One plus two toads

The other day and night we finally got a decent, soaking rain here. Things had been getting pretty dry and tired, but the much-needed rain really helped wake things up. Especially the toads, who I haven't heard for quite a while but started calling that evening and continued the next morning.

What I found was one land-lubber toad, sitting and watching the pond. He was out here pretty much all day. What was he doing? Waiting, as far as I can tell.

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You see, he wasn't the only amphibian in the vicinity of the pond this morning.

So he waited...

and waited...

He passed the time by looking at the surprising flowers produced by the underwater Anacharis:

Finished yet?

Nope.

Still at it.

Finally! There goes the female.

Here's my chance!

Not so fast buddy!

Are you talking to me? Bring it on!

Treeeeeeeeeee...

Treeeeeeeeeee...

TREEEEEEEEEEE...

TREEEEEEEEEEE...

The female apparently jumped down off of the 2-foot retaining wall, and blew my ears out with her respondent calls as I was looking for her back there in the rough -- amazingly loud!

She didn't return to the water that day, so these guys were wasting their breath.

It looks like I'll have more toad tadpoles in the pond soon though.

I hope they're hungry for algae!

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