Toad Spectacle

 One of the great natural spectacles that I look forward to every spring is the return of toads to their breeding ponds. One of the best sites that I know is just a ten minute drive from home, where I can rely on watching the antics of at least a hundred toads. At this particular site, the toads arrive and depart in little over a week.

The following images were taken over a couple of days at the height of their activities.

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

This female had probably been carrying these two males for some time and had not yet reached the millpond in which they breed. She had decided to have a rest in the middle of a footpath. The male in prime position eventually managed to eject the interloper.

These pairs of toads have successfully moved away from the general melee in order to spawn.

These males were basking in the occasional sunshine.

This turmoil of toads is where the main action takes place.  Every male is highly charged and is trying to push the other males away and burrow their way to the female in the centre. She will already have a suitor in prime position and if all goes well, they will manage to get away to spawn. Occasionally, sadly, a female can be accidentally drowned if she cannot extricate herself. I came back the following day and there was no sign of any tragedies having occurred.

Now and then you may witness a strange pairing. In the following image, a male Common Frog (Rana temporaria) is in a mating clasp with a female Common Toad (Bufu bufo). I have seen this behaviour on several occasions over the years. Frogs and Toads share similar habitat requirements but they are not closely related and cannot produce hybrid offspring. Any spawning from this pairing is destined to fail.

Great Diving Beetle (Dytiscus marginalis) (male)

The only insect activity that I saw in the millpond was of this male Great Diving Beetle (D.marginalis). He had been trying to climb up onto a constantly turning piece of twig and eventually rested side-on in the sunshine, giving a view of his yellow underside.

Along the Woodland Edge during July

The White Admirals and Purple Hairstreaks have been on the wing in my local woods for about a month and are now looking past their best. Here are some other images of  what I have been finding during July.

Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) (male)

Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isosceles) (male)

Black-bellied Diving Beetle (Dytiscus semisulcatus) (male)

Four-banded Longhorn Beetle (Leptura quadrifasciata)

Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle (Rutpela maculata)

Comma (Polygonia c-album) (female) (form hutchinsoni)

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) (males)

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) (male)

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) (male)

Xysticus lanio (Crab Spider sp.)

Along the Woodland Edge during May and June

 Walking along the woodland edge looking for insects is always enjoyable. In one of my favourite woods, there are substantial mint beds along some of the shady and damp rides which can be particularly productive.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) (male)

Vapourer Moth (Orgyia antiqua) (mid-instar larva basking)

Scabious Sawfly (Abia sericea) (male & female)

Tenthredo mesomela (Sawfly sp.)

Macrophya annulata (Sawfly sp.)

Carabus problematicus (Violet Ground Beetle sp.)

Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis)

Denticollis linearis (Click Beetle sp.)

Green Tortoise Beetle (Cassida viridis)

(mating pair)

Gonioctena decemnotata ( Leaf Beetle sp.)

Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum)

Tortoise Shieldbug (Eurygaster testudinaria)

Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)

(female with her legs wrapped around her egg sac)

More from the Woodland Edge

Although the summer species of woodland butterflies are looking rather tired and past there best, there is still plenty of interest to be found along the woodland edge at this time of year.

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) (female)

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) (Immature male)

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) (male)

Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) (female)

Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara)

Black-and-yellow Longhorn (Rutpela maculata)

Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris) (mating)

Scaeva selenitica (Hoverfly sp.)

Cinnamon Bug (Corizus hyoscyami)

Southern Wood Ant (Formica rufa)

Carrying material to nest.

Violet Helleborine (Epipactis purpurata)