A splendid morning on Prestwick Carr with many new arrivals including Coot, Willow Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler of which more later, I was still missing Swallow from the list and concerned at the lack of hirundine action I headed up to Whittle Dene to see if I could find any there.
As I scanned for an early Yellow Wagtail another birder flushed three Green Sandpipier from the inlet to the Great Northern Reservoir. Just Pied Wags at the moment but three Great Creasted Grebe grabbed my attention as they displayed on the Western Reservoir and there in the distance with two Tufties and a female Goldeneye was the long staying Redhead Smew. My next two hours were spent circumnavigating the reservoir from behind the banking to try and get a close up shot but every time I poked my head above the mound to look for the bird it was on the other side of the water. It must be psychic. Even lying hidden in the undergrowth didn't work...so I gave up but in the process of walking down the western bridleway alerted by what seemed like distant goose calls, I came upon an amazing gathering. Hundreds and hundreds of frogs in the water, on the banks and on the track itself. I started treading very carefully.
I realised also that many of these frogs were not ones but twosomes
room for one more on top somes
and even mud bath somes
Amazing what a bit of sunshine will do!
I'm gonna stick my neck out here - they're toads.
ReplyDeleteA bit like porn actors who happen to come in twos to fix the buxom blonde's washing machine (so I am told), and end up 'sorting the plumbing' (ooo-errr!!), perhaps they are frogs masquerading as toads!
ReplyDeleteNow there's the problem. You get a title in your mind and all biological accuracy goes right out the window. Thanks chaps.
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