary bugs.

(70-200mm  f8  1/4 sec  ISO800)

(70-200mm  f14  1/3 sec  ISO800)

(Day 145) "Fly me to the moon"

As we sat near the pond early this evening, we watched dozens of dragonflies racing around, undoubtedly keeping us from the usual swarms of bothersome bugs. Before long, a froggy suitor's serenade started whereby he hoped to entice a comely froggy maiden to join him for a pleasant evening side by side on a lily pad. I could make out the strains of that old lover's song "Fly me to the moon". I thought that if I could catch him performing his repertoire he might make a suitable subject for today's post. And so I did, and he did.

Well, it so happens that we're almost at full moon time (close enough when I looked up at the moon), and I haven't posted a moon shot. I decided that I should at least try. I made a few photos and as I was making them I heard the droning of an airplane. As luck would have it, the pilot's flight plan also followed my theme for tonight (you'll have to enlarge the photo to see how).

(70-200mm  f11  1/50 sec  ISO400)

(70-200mm  f8  1/400 sec  ISO400)

(Day 116) "Lean on me ..."

I'm not sure whether that would be the appropriate song for this shot or whether it should be the theme from "Mission Impossible" :)

I had heard some croaking sounds coming from the pond, or perhaps if you were a frog it might have sounded like courting sounds. When I went to check it out, I found these two in a rather cozy position near the edge of the pond. I guess I'll know soon enough whether the courtship was successful if I find tadpoles swimming around. In the meantime we'll keep pets and small children away from the pond - that frog on the bottom looked big enough to be a danger to them. And the one on top, IMHO, has a face only a mother could love!

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/640 sec  ISO200)