I spotted this young bullfrog on a sunny morning at Tuff Pond in the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. At first glance, it almost disappeared into the green duckweed covering the water.
Young Bullfrog Duckweed Camouflage at Tuff Pond
I had been spending the last few days photographing Green Tree Frogs around the pond. Summer is a great time to find amphibians in this area, and I was watching the water closely as I walked along the edge.
That is when this young bullfrog caught my eye.
It was sitting still on an object just above the waterline. Both the perch and the frog were coated in duckweed. The camouflage was so complete that I could have walked right past it. What gave it away were its bright, shiny eyes.
Scenes like this are easy to miss. Duckweed can turn the pond surface into a solid green blanket. A small bullfrog tucked into that cover has a real advantage. It blends into the habitat and stays hidden from anything passing by.
Photographing a Bullfrog in Late Morning Light
Once I saw the frog, I moved slowly to get into position. Bullfrogs are quick to react. One sudden motion, and they slip back into the water.
I tried to keep my movement smooth and quiet. That gave me a narrow window to frame the shot before the frog decided to vanish. Fortunately, this one stayed put long enough for a few photos.
The late morning sun worked in my favor. It lit the frog and the duckweed well, while still keeping the scene natural. I liked how the light helped separate the eyes and shape of the frog from all that green around it.
Here are the camera details from the moment:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
- Date and Time Taken: August 16, 2023, 7:49 A.M.
- Aperture: f/8
- Shutter Speed: 1/800
- ISO: 2000 (Auto)
- Exposure Compensation: +0.3
- Focal Length: 500 mm
Why This Quiet Pond Encounter Stayed With Me
I always enjoy moments like this because they reward patience and careful observation. This young bullfrog was not out in the open. It was tucked into its world, almost invisible unless I took the time to look closely.
That is part of what keeps me coming back to places like Tuff Pond. There is always something hidden in plain sight. On this morning, it was a young bullfrog resting among the duckweed, perfectly suited to its surroundings.
Finding and photographing wild creatures in their natural habitat is what draws me to wildlife photography. Encounters like this remind me that even a quiet pond can hold something special.
You can see more of my frog encounters from the refuge in this post about an army of frogs.