We don't have a pond yet! but this last week from my bedroom which is at the damp side of our garden,at 4ih in the morning I was sure I'd heard a toad or frog crock a went out to look but it shut up ,today as I was watering my hostas I saw him a toad he was walking about the ivy under the hedge ,I new I wasn't mad!but it was touch and go for awhile ;D
Toads spend most of their lives out of water. They try to return to the place of their birth to mate. Not clear how they manage to spread to new ponds, presume some get lost on the way home.
We have a local pond on our local public footpath, and walking home (from the public hostelry ::) ) one night we came across a gentleman 'helping',the toads towards the pond....I managed a pic, and the gentleman started to explain the difference between male and female toads...all to do with the number of fingers apparently...
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We have heard a croak tonight!! we were surprised as we do not usually hear them a this time of year!
So which is that one Spireite? ;)
I think it is a male...I think the female has an extra digit/thumb which looks almost black...plus she is nearly twice the size of the boys, subsequently they all jump onto her back...generally 2 or 3 at time... and the noise they make is a more of a "peep peep" sound not a croak....
I never thought moving out of London by 35 miles would lead to so much local wildlife ;D
The Chesterfield Canal never had toads ;)
Chesterfield canal has water voles though!!
In the spring I walked from Hollingwood into town by the canal, and saw swans, different kinds of waterfowl...and water voles....it was the first time I've seen the voles ;D