Frogspawn.

According to the literature, a pair of frogs produces one clump of spawn a year. By that reckoning, we have about eight pairs this year, though it’s difficult to be precise as several of the clumps tend to merge. One thing is clear, and that is that we have significantly less frogs than last year an, those that we do have, are rather more secretive than  previously. There has been very little croaking, no sight of frogs during the daytime and, if disturbed, those that do show up(?) at night slip away quietly into the darkness leaving the merest ripple instead of a great splash.
 
As I write this, I am reminded of a short story by Saki called “The Unrest Cure” in which a certain Mr. Huddle and his wife are upset that their garden thrush is building its nest in a different shrub this year. The thought that it may be a different thrush disturbs them, “we both feel that the change is unnecessary, and just a little irritating" is Mr. H’s comment. When it is suggested that what is needed is an “unrest cure” to shake them up a little, a passing acquaintance, one Clovis Sangrail, takes it upon himself to provide such a cure and chaos descends on the Huddle household.
 
Having been raised on Saki’s writings, I can recommend this story as an introduction to his work. Many of the others might both delight and scare the shits out of the grandchildren; my own childhood was greatly enhance by hearing his “Sredni Vashtar” read on "Children's Hour."