Every year now we get an influx of Common Toads Bufo bufo to the garden pond in late February. They arrive to breed in ever increasing numbers and peak in early March, last year my peak count was around 150. Yesterday that record was shattered as a count of 206 stole the title for the highest count ever recorded in the garden (Note: this record was subsequently broken again with just over 300 counted on 11 March, two days after this post!). After dark they are everywhere, you really have to watch where you're treading. There were 27 on the patio just outside the back door and loads more on the lawn around the pond, not to mention those already in the water. I had to take a bucket and rescue another 16 from the road at the front of the house but at least 7 had sadly been run over.
Today they were still in abundance and allowed for some photos at lunchtime.
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| Common Toad Bufo bufo: R. Harris |
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| Common Toad Bufo bufo: R. Harris |
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| Common Toad Bufo bufo: R. Harris |
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| Common Toad Bufo bufo: R. Harris |
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| Common Toad Bufo bufo: R. Harris |
They were making such a noise I managed to get a recording of them too.
In addition to the toads there were also a handful of Frogs, Palmate Newts and a couple of Smooth Newts. Not a bad collection.
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