Toad in the hole (or brook)

Tolerating dryer conditions, you can find toads further from water than frogs

 Following on from last week's common frogs, I'm looking at their warty cousins, the common toads. Though I have found them in my garden they've never bred in my pond and instead prefer to breed in Fairham Brook, a stone's throw away from my house and, unlike the frogs, don't seem to mind running water.

Lone male waits for a partner

Partly due to their toxic skin and areas of the river that are slow-moving the toad tadpoles can do quite well in the brook. Lone males arrive first and any movement sets them off and can be seen grabbing fish sometimes! In fact when I took this image the toad tried to grab the camera.

Females can be twice as big as males

Toads can have long lives (up to 50 years) and Spring is the only time of year they enter the water so I have a small window to get underwater images of them so have to make the most of it. 

They move mainly at night to the ponds

They have very strong homing instincts and will cross roads and barriers to get back to their pond of origin, this can mean they come into difficulties on roads and some groups set up toad patrols to collect toads and move them across the roads, something I hope to tag along to.

BBC Wildlife Local Patch Reporter
Jack Perks

@JackPerksPhoto
Facebook: Jack Perks Photography
Website: www.jackperksphotography.com

Garden Amphibians!

Been home now for a couple of days and decided to get a shoot or two underway! I've always had a intrest in reptiles and amphibians and this is partly why i made two wildlife ponds at the bottom of my garden many years ago that now boast a collection of frogs, toads and newts all ideal subjects for me to photograph!

Having booked a macro flash kit out i was able to get close to the subject (60mm macro) and light it. the rain had helped quite a bit as this made them come out a bit more. By far common frogs are the most numerous species around with a few pairs of toads and for the first time some smooth newts were also present.

 Common Toads

 Common Frogs

Smooth Newt

I used a tank (i'd recommend glass but i used plastic) for the underwater shots though im hoping to use the underwater housing to actually get them in there environment.

 Hints - 

- Wet your hands before handling amphibians and make sure there not great crested newts or natterjack toads as its illegal to handle these without a licence! 

- Flash really helps bring the subject out in the tank and with experimentation can work effectively

- Conditions are important in very dry weather they are more likely to be near water whereas today with the rain they were quite spread out around the garden. 

If you enjoyed this blog id recommend Neil Philips work who specialises in Tank photography

http://www.uk-wildlife.co.uk/uk-wildlife-blog/

also a video from a earlier blog featuring palmate newts in Cornwall

FOR MORE HERPTILE IMAGES CHECK MY SITE OUT BELOW

UK Herptiles

Trevean farm & cot valley

For the past two days i've been on photography trips with resident cornwall photographer David chapman and fellow Marine & Natural history photography students. The first was a landscape workshop going to two of Cornwall's most picturesque spots to get a few snaps!


Trevean farm near Penzance was the first location with miles of heathland and ancient walls it made a great location for landscapes though the light was not particularly on my side. I also saw my first common lizard of the year looking very cold!

Cot valley like Trevean farm is owned by the National trust and though a bit tricky to get down to the beach is well worth the effect for the fantastic views.

i couldn't help myself but have a look in a small over grown pond which to my delight was full of amphibians toads and palmate newts mostly.

Hints -
- For local locations and advice on the species you might want to photograph local guides can be very useful. Contact The wildlife trusts or search online for possible options heres Davids website
http://www.davidchapman.org.uk/

- Filters and tripods can be highly useful in landscape photography particularly for long exposures.