Cape River Frog

I cannot resist stopping to photograph any form of wildlife. In fact it is a compulsion with me that is almost magnetic, as I am drawn towards the creature that captures my attention. For this one I had to clamber down some rocks and perch precariously over the water's edge and hope I that I did not fall in.

Frogs

One of the frogs I recently came across in a pool in the Karoo. They look quite cute and innocent don't they?
Don't be fooled - I think they take a perverse pleasure in tormenting humans.

We once had a fishpond in our garden, which was nice feature, until the local frog population moved in. It was like having a herd of donkeys in the yard. When they started croaking sleep was impossible.

No problem, they were easy enough to catch and relocate to the empty plot across the road or to the neighbours yard. What I soon discovered was that relocation only provided temporary relief, because frogs seem to have an uncanny ability to return. The next night it seemed that they had all come back and had probably brought a few cousins with them.

The noise was horrendous. My son and I went on a frog hunt and captured fourteen bull frogs, which we put in a bucket and relocated in a river, about two kilometres from our home. They must have been happy there, because we has peace for a while.

The lesson is simple. If you ever have croaking frog problems and need to relocate them, take them as far away as possible, otherwise they will be back.

Karoo Kameos - Fogs

Any aspirant princesses out there?

Take your pick.................

I never expected to find frogs in the Karoo, in the middle of a draught, but this lot had taken up residence in a spring fed pool at the foot of the Grootwinterhoek Mountains

Nothing like a good dip to cool off on a hot day.

Froggy, froggy.............

.
"Froggy, froggy may we cross your golden river?"

"No!"

"Why don't you rather stop for a while and admire my beauty?" 

It's amazing what you can find lurking beside the river banks. You can see the big picture or if you look more closely, you may see the little one as well.

I came across this little fellow alongside a river in Lesotho and identified him as an Ornate frog (Hildebrandtia ornata). If you are interested in knowing more about these frogs click here.