Toad laying its eggs out of water.

[glsammy]

I saw this Toad yesterday. It was only when I edited the image that I noticed it was laying at the time.
The interesting point is that it chose to lay well out of water. It had climbed out of the pond onto a small grassy mound.
Surely the eggs have no chance?

[nightshade]

Could it be she has finished laying and this string is residual that she is trying to slough it off?
Alternatively something (stress) has triggered an early start

[healfdan]

I agree with nightshade. The toad was leaving the pond and the jelly string shows solitary and well spaced eggs, so we can assume that the main spawning had already taken place. Great photograph.

[toadpole]

wow she's a beauty ...and what an amazing pic Marion

[Kayleigh]

I think the male has to fertilise the eggs when they are being laid so maybe the others are right about the toad had laid most of the spawn in the water.
Great shot and well spotted.

[toadpole]

I definately think you are right Kaleigh ....last year i had the most wonderful opportunity to watch my 1 pair of Toads actually spawning ..and the male seemed to be actually fertilizing the eggs as they came out of her in a string ...where as having sooooo many frogs this year and watching them it seemed to me that even tho the female frog was in Amplexus with a male as she was spawning the spare males (and there were loads this year) seemed to zoom across the pond over the spawn for hours at a time.... and i think they were making sure they got to fertilise some of the eggs as well....and as you say as the male was no longer with her she felt she could leave the pond ....well thats my take on things ....dont know what others may think .....Marion