When walking around the Worcester campus at night, I’ve learned to watch my step. Especially after it rains, the paths are scattered with tiny toads hopping from one hedge to the other. I haven’t seen any at my sit spot during the daytime, and I don’t hear many frogs calling in the evenings either, but on rainy nights campus is full of little amphibians on their own secret missions. 

These little guys are most likely common toads (Bufo bufo), which are found throughout England and are common in Europe, northwest Asia, and some parts of North Africa. Common toads hatch as tadpoles in the spring and live for several years, so the button-sized toads I’ve been spotting must be babies that have just finished their summer metamorphosis. Soon, these little toadlets will be burrowing into the ground to hibernate through the winter, and I’ll miss seeing them hopping around on my evening strolls.

Although it makes for a lot of gloomy days, I love how Oxford’s rainy weather creates a lush, green ecosystem where little amphibians can thrive. I’m especially lucky to be on a campus with so much nature, and with excellent gardeners who take time to save newts and toads trapped in window wells: 

The toads may be heading to sleep as the weather gets colder, but the students are back and the campus is coming alive. As Oxford changes with the seasons, I’m excited to see what else I’ll discover!