Common Frog
Rana temporaria
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Common Frog is the UK's most familiar amphibian and present throughout the Sefton Coast wherever suitable ponds exist. In February and March, frogs gather at dune slack ponds in sometimes extraordinary numbers to breed — the mass of spawn, the underwater writhing of frogs in amplexus, and the collective calling is one of the first wildlife spectacles of spring. Spawn masses are followed by tadpoles, then froglets emerging in June and July. Foxes and herons prey on breeding aggregations.
At a Glance
| Order | Anura |
| Family | Ranidae |
| Habitat | Dune slack pond · Garden pond · Ditch · Wet grassland |
| Diet | Insects, slugs, worms, other invertebrates |
| UK population | Very common throughout Britain — most widespread amphibian |
| Sefton Coast | Common throughout the Sefton Coast in any suitable wet habitat |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Any pond or damp area on the Sefton Coast. Breeding masses visible in dune slack ponds in February.
Identification
Variable colour — olive green, brown, yellow-brown or grey-green. Dark mask from eye to shoulder. Smooth (not warty) skin. Dark blotching on back. Long hind legs. Orange-yellow flecks in eye.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Visit any dune slack pond at Ainsdale in late February. Frog spawn — round, jelly masses with black central dot — appears first. Then the frogs themselves, often in large numbers. Garden ponds throughout Formby and Southport hold good populations.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell frog spawn from toad spawn?
Frog spawn is laid in clumped masses of jelly, floating at the surface. Toad spawn is laid in long, double strings of jelly wrapped around aquatic vegetation. Natterjack Toad spawn at Ainsdale is in a single string (not doubled) and much thinner than Common Toad's. If you see a mass of spawn in a dune slack, it's almost certainly Common Frog — Natterjack Toad spawn strings are very different.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.