RAUK - Archived Forum - Posts by akamini:

Hello

Yesterday (10/08/03) I saw a juvenille toad among a dune system at Druridge Bay, Northumberland. It was curiously close to the strandline, moving in the first assemblages of dune vegetation from the beach. As a marine biologist, I thought it odd an amphibian should be so close to the sea. However, upon looking it up in a book, I discovered this is the sort of habitat where natterjack toads exist. Druridge Bay (included in the areas covered by Hadston Links SSSI) is a stabilised dune system with a network of brackish lagoons among the dune slack. However, on speaking to English Nature, there are no records of natterjack toads there since the 19th century. I have looked at a number of photos and read behavioural descriptions, and im fairly convinced this could have been a natterjack. However, at the time I did not pay particular attention to its markings and am unable to confirm whether it had a yellow line along its back. It did try to run from me as I approached though (as opposed to walking or jumping), and its general body shape was more flattened than common toads I have seen. Its overall colour was a greeny brown.

The time of sighting was about 19.00, and the weather was very cloudy although warm, with considerable fog along the coast. The ground was damp from earlier rain showers.

I visit this part of coast a few times a week, and will try and find another individual for a photo on my next visit. If anyone is interested I can give more specific details of locations etc.

Regards.

That is very interesting, Hauxley is only a few miles from where this one was. I will be back there during the evenings very soon, and I will attempt to get another look and some photos. I will post back when I have more details, I just wondered initially if anyone knew of them being recorded in this area.

I don't want to speculate too much on this for the moment, it certainly looks like they have quite an overlap in range and could therefore have been either species. I initially thought it was a lizard running along, but it was clearly a toad of some species and the desciptions/photos ive seen are similar to what I saw. Im just annoyed I didnt stop to get my camera out! I will post an update if I can find another specimen.

Thanks all for the feedback, really interesting stuff.