A walk in the Spring rain

A few weeks ago on a rainy and warm Sunday morning I decided going for an early morning wander by the river and canal. While on my walk I noticed a few Amphibians out enjoying the wet weather. On the canal towpath I nearly stepped on this Toad coming out of the canal and heading towards the nearby river. As I did not have a Macro lens with me I used my Iphone to get a few close up photographs to get in the surrounding Landscape behind the Toad.

He did not seem bothered about me taking photographs and before I left I popped him in the vegetation out of the way of any bikes or Dog walkers.

As the rain got harder I decided to checkout a small pond and nearby which was under some trees and as I arrived a Heron was hunting there and it dropped a small Newt before flying off, it seemed fine. Next to the pond there is some corrugated sheets so I took the Newt there as I have seen them under the sheets in the winter time.

 I thought I would get some photographs for Identification before I put the Newt under the sheets so It could recover

 It looks quite prehistoric in this photograph

 I think it's a smooth newt and after taking the photographs I placed it safely under the sheet with a few others

Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe

Mike

A reason for the Otters appearance

After a few days of trying to figure out what the Otter was feeding on and finally I have found an answer. At first I think it may have been Fish, Freshwater Mussels, Water Birds but a walk the other evening revealed what I think the Otter was feeding on. While taking an sunset walk we spotted movement in the water as the light began to fade so I used my torch and the movement maker was revealed which was toads. As the canal has warmed up in the warm weather it has set off the Toads breeding season when they leave the safety of the reed beds in the area to begin there short breeding season.

Holding on for love

On my way back I heard a crunching in the reeds and a Moorhen alarm calling it turned out there was a pair of Foxes also having a snack on either Frogs' Toads or eggs in a birds nest.

It was a stunning moon on the evening that the Toads began there annual courtship

This smaller Toad seemed to be waiting for a mate to find him/her. I just hope I get to see the Otter again before the Toad breeding season ends.

 

Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe
 

Mike