Amphibian notes - Spring 2004
David Scott Court Hill, Church Lane, Little Leighs, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 1PG
e-mail address: david.scott76@btopenworld.com Telephone: 01245 361475
The unseasonably mild January brought some very early sightings. Ray Cranfield reported
a Smooth Newt in his garden pond in Ashingdon on January 5"'. 1 recorded Common
Toads in Church Lane, Little Leighs on January 21st and February 3rd. In addition another
early record was Great Crested Newt eggs laid at Hempstead Hall, observed by Ray
Cranfield on March 23rd.
The problem of road deaths amongst migrating toads was present again at Church Broom
Wood lake near Little Leighs Church (TL 719167). Some local volunteers organised a
rota to remove toads from the road in buckets and carry them to the lakeside. This
reduced the road deaths dramatically. Most of the toad movements were between dusk
and 9pm the early part of this period of time was when most traffic used the lane and
caused most road deaths. The highest number of deaths, estimated at fifty, occurred on
the night of March 17"'. Temporary toad signs had been put up and most car drivers
slowed down when they saw the high visibility jackets of the helpers. The main toad
migration was over five nights when a total of 490 toads were removed from the road. I
would like to thank the toad patrol volunteers, Jean Sly with grandchildren Rebecca (6
years old) and Ellie, also Rosemary Collins. The exercise was a great success as the
chart shows but it is hoped to erect some amphibian fencing next year to try to stop the
animals getting onto the road. Most of the toads were emerging from an area of scrub to
the north of the lane and crawling some 100 - 200 metres along it before turning up the
track to the lake.
Date Live toads recovered from road Temp oC
March
17 86 10
18 211 10
19 122 6
20 43 10
21 28 5
There was a break in toad movement during a cold spell after March 21 and when
temperatures improved more migrating toads were seen and between March 27 and 31
a further 105 were collected in the road. A small amount of toad spawn was seen on
March 22 but at the time of writing 1 April 2004 the main spawning has yet to take
place.
The writer would be pleased to hear of any other toad crossing problems found by
members of the Essex Field Club and records of amphibians and reptiles are requested
to help build up our data base. Please send records however unimportant they may
seem.
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Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 44, May 2004