Pondlife at Mapperton, Dorset

Yesterday morning, we visited Mapperton Gardens on our way to Kingcombe and spent a long while photographing the various animals on and under the water including Water Boatmen sculling around, a Diving Beetle larva and  Pondskaters on the surface. Most of the time it was trying to catch the newts as the came up to the surface- both Palmated newts and Smooth Newts plus a large number of Toad tadpoles 

Toad of Toft Hall

 We found this very large toad in a flower pot in our conservatory yesterday. Had fun photographing it before releasing it under some logs near the pond.

Toads instead of Toadstools

There may have been a lack of toadstools in Sheringham Woods today but the overnight rain brought out large numbers of toads (and frogs). Their camouflage in the autumn leaves is amazing. We only noticed them if they moved and often nearly trod on one.