A Toad Sort of Day

Monday, April 4th 2016

There was a fog shrouding Foxglove Covert this morning which did not fully go until mid-afternoon. The air was damp and the ground seemed to seep water encouraging the Common Toads to venture out of the ponds to cavort in full public view, they were everywhere, and as one Mother said to her son ‘Having group hugs!’. A fair few were on the paths and reserve road so I had to walk tentatively to avoid damaging any. On leaving this evening I put a few signs up to warn folk of the same.

Above Water….

And below!

 

As I cut through the conifer plantation the sap from one of the Sitka Spruce was oozing from the bark, a thick sticky clear liquid, giving the impression,when dried, of candle wax. It has a beautiful, sweet, aromatic smell that would beat most modern air fresheners, not at all pine like. Apparently the North American Indians used the sap as an effective medicine for burns, boils and various skin infections, venereal diseases, internal swelling, heart trouble, and toothaches.

Tony was in this morning carrying out a stock take. Generally, I was able to leave him to it, but all the time learning the ropes myself on how the system works I picked his wise brain. Mike came in around lunch time for me to show them the method we are using to test the water quality of the reserve; this time we tested 4 sites at the Scrapes, all with low trace readings of nitrate and phosphate.

After a walk around the reserve late afternoon the sun was trying to push through the clouds giving periodic glimmers on the surface of the lake…..

 

.....a hope of a better day tomorrow.

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