Snakeshead Fritillary
Snakeshead Fritillary / fritillaria meleagris. Duffield LNR, Derbyshire. 13/04/18.
'FINDING SNAKES INSTEAD OF TOADS'.
After enduring a cheerless week of rain, mist and cool temperatures I was keen to visit a local Derbyshire nature reserve to check if there were signs of any toads spawning yet.
(On 9th April, the first toads of the year had been seen heading for the ponds which are currently badly flooded, forming one large area of water!)
Despite a thorough search around the banks and surrounding grassland, I couldn't find one toad! As for the pond, the water surface remained frustratingly smooth, no writhing 'toad balls' and no sounds either. The nearest I got to Bufo bufo during the afternoon was a small heap of innards and a couple of dried spawn deposits!
The afternoon redeemed itself when I came across a group of Snakeshead Fritillaries, some standing in water halfway up their stems, I love these understated, nodding flowers.
Snakeshead Fritillary
Snakeshead Fritillary / fritillaria meleagris. Duffield LNR, Derbyshire. 13/04/18.
'FINDING SNAKES INSTEAD OF TOADS'.
After enduring a cheerless week of rain, mist and cool temperatures I was keen to visit a local Derbyshire nature reserve to check if there were signs of any toads spawning yet.
(On 9th April, the first toads of the year had been seen heading for the ponds which are currently badly flooded, forming one large area of water!)
Despite a thorough search around the banks and surrounding grassland, I couldn't find one toad! As for the pond, the water surface remained frustratingly smooth, no writhing 'toad balls' and no sounds either. The nearest I got to Bufo bufo during the afternoon was a small heap of innards and a couple of dried spawn deposits!
The afternoon redeemed itself when I came across a group of Snakeshead Fritillaries, some standing in water halfway up their stems, I love these understated, nodding flowers.