Today Chris Packham and zoologist Megan McCubbin talk all things that slither, spring and swim in our garden ponds and beyond.
From newts and frogs to adders and toads, these are the reptiles and amphibians you’ll find thriving in the British springtime.
Plus, Chris shows you how to make your own pond which will soon be teeming with wildlife, using a washing-up bowl.
Common toads and frogs
You’ll start to see frogspawn around the edges of lakes and ponds at this time of year.
It’s good to look out for toads if you’re walking on remote pathways, particularly if the sun goes down and when it’s damp.
Toads will now be moving from their mating grounds in these ponds and going back to woodland habitats, where they will spend quite a lot of time.
Toads are actually 80% terrestrial animals, not always aquatic, and they do spend a lot of their time hibernating in woodland.
But they’re very active at this point in the calendar, moving surprisingly long distances.
They will move off a few miles from their water source to breed and mate, then they’ll go back to the woodland to hibernate.
Toads can live for 40 years, which always surprises people.
The key way to tell frogs from toads is that frogs have rounded pupils and toads have more slitted ones.
If you see toads or frogs on top of one another, that’s called “amplexus”.
The smaller male is on top of the female, using his front feet to grip the female’s armpits.
He is doing this so that when she releases her eggs, he can use his sperm to fertilise them.
Natterjack toad
It is one of the rarest amphibian species in Britain and the focus of special conservation efforts.
These initiatives include protection under UK and EU law because its populations have undergone severe decline during the last 100 years.
The distinctive, charismatic little creatures have a thin yellow stripe down their back and because they have short legs they walk rather than hop.
In the spring, male natterjack toads call to attract females. The rasping sound can be heard up to a mile away.
Sadly, natterjack toads now exist at only about 50 sites across Britain.
The species lives in sand dunes, salt marshes and heathland – and
the Sefton coast on Merseyside is one of its few remaining strongholds in this country.
The duneland there contains the UK’s largest natterjack toad colony.
This has been monitored for
31 years, during which time the population has fallen by about 70%.
Water pollution, loss of habitat, changes in land management and usage, competition from other species and also climate change have all contributed to the natterjack toad’s decline.
Spring droughts have become increasingly frequent, leading to premature desiccation of water areas and poor breeding success.
Overgrowth of dune vegetation has also impacted on the natterjack’s sandy terrestrial habitat.
Adders
Adders are a great sign of spring. They come out of hibernation in late February so now they’re out and about basking in the sun.
As soon as the sun comes up, though it might feel a bit cold to us, it’s warm enough on the ground that they can heat themselves up and become active.
So they do some basking and soon have enough heat energy for the day.
They’re an iconic and distinctive animal, with an easily recognisable dark zig-zag pattern and polka-dot lines down their sides.
Often, they’re seen in open heathland areas and grasslands.
You rarely see them in gardens but when you’re out walking an adder is something to look out for.
They are venomous but they will cause you no harm as long as you keep a respectful distance away.
The only thing to keep an eye on is little dogs, as an adder bite can be fatal to a small animal.
This is the time when they’re mating, so the males will be roaming looking for females and, if you’re lucky, you might see the dance of the adder.
The “dance” happens when two males come together near a female – they go through a trial of strength where they stand up the front third of their bodies and wrestle each other.
These wrestling matches can go on for some time, until one of them is exhausted, admitting defeat.
The winning male then stays with the female until she’s ready to mate – a behaviour called mate guarding.
Great crested newt
Breeding takes place from around March to June, so it’s a good time to spot them.
Great crested newts undergo an elaborate courtship routine, with males displaying before females.
After mating, each female lays around 200 eggs, individually laid and wrapped inside the leaves of pond plants.
Due to enormous declines in range and abundance in the last century, the great crested newt is strictly protected by British and European law, which makes it an offence to kill, injure, capture or disturb them; damage or destroy their habitat; and to possess, sell or trade.
This law refers to all great crested newt life stages, including eggs.
Make your own pond
I made my own pond on Winterwatch a few years ago – and it’s so easy to do.
The bigger the pond the better, but a washing-up bowl is a good start and you’ll get plenty of stuff in it.
You can easily get a liner and make a bigger pond if you have more space, which would be great for kids who love all those tadpoles and newts.
Dig a hole in the garden big enough for your washing-up bowl and set it in there.
If you can get rainwater or water from the local pond to fill it, that’s always better than tap water, which is quite treated. Natural water is always the best.
Get some vegetation in there and build a little ramp with some rocks and stones, so if anything falls in it can get out.
Birds will also come and have a drink, so it’s great to encourage biodiversity.
For more information on reptiles and amphibians in the UK, visit the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust here.
