She's mine, all mine!

A beautiful day today, the sort of day a chap's mind turns to romance. Sure enough, I soon came across this amorous pair of toads heading towards the lochan where the female will, in due course lay her eggs.

Toads emerge from hibernation in late February onwards and then start a journey to their breeding ponds, usually returning to the same pond year after year. If a male encounters a female en route he will climb onto her back and clasp her in a special hold known as "Amplexus" using the dark nuptial pads on his three inner fingers. The poor old female will continue her journey to the pond weighed down by her suitor. The pair remain coupled like this for several days until the female lays her spawn.