Episode 2.64 - Spawn Surge and Mad March Hares

Send us Fan MailJust days before his successful triple bypass surgery at Papworth Hospital, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin stand at the overflowing lake at High Ash Farm, where a sodden winter has triggered one of nature’s most spectacular annual events. Hundreds of frogs and toads have emerged from hibernation in a single night, laying millions of eggs: the frogs producing huge glistening rafts of “tapioca pudding” spawn, while the common toads create long, double-rowed ribbons resembling delicate strings of pearls stretching metres across the water. Chris explains the frantic amplexus mating ritual, how the spawn sinks then floats, the tadpole lifecycle, and the low survival odds against herons, otters and dragonfly larvae. A gentle ramble reveals a young roe buck close by and, in the overwinter wild bird seed mix field, “Mad March hares” hunkered in their forms before lolloping away, accompanied by rising skylarks, flocks of linnets, corn buntings and a hovering kestrel. Listener warmth flows in: toad rescues in Kent, bumblebees diving into daffodils, clever robins learning from tit feeders, and messages of support during Chris’s recovery. This episode captures spring’s dramatic, slippery rebirth in all its watery glory, ideal for celebrating nature’s determined renewal after winter’s long wait.https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/18880984-episode-2-64-spawn-surge-and-mad-march-hares.mp3?download=trueSupport the showPlease email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast [email protected] podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm. Support us here:https://donorbox.org/podcast-12or from the Podcast page here:Podcast | High Ash Farm