Amphibians are regularly seen at the Tincombe Nature Reserve and include Toads, Frogs and Newts.
Amphibians don’t hibernate as such, they lie dormant, and may take advantage of milder patches of weather to come out and forage.
Frog
Frog spawn appears from January onwards. By March you should be able to spot tadpoles in the nature reserve. Frogs lie dormant during the winter in pond mud or under piles of rotting leaves, logs or stones.
Newt
Adults are often found in the reserve during the breeding season and into summer (February – June). Spawn is laid as individual eggs, each of which is wrapped carefully in a leaf of pond weed, by the female newt. Unlike the tadpoles of frogs and toads, new tadpoles develop their front legs before their back legs. Newts also lie dormant, tucked away sheltering, in colder parts of the winter.
Toad
Toads love nice, damp, undisturbed spots to live in. Toad spawn is easily distinguished from the familiar clumps left by frogs, being laid in long strings draped over aquatic plants. Toads usually lie dormant between October and March and then breed from March onwards. Toadlets usually emerge from during August.
If you are lucky enough to see any of these fascinating creatures please let us know by using the contact page. Thanks for your input 🙂
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