Wood Frogs (and some locations)

   

   Right now is the right time to see Wood Frogs in vernal pools in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Wood Frogs take to vernal pools to find a mate and spawn in early spring. The males try to impress a female by making a quacking sound. I make a point every spring to see the Wood Frogs in the vernal pools. For me it feels as though I am saying hello to old friends. Seeing them, along with catching trout (in Mass) is truly the very beginning of spring.

   Over the weekend I went to multiple locations many of which had more than one vernal pool. Every single vernal pool I went to had Wood Frogs in it. I even went to a location in Norton, MA owned by the town preservation society that I had never been to before. I found eight different pools ranging from small ponds to puddles and all eight had Wood Frogs!

   I'd like to help you out with locations throughout the state that have vernal pools but I have enough places close to me in MA that I don't really have to chase them so I only know a couple spots in Rhode Island.

 In South County the Kettle Pond NWR has a vernal pool (I think it is actually Kettle Pond). If you pull into the lot and walk down the trail to Kettle Pond you should hear them before you see them.

   The Cumberland Monastery has multiple places where you will at least hear the frogs. You have a better chance of seeing them if you wear muck boots as the trails are muddy this time of year. If you wander the backside of Lincoln Woods off trail there are multiple vernal pools. I discovered them one year, too late to see any frogs. 

   

   Another good spot is Lime Rock Preserve, Lincoln owned by The Nature Conservancy. Once parked walk the trail that goes up the hill to the right. Once up the hill, just after you crest it, you will see a pool to your right. Walk to any spot with an opening and wait. Bring a towel to sit on because the ground can be wet.

   I have heard Wood Frogs in vernal pools at Great Swamp. There are many pools. Though I have never heard/seen any in the little pools just up from the parking lot, I have seen tadpoles of some species of amphibian. There are also pools hidden from trails that I only know about because  I heard frogs and went exploring ( I'm not holding out here, I just wouldn't know how to explain where they are)

   There are two very good spots not too far from Rhode Island. The closest is the Attleboro Springs Sanctuary in Attleboro. Once parked walk straight down the trail. Take a right at the first trail junction. You will walk along a pond which is loaded with bullfrogs and green frogs during warmer months. You will pass a dock at the far corner of the pond. Keep hugging the pond anther fifty feet. Just passed the pond there will be a vernal pool that goes under the boardwalk. There are many Wood Frogs and since boardwalk goes right over them, they have no fear of people and make wonderful photo subjects.

 

   My favorite place in the world to see Wood Frogs in Moose Hill Sanctuary in Sharon, MA. At the parking lot there is a wooden fence, where there is a space in the fence, walk through it and take the trail that goes right. Follow this trail over a couple of small hills for about five minutes. You will come to two vernal pools, one on each side of the trail. The first, on the right, is down a very steep hill. Don't bother going down there. Though you will see Wood Frogs from the trail in your binoculars. Keep walking and within thirty more seconds another pool will be on your left. There are a couple of side trails that lead to the water's edge. Again, a towel is helpful. You won't need to wait long to see frogs. Some of them will be curious about you and come to within a foot of the shoreline. All the little bumps in the water are Wood Frogs and not the top of sticks. I could sit here for hours. 

   The best piece of advice I can give is go see Wood Frogs as soon as you can. They don't stay long. There have been multiple times I've found Wood Frogs and brought a friend just a few days later and the water was deserted.

   Lastly, as I've said before the birding community is stronger if we help each other. If anyone reading this knows of other easy spots to see Wood Frogs, I ask you to write it in the comments on the OSBC Facebook page under this link.  Hopefully, we can have spots listed all across the state. Thanks for reading.