Althouse: Cave of the toad.

June 2, 2023

Cave of the toad.

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This morning at 5:15.

12 comments:

Eva Marie said...: I did not see the toad until I read the caption. And I enlarged the photo to get a better look too. Now it’s so obviously there.; 6/2/23, 9:16 AM
mikee said...: I, for one, look forward to the ongoing adventures of Mr. Toad.
Perhaps he will take a Wild Ride.; 6/2/23, 9:52 AM
Rusty said...: Toad in a hole!; 6/2/23, 10:49 AM
Kevin said...: One for the toad.; 6/2/23, 11:04 AM
madAsHell said...: Yesterday, I was walking in Magnuson Park. I noticed two large birds, and thought are those gulls, or eagles. The light was flat, and I couldn't not distinguish the plumage. They were just shadows on the overcast sky.

The birds engaged talons, and the flirtatious death spiral began. Those ARE eagles. They are immediately overhead, and I don't want to be here when they crash land.

They recovered, and flew off to the NW.

What a fantastic display of vitality!!!; 6/2/23, 11:14 AM
James said...: I'm digging the toad pics - maybe you can flip some rocks/logs and find some salamanders :D; 6/2/23, 11:34 AM
madAsHell said...: I'm sure I've shared this story here before, but.......

We took the cable car up the side of Table Mountain in Cape Town.

We hiked around the top, but were impeded by an adder. It was in the middle of the trail, and really didn't want us around.

Me, being a rocket scientist, decided I could spoof the lizard with my coat. Waving an eagle shadow over the lizard should scare it away.

NO WAY!! The lizard, without legs, launched about 18" off the ground, and attempted to bite my Levis's denim coat.

My wife suggested that we walk into the underbrush, and avoid the adder. If the adder is here, then what's in the underbrush??

As we are taking the gondola back down the hill, I notice several climbers attempting to scale the mountain. Everyone of their hand-holds if populated by a den of adders.

The adder poison is necrotic. The area around the wound is dead.; 6/2/23, 12:09 PM
Ampersand said...: The early jogger gets the toad.; 6/2/23, 5:03 PM
michaele said...: Great photo...talk about camouflage...it sure found its "safe space". But, then again, you found it. Did you see it hopping and that's how you discovered its hidey- hole?; 6/3/23, 7:04 AM
Josephbleau said...: Nature drops her load on the giant toad.; 6/3/23, 4:20 PM
Molly said...: (Eaglebeak)

Cute as a button. Toads are very appealing unless they happen to be poisonous.; 6/4/23, 12:55 PM
Narr said...: The day after the end of first grade, at our new house, I met the neighbor kids in the Hord's carport. Kenny R. gave me a frog, or toad--I'm sure he knew the difference, and why it mattered. One of the smartest and closest 2-3 friends I ever had.

Our dackel will snag a frog (toad) once in a while and not know what to do with it. A sharp "leave it!" usually spares them injury.; 6/4/23, 4:27 PM