A Tale of Marsh Frogs (at London Wetland Centre)

Apart from watching an amazing display of hunting and swooping by the Hobby last weekend, we were also entertained by some Marsh Frogs .......

here is their story.

It was a wonderfully warm and sunny early May day. Spring had sprung gloriously and this had not gone unnoticed by our hero, Percy Persistent and, not so much by our heroine, Fenella Feisty.

The noise in the pond made by the Marsh frogs generally, announced that something was afoot!

Percy and Fenella met and looked into each other's eyes.

Percy decided that the making of tadpoles was the right thing for this time of year and embarked on the appropriate action to ensure continuity of the frog race.

However, Fenella was not sure about this and decided to take evasive action and move away....

Whilst Percy decided "she didn't mean this", Fenella demonstrated that "she did mean this" by flipping backwards the tipping Percy into the water!

Undeterred by this rejection, Percy came back..

However, when he leapt out of the water to "make contact" with Fenella, it became apparent that his sense of direction was somewhat amiss as.... he missed!

"OK" thought he, "I will try a little cajoling to see where that gets me"

Well - so far so good for Percy Persistent.

We can even turn around and face the other way..

and we can gaze into each others eyes...

"This looks promising" thought Percy

"Got to treat the ladies with decorum" stated Percy

"I think I'm in love" sighed Percy

"Forget that" Fenella thought as she flipped backwards, shooting poor Percy back into the pond while she herself, ended up on her back with the effort of shooing off her would-be suitor.

"Glug, glug"

After recovering from the frenzy of the last few minutes, Percy living up to the Persistent in his name, decided it was still worth another try!

But, despite his very gentle approach, the lady said no - again!! (whilst muttering, through clenched teeth... "which part of the word no, do you not understand"? and, again threw him to one side.

and finally, our Hero Percy, who was persistence personified, had to finally admit defeat as Fenella had , yet again, made it abundantly clear that this "was not the right time".

The decided to part, without injury (except perhaps to Percy's pride) and swam away in opposite directions with Percy looking somewhat despondent and Fenella?... was that a triumphant look in her eye?

Thank you Percy and Fenella for giving us such entertainment.

At the end of which time, quite a large crowd of the human kind had gathered to watch and laugh at their antics. :D We'd been entertained for about 20 minutes by the loving couple.

Oh I do love Spring :D