Hey! Toad Face!

 I got a few strange looks from people walking by as I lay in the road and then on the grass taking pictures of this toad at its eye level but I think it was worth the effort.

I spotted him on the road at first and realised from its clumsy gait that it had been injured somehow, possibly by a heron or other bird thinking to make a tasty meal. It had a nasty looking sore area on its back and was moving slowly so I took pity on him and gently carried him over to the grassy hedgerow. I watched as he disappeared under the hedge then shortly after as it emerged into the open and with a flick of its tongue caught a fly. He then started to move off in the direction he had originally been traveling.

Did you know that common toads live between 10 -12 years, as long as they don't get predated of course?

I love wildlife and I love getting up close to take pictures like this. It was one of the highlights of my day out

Common, Me?

I have been jumping around with different themes in my posts recently and today is no exception, although the subject of today's pictures wasn't doing any jumping as he sat for ages posing for me. I had really expected him to scurry away into the reeds but I was able to get right down to his level and stick my macro lens right up close to get these shots.

This is a Common Toad and I spotted him on the path at Burton Mere RSPB reserve. In spite of being called common he has something of a snooty attitude and I like the way he confidently stood his ground. Even with me shoving a camera in his face and another walker stopping to have a closer look he maintained a dignified air before casually creeping away.

Look Into My Eyes!

I am sticking with frogs today and this gorgeous specimen is a Mission Golden-Eyed Tree Frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix). They are also known as Amazon Milk Frogs, so called because when they are stressed they secrete a milky white poisonous fluid.

I think I prefer the Golden-Eyed  Tree Frog because it emphasises its rather beautiful eyes.

I have previously posted a picture of this frog in an earlier post but on that occasion it was a very different view so if you have a moment it's worth checking it out... so click on the link

Whip It!

The very first post when I started my blog back in September 2014 was of a fabulous little frog that I had found in the leaf litter on a walk in the New Forest. That was such a happy memory to share and so if you have a moment why not click on the link and have a look.

I find reptiles and amphibians fascinating and great subjects for photography.

This handsome creature is a Denny's Whipping Frog (Rhacophorus dennysi), a type of tree frog found in China, Laos, Burma and Vietnam. Apparently the female lays her eggs in a nest made of foam which is hung from branches or grasses over the water. They're also known as Chinese Flying Frog.