With no Bird ticks about Myself ( PJ ) Phill Locker & Charlie Simpson decided to try & tick an Amphibian instead, the rare Natterjack Toad at Ainsdale & Birkdale Sandhills LNR. Southport.
We had arranged to go on the guided tour meeting on the car park at 9pm, the rain which had been persistant most of the afternoon eased off as the tour began and we were soon at the first pool or 'slack' as they are referred to in these parts. In the torchlight 1 - 2 pairs of yellow eyes could be picked out in the darkness so the main man waded in and scooped one out so we could all get a close view. They were a bit smaller than I expected & the yellow stripe down the back was very obvious.
Natterjack Toad
We moved on to a larger Slack where there were good numbers of males all calling for the females who were hanging out the dunes, we had another close up view before moving on to the Newt pools, here we got 2 or 3 Great Crested Newts & a couple of Smooth Newts.
Great Crested Newts
All in all quite a pleasant night which was rounded off perfectly with a pint of, what else, Natterjack Bitter !!!
