Start of Spring in Cornwall

At the side of my house is an old footpath, it winds its way down a valley surrounded by Gorse and Brambles until it reaches What my children call, the "Sand Pit". It is in fact the remains of an old copper Mine, One that went by the name of Ale and Cake mine, part of the Consoles group of mines that functioned in the 19th Century. An excellent place to find Rose Quartz and the rare Wolverine Quartz.
Each day I take my Jack Russell 'Poppy' for a run amongst the ruins. There are rabbits fighting for the right to be Dominant Male in and out the spoil heaps,, A family of 7 Buzzards are hovering above me, with that amazing "Screech", that makes all the rabbits run for cover. Poppy has caught the scent of a Fox or a Badger and is deep in sniffing. I notice in the Cornish hedge between the daffodils and Primroses the spurs of next May's Blue bells. It is now I descend into the marsh next to the Bissoe stream.
Getting scratched by a Gorse, I slip between two trees sheltering a gashed out hollow, that has now become a small weed filled pond. Yes ! I notice what I have been looking for this last few weeks, last year it was here on the 12th February, it's a week later, this years Batch of Frog Spawn.
In the clear water next to the Frog spawn, amazingly a string of Toad Spawn, Over two months Early! What has Buffo Buffo been up to?
I whistle Poppy. Put a 2 inch length of Toad Spawn into the jar I carry and in the cool drizzle of a Cornish Winter I make for home.
I shall, as I always have done for more than 50 years. endeavour to feed them Soya Fish Flakes in an Old Fish Tank. tadpole pets, until in two months time they mature into Toad-lets. They are then returned to their cradle, having been wondered at by family, secure in the knowledge another batch has survived the winter.
Namaste.