Green Frogs at Taylor Creek: August 2020

Some years ago I stayed in a hotel in the Finger Lakes district of New York State. Just outside the window was a pond and all night long I heard a frog call consisting of a single staccato “gunk”.

The first thing I did back in Toronto was head to Sam the Record Man (you may remember that place) and purchase a recording of frog and toad calls.

The “gunk” eminates from the Green Frog.

Green Frog

Back in April I visited Taylor Creek Park.

On that day, I explored the western section. Today I journeyed east.

While walking, I encountered 4 boys who were intent on catching frogs (one of my favourite hobbies at their age). They didn’t catch any as I watched but they did point out the location of several Green Frogs.

Green Frog

Some people interpret that “gunk” sound as being similar to the sound of a banjo and refer to this frog as a “banjo” frog.

Green Frog
Green Frog
Green Frog

Other life:

Mallard
Mallard (female)
Mallard
Carolina Grasshopper
Northern Paper Wasp
Northern Paper wasp
 
Northern Paper Wasp
Whirligig beetles
Whirligig beetles
Water Strider
Common Whitetail

Thanks to Ken Sproule for assistance in insect identification.

Some botany:

Soft-stemmed Bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani)
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Swedish Whitebeam (Sorbus intermedia)
Meadowsweet (Spirea alba)
Hemlock-parsley (Conioselinum chinense)
Hemlock-parsley (Conioselinum chinense)
Red-osier (Cornus sericea)
Gray Dogwood (Cornus foemina)
Purple-flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatis)
Canada Thistle (Cirsium pratense)
Tartarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)
Spindletree (Euonymus europaea)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Evening Primrose (Oleranthus)
Joe-pye-weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
Indian-hemp (Apocynumcannabinum)
Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcmara)
Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcmara)
Fowl Meadow Grass (Glyceria striata)
Lady’s-thumb (Persicaria maculosa)
Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Bird Vetch (Vicia cracca)
Bird Vetch (Vicia cracca)
Walnut shell
Common Burdock (Arctium minus)
Great Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepela)
Dog-strangling Vine (Vincetoxicum rossicum)
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

NATURE POETRY

“And pray, who are you?”
Said the Violet blue
To the Bee, with surprise,
At his wonderful size,
In her eyeglass of dew.
“I, madam,” quoth he,
“Am a publican Bee,
Collecting the tax
Of honey and wax.
Have you nothing for me?”       – John Bannister Tabb (1845–1909)

Miles Hearn

3 thoughts on “Green Frogs at Taylor Creek: August 2020

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Poor frogs!
    But I’ll be honest–I wasn’t immune to doing such things myself, when I was a kid.
    I love Taylor Creek Park, and really miss it. So much beauty there! Thank you for showing it to us.
    And frogs? I love seeing and hearing them. Some of them are so musical, giving people a musical chorus which I love to listen to (I know you must appreciate it too, Miles!) I love to laugh at (and imitate) the sound of the “gunkers”. Thanks, Miles (and Ken)!

    Reply

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