OUR wetland nature reserves (and gardens in many instances) have been bathed in a rather eerie sound of late.

A long, deep, vibrating vocal, it is the mating call of one of our best known amphibians. It is the croak of the Common frog (Rana temproalis).

Around a week ago I had been walking near a pool, when the noise stopped me in my tracks and distracted me from the task at hand. I made my way to the pool edge, only to see a small splash of what I guessed to be a frog bobbing below the surface.

I crouched quietly, and waited. Frogs are fairly confident, and after only around five minutes, I noticed between the water lilies, a small pair of mercury coloured eyes peering at me.

Moments later, more sets of eyes appeared, a total of five individuals, in amongst the tangle of duckweed, frogbit and lilies. Slowly, but surely they ventured higher in the water column until their heads where fully visible. Then the croaking began again.

Like an extract from the frogs’ chorus, each took its turn to demonstrate its vocal capabilities. As a boy, I had neither the patience, nor the ability, to be quiet enough to witness this spectacle. As the croaking signifies mating, I left but later that day I returned to the spot to see masses of spawn.

It isn’t just frogs that you’re likely to see at the moment, February to April is also the time when the Common Toad (Bufo bufo) makes its annual migration from its winter hibernation grounds to its favoured breeding pool.

Unlike frogs, toads are inclined to walk rather than jump. It is their insistence to use traditional routes that has led to many a toad’s demise, with busy roads being built across their desired paths. Toads have a dry, warty appearance and also have a much more rounded, broader head .

The spawn is also very different. Most people are familiar with the jelly-like frog spawn, but toads produce long transparent strings of eggs, often wrapped around vegetation at the waters edge. Once spawning is over, the toad generally leaves the water, and ventures off into damp undergrowth where it hunts small invertebrates. Frogs on the other hand are much more aquatic.

The numbers of many of our native amphibian have diminished greatly over the decades. One way that we can help the boost the numbers of local amphibians is to build suitable wildlife pools in our gardens, obviously care should be taken if children have access. Amphibians are not only a fascinating part of our native fauna, but are an excellent form of pest control, relishing flies, slugs and many other nuisance creatures.