Toads near me :D

Crested Newt · #1 (**permalink**) 05-03-2007, 05:54 PM

Nearby I love it I have a Toad and Frog spawn. I saw Toads Mating , Frogs mating and baby toads and frogs. It is great nearby anyone else the same.

phil2 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-03-2007, 07:19 PM

were about are you?

honeybee · #3 (**permalink**) 05-03-2007, 07:25 PM

If you're near a road you best get one of those toad crossing signs put up!

Crested Newt · #4 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 03:57 PM

I live in Ipswich

badgerwatcher · #5 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 06:40 PM

I have discovered I have a large toad living on the eleventh step down, on the flight down to the back of my garage. It's nice and damp, plenty of dead leaves and insects. His name's Ian, apparently.

yellowhammer · #6 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 07:14 PM

With a name like that he is obviously a handsome toad, of great intellect & learning

AlphaZeroOne · #7 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 07:58 PM

Went for a brief walk at lunchtime on to a very small wetland nature reserve. Within one square metre I saw frogs a mating, newts a diving and heard toads a calling. Not bad for one small patch> I noticed though that a fair amount of frog spawn had been fetched out of the water and laid strewn over the bank. Anythoughts as to who/what might have been responsible (assuming the offender was either feathered or furred).

yellowhammer · #8 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 08:12 PM

It's possible the culprit could be either a rat or hedgehog although I think it's most likely to be a bird. Herons and corvids are the usual offenders although raptors have been known to eat spawn it seems. I've no knowledge of foxes taking just spawn although I'm sure they would.

Also, if a predator eats an adult female frog that is full of spawn it will sometimes leave the lining of the reproductive tract (and who can blame them?). This substance can resemble spawn and goes by the rather lovely name of 'star-slime'. Honestly, I'm not making this up.

yellowhammer · #9 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 08:14 PM

Actually, after some thought I think the most likely culprit is that unholy terror of all pond life - BOYS!

AlphaZeroOne · #10 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowhammer

Actually, after some thought I think the most likely culprit is that unholy terror of all pond life - BOYS!

My first thought too - what a cynical world we live in. However, this reserve is way off the beaten track and not the sort of place to attract the attention of even the most ardent of truant players.

No - I would go for one off your list of possible culprits!