Friday evening I was out walking the dog in the woods behind my house and the staffy started going mental at something on the path, it was pitch black so I used the light on my phone to see what was going on.. I was greeted by the fabulous sight of a toad ball, I have not seen one for years, and never on land.. there were actually four toads involved and one sat on the side lines watching..
Sorry about the shite pic, taken by i phone in pitch black..
Flash, my Staffordshire bull Terrier.. the snow was a few weeks ago..
There is a small pond a few hundred meteres from my place so I scooped up the toads and transported them to it.. the small pond, about 5m x2m was alive with toads, and large numbers of Lissotriton vulgaris and helveticus.. swimming unphased between the mating toads..I returned the next night to get some pics,
Been a mad year, so far, I have seen berus, bufo, Lissotriton, natrix,Pelophylax,zootoca and Triturus... as we are so herp light in the UK not much else to see...
Cheers all
Paul