Whilst we were digging.......

[Kobione]

Doing our current garden project abd Hubby was turning over a deep bed of soil with a garden fork when, luckily totally uninjured, this came up. This is an Eastern Banjo Frog, otherwise known as a Pobblebonk, because of their very resonant call. He looked a bit surprised when I dumped him in this empty wheelbarrow, so I could dash inside and get the camera:

 

 

 

 

Then he gave me a 'Well, do something' look:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then posed for me before I picked him up and put him back in a safe and protected spot:

 

 

 

 

We do hear these after rain, mainly, but we hardly ever get to see one. Glad he was OK

 

In case you are wondering he is quite large, more the size of a toad than a frog.

 

 

[annie]

he looks huge kobione.

[Kobione]

Yep, Annie, he would easily cover the whole palm of my hand. We would have HATED for him to come out of the soil, attatched to a fork prong.!!!!!!!!!

[JohnP]

Lovely story and photos... so glad he wasn't speared by the fork... 

[NannyFerret]

He is big and looked like a stone ornament to me when I first saw the pic.

[Barbara]

I find his eyes more fascinating than anything but how on earth do they survive the hot summers you have

[Guest]

Good work getting sharp focus on the eyes.

[Kobione]

Thanks, all. We were really lucky with this one. He was covered in sandy soil, very much the same colour as his skin. We identified him easily by the pattern of the creamy blotches, and the creamy stripe from the eye to the mouth. Barbara they bury themselves quite deep in soil that is loose, and close to a water source, so there is a level of dampness. You don't hear or see them in the hot months, and they do not populate the arid areas, but this is the second we have come across in the soil in our shadehouse area of garden. There call carries a long way and is a loud 'bonk, bonk', sometimes repeated rapidly for quiet a few seconds. Hence the name Pobblebonk. Mark the only bit I could get sharply was his eyes, he wouldn't stay still, and I'm surprised I didn't even catch him blinking!!

[KateW]

A lovely close-up. They always look as if they're smiling!

[Terry]

Great shot.Fantastic detail.