Toads 2010

[sbeau66]

The rain did the trick! many toads on the move here, mostly small males, looking for the ladies! but i,m sure they will arrive soon
being coy i expect

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by toadpole

WOW what amazing pics ....''sits wishing i lived in the new forest '' Marion

Cheers Marion.

[Malcolm Banks]

Yes really nice pics DS., I would be really pleased if the spawn in the third shot is toad spawn, since I have seen a female toad in my pond a week ago but had assumed that all my 15 or so batches of spawn were frogspawn. I have been looking, so far fruitlessly, for the double string decribed as a charactistic of toad spawn, but some of my batches look very much like the ones in your New Forest pics.
Would love some confirmation of this and then of course if it is toad spawn, how are frog tadpoles differentiated from toad tadpoles? (I know it's incorrect but I prefer "toadpoles")
M

PS - just bin doin some research - I am now pretty sure the spawn is frogspawn

[fairy frogmother]

I have not had any "homegrown" toad spawn in my pond yet but last year I was able to rescue a very small amount from a pond that was being filled in. They are indeed like double tickertape and the toadpoles that hatched were smaller than the tadpoles and a much darker colour - almost black in fact.

I don't think I am going to be lucky this year. I did count 4 toads in the garden the other night but they look very young to me. No signs of calling or anything else now the frogs have finished although the newts are very much in evidence and more are joining them everyday.

[carobry]

what is the difference between frogs and toads at quick glance? do they make noises? have tons of spawn in pond and seems to be lots of activity but they all dissappear by the time i get to the pond! help!

[sbeau66]

toads are more warty, and crawl rather than hop, their eggs are in strings rather than the frogspawn blob.
I just counted over 40 toads in the pond, there are more of them than the frogs, but there seems to be a shortage of females,as some are paired off, but many many lone males looking for some action, is it true that they will change their gender if theres a true shortage?

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by Malcolm Banks

Yes really nice pics DS., I would be really pleased if the spawn in the third shot is toad spawn, since I have seen a female toad in my pond a week ago but had assumed that all my 15 or so batches of spawn were frogspawn. I have been looking, so far fruitlessly, for the double string decribed as a charactistic of toad spawn, but some of my batches look very much like the ones in your New Forest pics.
Would love some confirmation of this and then of course if it is toad spawn, how are frog tadpoles differentiated from toad tadpoles? (I know it's incorrect but I prefer "toadpoles")
M

PS - just bin doin some research - I am now pretty sure the spawn is frogspawn

Hi Malcolm,

The Toad spawn is the dark strings, the frog spawn is the lumps laid earlier in the year.

[fairy frogmother]

Oh I am so excited!!! Just went out for my regular torchlight inspection and spotted an enormous toad which I am almost positive was a female because she had a large soft belly. Hopefully lots and lots of eggs in there. Now all I need is for just one of the 4 smaller ones I spotted the other night to be a male of breeding age.

[Malcolm Banks]

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

The Toad spawn is the dark strings, the frog spawn is the lumps laid earlier in the year.

Thanks DS, 0 out of 10 to me for observation - I thought they were dead grass leaves. Now I really do know what to look for, and none of my spawn is toadspawn sadly
M

[carobry]

thanks. think i only have frogs :-(