I
paid a visit to Ainsdale Local Nature Reserve yesterday evening with North Merseyside Amphibian and Reptile Group members Mike Brown and Dave Hardacre to hear the Natterjack
Toads unique chorus that echoes around stretches of the Sefton coast during the
right conditions every spring. This year’s breeding season has been very
successful so far, as the water table is so high the dune slacks are completely
full and are in no danger of drying out before the toadlets emerge….fingers
crossed!
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| Natterjack Toad - Ainsdale LNR |
As darkness fell large numbers of male Toads could be heard croaking
away as they attempted to lure mates into the pools; what a fantastic sound,
these little beauties have a knack of ‘throwing’ their voices as they can
appear to be calling right under your feet until you realise they are about
thirty feet away! The optimum period to view this local natural highlight is
around the third week of April, yet they are still going strong and well worth
a visit. We must have seen at least twenty animals but heard many more, as we
left the reserve they could be heard from the car park! Also on the reserve we
found both male and female Smooth Newt, a female Great Crested Newt, Common
Toad, and a singing Grasshopper Warbler.
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| Natterjack Toad - Ainsdale LNR |
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