Toads in the Park Centre pond

Common Toads mating

A little later arriving than the frogs, having hibernated under logs and stones on dry land, the toads can now be seen all round the pond. Each pair seeks out  the relative privacy of deep water producing long strings of double stranded spawn. The males are much smaller than the females and will hitch a ride far out in the forest during the warmer wet nights when the bulk of the toads start to arrive.

Male Toad

 Competition for the females is keen with any unattached males waiting in the shallows for company.

Unlike  frogs which love the wet conditions the toads will leave the water soon after spawning to spend the rest of the year in surprisingly dry areas within the forest.