21
THE COMMON FROG (Rana temporaria).
As before garden ponds are the frogs main strong
hold as other habitats have been destroyed during
land drainage operations and also the cleaning
out and restocking with fish in certain ponds
which changes the conditions suited to frog
breeding. Mr L Cloutman reported in 1981 a 30
frog colony in Prospect Road, Woodford Green
which had been increasing in size in recent years.
Mr Tony Boniface reported frogs in garden ponds
in Chelmsford in the same year, including one
Albino specimen. Dr C Shennan also reported
Common Frogs from Brentwood's Crescent Road area.
Mr Hill of Hornchurch has a small frog colony
in his garden reporting five batches of spawn
laid this Spring 1983. The Essex Naturalist
Trust reported a good "Frogwatch" this year and
it is interesting to note that of the frog records
that came in 90% referred to frogs in garden
ponds. In Epping Forest the frog appears to
be rather less common than before although the
Common Toad is still very much in evidence
especially in the Baldwins Pond area of Loughton.
Towards mid-Essex records come from Braintree,
Rettendon and Tiptree, and at Little Leighs
where I introduced spawn seven years ago the
colony has spawned again this year with 10
batches of spawn laid. The garden ponds in
Harlow New Town are producing as much spawn as
ever and from Colchester the Museum reports 200
adults and 4 buckets of spawn being removed to
a safe location where the breeding pond was
being filled in (March 81) . Records are scarce
for the more arable areas of N.W. and N. Essex
and help from these areas would be greatly
appreciated