There
are many, many types of frogs in the marsh. This
little guy is a tree frog. The biggest one I've
ever seen was only about 2 inches long.
We
started out in the Gheenoe the other week and woke
up this guy who immediately lept onto my bare leg.
He rode along with us until we pulled up in some
water lettuce and let him out.
Frogs
change their colors to fit their environment, so
this guy was still flesh colored from riding on me.
This
tiny frogger nearly got me beat up. Judy and
I had stopped at Mosquito Island for a while and
a spider had chased me around. It was a big, ugly
spider and it jumped on my leg several different
times. Made me a little edgy.
We
got back in the boat and as I drove us away I had
my water bottle in my right hand. This cold, wet
little frog lept on my arm and - already jumpy from
the spider - I gasped, clenched my water bottle and
flailed my arm wildly.
Since
Judy was in front of me (in a bathing suit) my cold
water splashed onto her bare back. She thought I
had done it intentionally and was promising paybacks,
but fortunately I was able to show her the frog and
she let me live.
Frogs
like to hide out in the daytime in a cool shady
place, including under the side rail of my
boat. This pretty guy was in a big PVC pipe at
the Weather Station. Tree frogs really like the
cool, smooth, shady interiors of PVC pipes.
Once
it gets dark the frogs find a spot that small bugs
are attracted to and hunt all night.
When
it rains after a long dry spell you can go outside
and hear a deafening chorus of these little frogs
singing their delight.