Can anyone give me a contact address for John Baker?
Maybe this isn't the best place for this post... but here goes.
Went to Ham Wall RSPB reserve near Glastonbury yesterday. Fantastic time as always. Heard the Iberian Frogs in various places, but only individuals. This was good as it meant the 'song' could really be heard, unlike the usual wall of sound which we've normally heard there.
As we left the reserve had the luck to watch a grass snake swimming in one of the drains which hold lots of rudd.
Here in the South East we have frogs which make an absolute din, sounds like people laughing really loudly and nothing at all like you would expect a frog in the Uk to sound - are they likely to be the same species as these, i never get a chance to actually see them as they are in ponds and dykes which i don't have access to.
Others on here will likely be best able to answer your question Chubsta. An absolute din describes them, yes. What was strange yesterday was that in several places just individuals were calling and yes some of the noises did sound human. I'd never been able to see them before this year as they were in hidden ditches, but the RSPB have made viewing places so that was good. They seem to sit on top of water plants instead of just having head and shoulders out, so good views are possible.
The Hamm Wall frogs are Iberian green frogs, Pelophylax perezi. Most of the Kent green frogs are Marsh frogs, P. ridibundus (though there are apparently some P. perezi in the Sheppey area).
I'm sure there are lots of places with public access where you could see them. I've seen lots from public footpaths near Appledore (though that was a long time ago).