Midwife Toads are not a native species to the UK, but have been found in several colonies in parts of the country. Hampshire has been named as one of these locations in several sources, but there are no actual records that we are aware of. Despite the lack of records, there is an anecdotal comment to suggest that Midwife Toads were known from the Littleton area and so we are reaching out to residents for their help in recording these elusive toads.

Midwife Toads are smaller than our native toads, with adults reaching around 5cm in length. They can also be distinguished by their eyes, if you are lucky enough to spot one, which have vertical pupils as opposed to horizontal/oval pupils of our two native toads. By far the best way to identify the presence of Midwife Toads is by their calls, which has been likened to “an electronic beep, like a smoke alarm with a dying battery or a New Age car alarm” by Steve Allain, one of the lead national researchers of Midwife Toads. A big difference with these toads is that they are not as reliant on ponds for breeding, as the male toads carry the eggs wrapped around their back legs, hence their name. Breeding usually takes place between April and June so they should have been calling for a few weeks now. Visit Steve’s blog to hear a sample of Midwife Toads calling http://stevenallain.co.uk/.../scifri-whats-that-beeping... you can also hear individual calls on this Youtube link www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVPK899UwV8

We are hoping that residents in the Winchester area (especially Littleton, Weeke and Teg Down) will be willing to help both Steve Allain and HIWARG, by listening out on warm damp nights for the “beeping” toads. If you do hear these calls it would be really helpful if you can record the calls on your phone, or take photos if you manage to see one.

For all sightings/recordings, please contact us on:

HIWARG Amphibian Officer: amphibians@hiwarg.org.uk or HIWARG on Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/455730808110700

Steve Allain: www.facebook.com/SJRAllain or https://twitter.com/stevoallain

Big Green Frog Hunts are more exciting, than Easter egg hunts (although maybe not as tasty).

Conditions are not the best, but with sunny spells and temperatures tickling the 'teens over the weekend, the chances of spotting water frogs are on the increase. Pack a picnic, check the area on the map below and go for a walk. Take a camera and record your sightings and photos on www.recordpool.org.uk

Water frogs are non-native frogs in the Pelophylax group. They are a tricky group to ID to species accurately in the field so we typically call them water frogs.

As they are a complex of species, adult size can range from a similar build to our common frogs up to 50% larger. Other ID features are:

• A very rounded nose/jaw, almost conical;
• Eyes are more prominant and closer together than on common frogs;
• They lack the "bandit" eye patch behind the eyes, as with common frogs;
• Can have a yellow/green line down their spine, but not always present/obvious;
• Lateral ridges on either side of their back;
• Almost always in or close to water, often basking in the sun;
• Will almost always spot you first, jumping into the water and disappearing immediately;
• Calling males will have two vocals sacs, either side of their jaw. (common frogs call with their throat.)
• Male calls sound like a cackling, croaking, quacking sound... they can sometimes be called laughing frogs.

We have four water frogs in our area, Marsh frog, Edible frog, Southern clade pool frog and Perez's frog. The following video will give you a rough idea of what to look for and hopefully listen out for: www.youtube.com/watch?v=472zFshwasA

You can download a fab ID guide at www.arguk.org/info-advice/id-guides/441-amphibian-id-guide-revised-2019-pdf

Toads and other amphibians have started migrating to their breeding ponds, but often get killed on our roads. There are three registered toad crossings on Froglife's Toads on Roads Map, but only two are manned by patrollers. If you can help save toads and other amphibians by becoming a Toad Patroller, visit https://www.froglife.org/what-we-do/toads-on-roads/tormap/ and find your nearest crossing.

If you want to know what Toad Patrols do, you can read more here https://www.froglife.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Patrol-Pack-2023-compressed_compressed.pdf

Following the increased amphibian activity with this mild weather I am thinking of starting some of our survey and ID training for members a little earlier.

If you are a HIWARG member, check your email address that you used to join with. I will be sending out a generic email to all members on how to access training and I will be sending provisional dates to all current amphibian surveyors and those waiting training.

If you are not a member, but are interested in becoming a HIWARG amphibian surveyor click the 'Join up' tag above.

Temperatures look like they might be starting to drop to in a couple of weeks, but we are likely to continue to spot amphibians for a while yet until temperatures drop to 7°C or lower.

It will be really helpful if everyone can record all amphibians they see over the Autumn/Winter and if you can post your sightings here with the hashtag #hiwargautumnalamphibians2022 we can use this to track amphibians sightings to compare the last dates we see them and when they reappear again in the spring.

No need to visit ponds if you'd rather not in this weather, sometimes a torchlit walk in your garden, or an evening dog walk around 7pm is just as good for spotting amphibians out for a wander.

Please add your sightings to www.recordpool.org.uk and don't forget to post your photos her with the hashtag 🐸