Toads of Todmorden
These Common Toads were filmed on April 24th, rather late for this location where the first week of April seems more usual. Further south toads can emerge from hibernation around February/March and head straight to ancestral ponds to breed, following the same migration route each year. Males are smaller than females and many stop on the migration route waiting for the females to arrive so they can hitch a ride. Spawn is laid in strings and wrapped around plants.
This was my first use of a Pulnix camera enclosed in an underwater housing to compliment material shot from above through a polarising filter.
The Common Toad is now a BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) species. There have been declines in toad numbers in much of the UK partly due to the effect of road traffic during the breeding season and also due to loss of breeding ponds. They are protected by law against trade.
I only know of two Toad ponds in Calderdale and would appreciate any information about additional sightings.